Interview with John Steven Morgan of Wreche

May 05, 2021

Interview with John Steven Morgan of Wreche

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, John! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.
John Steven Morgan: Thank you for having me!

CV: Do you feel that it's still possible for an unknown band today to be plucked out of obscurity and make it to stardom? Can a dedicated core of fans sharing their music make that possible or has the internet and social media changed the game?
JSM: I think it’s possible if stardom is your goal, but I don’t think "unicorn stories" are everything we should pin our hopes on. I still believe that a dedicated core of fans, or for that matter, anyone enjoying the music you make is a success. I think metal is such a wonderful genre to work in because it doesn't dream of "stardom" (at least in the underground) - people spend years on projects, putting their absolute best thoughts down - usually to no acclaim, but there are people out there looking for that kind of thing and who love it, and that's what I love --- there's a certain aspect of it that is really "Art for art's sake" and we all connect on that. Social media has made searching and discovering bands easier while also exploding the sheer volume of music out there, so it's hard to say.

CV: Do you feel that given the accessibility and social awareness of modern times that a music underground still even exists today as it once did?
JSM: Of course! What are we doing here, haha?

CV: What do you see as the biggest difference in music and how it is perceived from back say 35 years ago compared to music today? Has both the music and the artist evolved from your point of view?
JSM: It is inevitable, we need to find new angles, though I don't think we've ever evolved from art and artists as described in the classical romantic era...the drunk writer, the isolated genius musician, the drug addled artist, etc...These are all tropes we see, and have seen since art criticism in the late 18th century and often see and brand ourselves as today. It’s kind of lame and it doesn’t capture the subtleties of the human condition, potential mental illness, and the dedicated act of creation.

CV: Do you believe bands and artists who have the biggest impact on fans and other artists are aware that they are or is there more of a tunnel vision sort of process for them keeping them somewhat in the dark? Can influential artists see past their own work to be aware of the ripples they make?
JSM: I think you have to be aware of what you make and how it affects people. Making art in a vacuum is the worst way to go. You cannot close yourself off to the present or outside influences, otherwise you never grow as an artist, you become a "sleepy and permanent planet".

CV: Does music need to be influential to be considered worth listening to in your opinion? Or can music simply be just an enjoyable auditory experience devoid of substance?
JSM: If you are referring to lyrics, it's better if the lyrics mean something and are written well, but I can think of so many songs where the lyrics on their own are absolute garbage and the music gives them a thousand meanings...music is music - if it is enjoyable, you get your rocks off, then great. If one chooses to engage in an auditory hierarchy, then good for them...just have an argument to back it up. Auditory pleasure is undeniable and it takes all kinds.

CV: The world has been rocked by the COVID pandemic. The economy has been sent into a tailspin in its wake, unfortunately. Bands worldwide have been restricted with performing live and some it seems, restricted from earning a living. How has the pandemic affected your band? Are you hopeful that 2021 will see many of the restrictions lifted?
JSM: I was able to finish "All my dreams came true" because the pandemic afforded me the time - as for work, yeah, that was a bummer. I was still able to get out there and play piano in the streets, but nowhere near the volume I am accustomed to.

CV: What do you feel artists and bands can do right now to stay relevant, especially in an environment, such as the present, where performing in front of a live audience is being restricted? What immediate options do you see available?
JSM: Keep working! Keep writing!

CV: As an artist, what have you learned from the events of 2020? Are those lessons learned different for you as a person than as an artist or are they one in the same in your opinion?
JSM: Don't take your loved ones for granted.

CV: What's next? What can fans expect to see coming in 2021?
JSM: WRECHE, “All My Dreams Came True,” RELEASES 5.14.21.

CV: Thank you again John for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was such a pleasure. I wish you all the best.
JSM: Same to you! Thank you!

Check out Wreche at:
Official: wreche.com
Bandcamp: wreche.bandcamp.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/wreche_music
Facebook: facebook.com/wreche

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.