Melody Makers: An exclusive interview with Nashville songwriters Mike Morgan and Jeff Elliott

 

Melody Makers: An exclusive interview with Nashville songwriters Jeff Elliott and Mike Morgan

Archived from the December 2024 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete www.floridaequineathlete.com

No Duplication Without Permission

 

This month, we shift our focus from horses to spotlight a captivating interview with two remarkable Nashville songwriters, Jeff Elliott and Mike Morgan. Our conversation delves into their musical journey, creative processes, and latest projects.

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Mike Morgan about a year ago when he visited my office with some intriguing ideas for a novel and a project for a local museum. His passion for storytelling and music was evident from the start, making our collaboration an enriching experience.

 

Mike and Jeff reside in Jackson, Ohio, but maintain strong connections to the vibrant Nashville music scene. Together, they write and produce songs that resonate with both depth and authenticity. Their recent collaboration, Have You Heard, is an album that pays homage to the enduring legacy of country music icon, Ed Bruce. This project highlights their dedication to preserving the rich history and emotional resonance of country music.

 

Welcome, Jeff and Mike!

 

GM: What genres of music do you primarily write, and how did you choose those genres?

JE: Initially we were strictly country, but as time passed we have written songs in Pop, Blues, Jazz, great American songbook, Indie, Western Swing, Bluegrass, Gospel, and New Country genres.

MM: Country, Christian Country, Gospel, Americana, and Blues.

 

GM: Do you find that different genres require different approaches to songwriting? If so, how do you adapt your style?

JE: There are so many overlapping structures in Americana music, so the different approaches involve beat, melody, chord changes etc.

MM: Yes, different genres require different approaches. We study the structure of songs in the genre to make sure we have it align with that genre. Sometimes the music is presented in different ways to the listener depending on the genre.

 

GM: Can you describe your daily writing routine?

JE: I am always on the lookout for ideas which may come up in a conversation, from books I’m reading, YouTube videos, podcasts, current events. For example, two song ideas came from an investment show on YouTube.

MM: We do a lot of reading to get ideas and possible hook lines. We also listen to a lot of different music. We share things by e-mail and then we try to get together once a week in person to work on songs.

 

GM: Do you have any specific rituals that help you get into the creative zone?

JE: What keeps us writing is the sheer bliss of creativity. When a song is finished, it always seems like a miracle and the process is so mentally consuming.

MM: We listen to a lot of different styles of music and that help us get engaged in the process.

 

GM: How do you maintain discipline in your writing, especially during times when inspiration seems elusive?

MM: We eat, drink, and think music all the time as writers and producers. It is a business and you have to continually work at it.

 

GM: What are some of your main sources of inspiration when writing new songs? 

MM: Books – other music, people saying things that are unique.

 

GM: Can you share a story about a particularly unconventional source of inspiration that led to a song?

JE: An example of a hook line idea is one time I was talking with my daughter about how great her daughter was and she said, “Yep, she sure is easy to love.” I grabbed that hook in a heartbeat!

 

GM: What motivates you to keep writing music, even after achieving significant success?

MM: We enjoy the process. It is fun but also hard work. Music is a gift from God for us. We have met a lot of great/nice people through music. Rising tides lifts all boats so people help each other if you act like a pro.

 

GM: Are there recurring themes or messages in your songs?

JE: The recurring theme in our songs is truth. If it’s not authentic then it’s not relatable to the listener. We share the common values of most Appalachian, southern, and midwestern folks so the themes ring true to our audience.

 

GM: How do you balance personal storytelling with creating universally relatable music? 

MM: You can’t get too personal, and it does come into play. But the goal is to write a song where people say that they can relate or they are telling my story or that is me they are talking about in that song. It has to be universal for the most part where lots of people have gone through the experience.

 

GM: You've written for many singers. How do you tailor your songwriting to fit the unique strengths and styles of different artists?

JE: We don’t ordinarily tailor our songs to a particular singer, but we demo songs in the style of certain singers so we can focus. On pitching the song with a certain groove or vibe for that particular group.

MM: We don’t really write to an artist. We just try to write a good song. Many artist will tell you when they are looking for songs that they don’t know what they are looking for until they hear it. It does help to know some inside things happening with an artist life, too. If you know they have just married or starting a family or lost a parent, divorce, like to play shows in the south-New Orleans, or anything, that doesn’t hurt to know.

 

GM: Can you talk about a particularly memorable collaboration with a singer and how it influenced the final song?

JE: One collaboration we had with a singer in England took three or four years to come to completion with a great deal of going back and forth.

MM: We were working with Ed Bruce in preparation for his This Old Hat album. He said we need to write a Texas shuffle-type song for the album. We had a song that we wrote, The Tracks You Left On Me, as a country song years back that we thought would work for Gary Stewart but we didn’t do anything with it. It really wasn’t finished so we brought the title up and Ed liked it. We all worked on it and it became the first song on that album and it is a Texas Shuffle.

 

GM: How has your songwriting evolved over the years, and what have been some pivotal moments in your development as songwriters?

MM: Like anything in this life it has evolved in many ways. Music styles have changed, the business has changed and you have to roll with those changes to stay relevant. A pivotal moment was signing our first publishing deal with Newkeys Music in Nashville, another was meeting Ed Bruce and eventually working with him on three of his albums as writers and producers. Also co-writing with Gospel writer Mike Owens.

 

GM: What advice would you give to aspiring songwriters looking to hone their craft and find their unique voice?

JE: My advice to aspiring songwriters is keep writing and learning. When you get an idea write it down. When you hear a song you love absorb it and find out why you love it.

MM: Breakdown songs that you like and learn how they are put together-rhyme schemes, syllables per line, chord structures, where is the hook in the song and what is the hook. Read a lot and listen for ideas.

 

GM: It's Christmastime. What tradition do you look forward to at Christmas?

JE: Hey, it’s Christmastime. What would Christmas be without music?

MM: Being with family, going to Christmas Eve Church service and being with friends.

 

Connect with Jeff and Mike…

www.edbrucemusic.om

Facebook: Ed Bruce Music

Facebook: Mike Morgan

Facebook: Jeff Elliott

 

Note: Ed Bruce, a prolific singer-songwriter renowned for his work as an actor and performer, has been posthumously honored with the album AFTER HOURS. Known for penning classics like “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” “Restless,” and “Texas (When I Die),” Bruce's legacy endures through this 16-track collection of previously unreleased songs. Produced by Music Row Talent Records in collaboration with Old Hat Productions, a partnership Bruce co-founded with Mike Morgan and Jeff Elliott, the album captures Bruce’s prime, showcasing his extraordinary talent and dedication to songwriting. The tracks, enhanced with additional instrumentation, range from country to smooth jazz, reflecting Bruce's versatility and depth.

 

AFTER HOURS features Bruce’s original recordings, including raw, heartfelt performances like “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys” and deeply reflective songs such as “Old Timer.” This album, a labor of love for both Morgan and Elliott, stands as a tribute to Bruce's enduring influence and the cherished memories shared with friends and collaborators. The album is available on digital platforms, with physical copies obtainable through Old Hat Productions, 80 Highland Drive, Jackson, OH 45640-2074.