#morganyevans

@C3_Photo interviewed me RE: writing. 

1.What made you want to be a journalist?

I have been working on punk zines ever since high school in 1994. That's also when I started singing in grunge, punk and metal bands. I really kicked things up after 2003 or so though when my old band DIVEST, a post hardcore/nu metal hybrid, had a big deal fall through. The industry was changing and people stopped buying albums. Twitter is great but I like long form stories and background on artists and in a.d.d. age I saw a lot of that was getting lost. I wanted to fight for bands that might not survive without proper push.

2.How'd you become one?

I just did it. The key to being a writer is really writing constantly. And networking. Doing research. And also you decide how much unpaid work you are willing to do to get in door or trade offs. I do about half spec work now but mostly paid, unless I have full editorial control or there are other factors like a site has huge reach that make it worth it. I do think more writers should be compensated for any site that sells ads, personally. Sometimes though they do the best they can. There is a lot of competition.

3.What magazines have you written for and currently write for?

Over the years everything from Woodstock and Kingston Times to Crusher Magazine, Amp, Hails & Horns, Dying Scene, something for Punk Globe once, PopMatters, Spacelab, Metal Riot, New Noise, Velvet, Versus, New Noise France. A lot of stuff.

4.What magazines would you like to be writing for?

I don't really have the cutthroat upward mobility drive anymore. I'm almost 40. I hate making pitches and am horrible about following proper procedures, so I tend to require very forgiving editors or people seeking me out. Unless I am like, "Wow. I really want to interview Spirit Adrift about their new album. I better try and find a home for that." Then I'll sort of ask around, but rarely new publications. Otherwise now I'd rather just do my own thing. I had a hard few years of family stuff and personal loss and if I focus too much on competing or churning out massive amounts of content I burn myself out. You can't chase the dragon of potential clicks and trying to brand yourself and not lose some of your soul in the process, unless you are someone who really made it to the next level by not compromising the integrity of their work and who champions fringe bands or outsider voices, like Kim Kelly or also Jes Skolnik at Bandcamp (who both do things very right). Usually though publications have a great experience with me once whatever it is is published,because I tend to get good responses. I also am known for being really fast in a pinch if someone really needs shit in an emergency.

5.What is your process for writing about and interviewing a band?

I usually have to really be moved by their music, unless it is just too good an opportunity for a site...but I rarely worry about that. Sometimes also you are dealing with someone who has a lot of trauma or a difficult story to tell and you have to try very hard to represent them right, like you would want to be treated. And communicate as well as you can and try not to seem pushy. I severely regret the times I have come off that way. I mean, you always want to do justice to the band without being an ass kisser but you also should respect everyone is human and try and have a lot of empathy. I don't follow the 'the artist is not your friend' approach. I want them to feel comfortable so they will open up more. And it helps me feel good to hear how creative or other people with mental illness- I suffer from huge depression bouts- have found their way.

6.How long does it take you to write an article?

Really depends. Sometimes I get super manic and write very long intros if I am very keen on the artist's story. It mostly has to flow and feel evocative. Sometimes the conversation does that itself. Other times it is lazy to just do Q&A format and it is better to try and make it more colorful by putting into article format with more impressions.

7.Who and what are some of the biggest names in the music industry that you've met and interviewed?

I like the smaller bands as much as the bigger names, as long as there is a good story or exchange. More well known include Moby, Slayer, Atreyu, Donita Sparks of L7, cult rap legend Aesop Rock, Ian Mackaye (a personal hero), Bad Brains, David Draiman, Killing Joke (2x), John Dolmayan from System Of A Down, Blackalicious. There have honestly been so many at this point. It's been over fifteen years now. Bruce Pavitt from Sub Pop who signed Nirvana was fun. I'm very happy with a recent Globelamp interview because I believed in it and it met publishing resistance from a few outlets but she was in a feud with Sean Lennon and some others and seemed like she was being censored and I wanted to tell her side of her story.

8.Who haven't you interviewed or met that you'd like to?

I don't do as many interviews anymore because the ones I am most interested in now tend to be social justice themed or get pretty intense, or advocating for people who have been shit on by others or wronged. Even if not you can still get really drained from other people's energy. I try and pick and choose really carefully now, though I still love it. I just did a really fun one with Brant Bjork who founded Kyuss. Um, who I haven't? I've interviewed most of the people I am really the most into interviewing, such as Jennifer Herrema, Jarboe, Life Of Agony or Tad Doyle or, again, Ian from Fugazi. I was loosely supposed to talk to Peter Steele for the next album cycle ifit had happened but he passed away. People who really shaped the way I hear music, I guess. Dream interviews still haven't done would be Chuck D, PJ Harvey, George Michael. Or Dave Gahan. Other than that I don't really care anymore, hahaha. I've talked to most of my favorite artists and even fell head over heels for someone last year, which got messy. I was bordering on suicidal at that point and not talking to many people and this artist was also in a very stressful time and I came to rely on her too much for an ear and missed some personal cues which sadly really affected our friendship and crushed me as well as stressed them out, which I deeply regret. But I am grateful for the better part of the experience because the person's art and

friendship probably saved my life during a time I was really feeling suicidal again after my dad passed and

I felt really attacked by some people. But I was really shot and super manic, like writing sprawling letters...which comes very easy to me and I don't even really notice as it is happening. It made me kind of reluctant to really do interviews as often anymore though. I will prob do less than ten interviews a year from now on, if that. I want to make my own music again and be semi low key. My heart kind of hurts.

9.When and how did you get into music?

My mom is one of four sisters and sang all the time with them. My dad was also a drummer and played in The Del Vikings briefly. They encouraged me a lot when I was younger and even were fairly understanding when I started getting into crazy punk music. When they saw it wasn't a phase they just prayed I'd make healthy choices as far as the party lifestyle went that goes sometimes with rock n roll, but they always were awesome about supporting my right to make art. The only time they were really upset was if I bled at a show or got arrested or when I dropped out of college to open for Orange 9mm at a Burton Snowboards Jagermeister party with strippers (it was worth it).

10.Who or what  influences you and your own music?

Sepultura. 70's vampire movies. Politics. Being manic. Danzig. Royal Trux. Exes. Fairy tales. That's about it. I want to do a concept record about the Nine Muses, like a love letter to creativity, at some point.

11. If you weren't a journalist, what would you want to be doing?

I used to like playing baseball when I was a kid. Or running. I only really enjoy a certain amount of things, as much as I love life. I could do without the journalism. I almost quit last year because I was unsure but felt I'd maybe gotten super paranoid and , again, lost the trust of someone I really cared about who maybe questioned my motives, and I wanted to prove the connection was even more important to me than writing the 8000th article of my career. But that backfired anyway and prob just seemed extreme. I feel horrible at communicating the last few years, ironically. I will never stop singing though. Ever.

12. What do you do for fun?