Inspired #378 - Morgan Hislop
Morgan Hislop has just released his imaginative debut album ‘Ghostin’ Me’.
Morgan Hislop has quietly built a reputation as a multi-talented creative force in London’s electronic music scene. His talents as a seasoned visual artist have seen him creating designs for some of the most exciting names in music today - UNIIQU3, India Jordan, Sega Bodega and AJ Tracey to name a few. His releases have demonstrated a joyous retrospective approach to forward-thinking sounds, championed by the likes of Jamz Supernova, Jaguar and VTSS. Following a string of refreshing and innovative singles over the last few months that featured a wealth of exciting vocal talent from around the globe, today Morgan Hislop releases the apex of this sonic experimentation, his debut album Ghostin’ Me.
He took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind his music.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
Jessy Lanza’s music has an almost ASMR effect on me it’s like this deeper sonic gravitation. - her records (co-written and co-produced with Jeremy Greenspan, of Junior Boys fame) always show me that you can strip back a track to it’s bare bones without losing any emotion or melody. As someone who often leans into throwing way too much into a track I find her music acts like a perfect example of how less is often way more effective
The first time I heard Bipp by SOPHIE, something just clicked in my mind and I was lost to her bubbly elastic sound. The fact that she built this totally unique world that was unashamedly hers and instantly recognisable and timeless was so refreshing and inspired me to just give in to what feels good to listen to. In a world of revivalist electronic music and recycled ideas right now - be more SOPHIE!
The Avalanches - These guys are absolute masters of producing a true journey as you listen through an album. All of their LPs you start at the beginning and they take you to so many different places with so many details and mini-moments around every corner. The idea of genre is secondary to them, it’s more about a mood or the celebration of music as a whole. Since I Left You is a timeless classic but their latest record I Will Always Love You from 2020 knocked me off my feet - the perfect album and a dive into this world of forgotten samples, otherworldly transmissions and inspired guest features *chefs kiss*
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
Ok so technically it was a tv show, but David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks: The Return was often described as an 18 hour film. I just think it’s one of the most individual things I’ve ever seen. So much of it would be at home on a big screen in an art gallery. It feels like it’s aim is to purposefully cover every single human emotion - even ones you don’t often associate with ‘good’ entertainment; impatience, frustration, disappointment. It’s such a bold body of work and years after it’s release it still almost haunts me. I try and pay homage to it in the new record with the recurring melancholy saxophone.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
I can’t deny that London where I live has given me so many opportunities, so many inspiring friends and has changed the momentum of so many creative projects I’m involved in, both musically and with my visual art. But if we’re talking musically - I have never had the pleasure of visiting but Chicago has had such an impact with genres like Chicago House and Footwork originating there, as well as being the hometown of Kanye West who inspired me as a young producer from Graduation through to Yeezus days. Fingers crossed one day soon I’ll get to go!
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
I’m going to half cheat here and say all the amazing artists I collaborated on this record with. From vocalists based here in London like OhEm and Orchid who through collaborating have become such close friends - to long term collaborator and electro- folk artist James Alexander Bright who forever inspires me with his infectious positivity to just keep creating.
And Tokyo rapper Nakamura Minami who, despite the language barrier between us and being on the other side of the world, has one of the best work ethos I’ve come across and is genuinely one of the most exciting artists around today - the track we made together; Mirror Mirror, and the accompanying music video is a highlight of this project. Making art with these people has been the biggest takeaway of this process.
What were your inspirations when writing your new album?
Rene Magritte - I produce all my own visuals so a big inspiration on the artwork for the record was surrealist painter Rene Magritte. His work is otherworldly but often formed from simple illusions and everyday objects. With the album artwork I wanted to plant myself in this labyrinth of
Magritte.
Prefab Sprout - These guys are the greatest band of all time right! They have such a theatrical unique way of composing more conventional pop songs which played a huge part when I started collaborating with the album’s featured vocalists. Their 2003 track I Trawl The Megahertz is this sprawling bittersweet classical piece, very different from their previous output. It’s filled with these hooks that keep whirling back round throughout its 22min duration and I loved this frequent return to familiar melodies - I tried to recreate this energy with hooks and vocalists reappearing as my record plays out.
Sylvia Chuku of Studio Chuku. Sylvia is a photographer who I worked closely with on the images that surround the artwork of this album. She has this amazing way of capturing portraits that radiate light but still feel natural and meditative. I collaborated with Sylvia and also creative director Jamie-Lee Peppera on the artwork and had Sylvia’s work in mind as well as the Magritte inspiration throughout the writing process. An essential influence on the release and her style dictated the more earthy tones of the album artwork, I usually opt for extremely vivid colours so this felt like a new era. Be sure to seek out Sylvia’s work - it’s incredible!
How would you like to inspire people?
This record originated from a pre-existing ballet soundtrack project falling through and me picking up the pieces and pushing on to create something new from being ghosted. I hope it’ll inspire creatives to not get beat down enough to quit because it happens all too often. You can find ways to turn things around and rejuvenate those rejected ideas to work and flourish in your favour.
