Welcome to BuzzMusic, Lucy Morgan. We have chills after hearing your harrowing take on surviving abuse in "Upperhand." Why was it important for you to translate those emotions into a song? Was this a therapeutic experience?
Thank you so much! Oouff, for me, one of the main ways I process things is through my music. It is definitely a form of therapy for me. When I wrote "Upper Hand," I felt so trapped and lost. I sat down at my keyboard and started playing a few chords, and the song just sort of tumbled out of me. At that time, I was writing it for myself. I think one of the most beautiful parts of songwriting is that once the song is released, it's no longer yours. It belongs to the listeners, and just as it was healing for me to write it, it can be healing for them in whatever way they are able to connect with it.
Why did you want to give "Upperhand" this sort of sinister and dark sound? Do you feel this ominous sound best reflects the intensity of your situation?
Getting myself out of that relationship was one of the hardest things I had to do. They got into the corners of my mind and distorted the way I saw myself. I would wake up in the morning feeling so defeated, knowing I had done what was best for me and yet still questioning whether I would be able to live without this person. Out of all the songs I wrote about this experience, "Upper Hand" best reflects the darkness I was drowning in at the time. When I feel anxiety, one of the first symptoms I get is feeling like I'm not able to take a deep enough breath. I felt that with almost every breath I took at that time. It was as if I was being haunted each second of the day. So, when I took this track to the studio, I knew I wanted the production to mirror those sinister emotions.
Who helped you bring "Upperhand" to life? Did you work with any producers, songwriters, or musicians during this process?
I am so blessed to be able to work alongside one of my best friends, John Fellner. He has produced all of my music since I started this journey. Though I wrote "Upper Hand" on my own, he gave it life as he does with all my songs. Once we got it to a place that we were both happy with, we took it to another producer, Simon Larochette, to be mixed. But Simon brought a fresh perspective, and instead of just mixing, he hopped on as a second producer and elevated the song to a whole new level. Kristian Montano then added that last little sparkle in the mastering process.
If listeners could take anything away from your vulnerable words in "Upperhand," what would you want that to be?
I would want listeners to dig deep into how they relate to the words. If someone has made you feel this way, know that they are not worthy of being in your life. As impossible as it may seem, the hold they have over you will slowly fade if you can find the strength to leave. Everyone deserves love, but real love is an equal playing field, never a power struggle.
What's next for you?
I will be releasing my next single, "Where It All Began," mid-summer, and then my debut EP, "Firelight," at the end of August! I am super excited to finally be releasing this project after working on it for almost two years. After that, the sky is the limit!