Two thousand ten brought about a change for so many lives, one life in particular was to be changed forever on a fateful day in Mississippi, a miracle would take place. A miracle that would set forth motion for a renewed beginning.
The rebirth of Morisha Danee, The New Voice of Feel Good Music.
Morisha Danee is a risk taker. The first time I spoke with her, I could feel it. Anyone who offers natural hair care advice to a complete stranger, is a risk taker. Morisha herself has been au natural for about a year and half now. Although growing up she longed for straight, pressed hair, she is thankful for the texture of her crown.
My mom was pretty old school, she’d say, straight hair for a young girl made her too grown. She laughs.
We began to make conversation and she reveals that why school is never out of the plans, she chose not to go in that direction initially after graduating high school.
Right after graduating school, got married. I mean right after, and then had my son. I just kinda went in a different direction once moving from Chicago. But I had options. There was Julliard School of Performing Arts, and Columbia University in Chicago…I just didn’t go, but I can always go to school. If I decided that I have done what I can with pursuing a music career, I would like to be a music teacher.
Morisha grew up in a household of older parents, so for her to have such a mature spirit at 27, is to be expected. She is the youngest of four. One older brother and two older sisters. The age gap is quite substantial to say the least.
My brother and oldest sister are a pretty good deal older than me. My second sister is kinda closer in age to me. She’s in her thirties. My dad is 69. I have old school parents.
She laughs
But I am also family oriented and my family are my favorite people.
When Morisha was around fourteen or fifteen, she signed to a major record label. Although signed for a year, she didn’t put out any music, because she was having a hard time getting out of the gate. The record company’s mission and Morisha’s vision were not aligning.
It was a horrible experience.
Says the singer of her time signed to Epic/Sony Records.
I was signed there for a little over a year.
What I thought: was great! These people are giving me the opportunity to put my music out and reach people. What it was: Selling sex. They wanted me in belly shirts and short shorts. They wanted me to sing about experiences and situations, I was not comfortable singing about and I was too young to sing about.
I was young. Fourteen, fifteen. I wanted music for my age group. Sing about stuff that mattered to me that I felt other people my age would relate to.
When asked on how she feels about people who go along with the image of the record company, Morisha responds,
Sellout. A real artist should want to give the fans who they really are. Instead, you are left to sing songs which have no personal connection to, because you aren’t able to contribute to the writing process or the composing of the song. And then they say, I want you to show me more booty. I want you to show your breasts more. You don’t need to know how to sing, we can make you sound good. You just stand there and be sexy.
She continues.
I never want my fans to question my authenticity. I write music with people in mind who enjoy all the pieces of the song. The track, the production, who mixed it, who mastered it. I like to work with the same circle on my projects. That’s what I want people to connect, when you hear a song like “Keeper” you know that’s Big Cee.
Big Cee is Morisha’s band drummer. One of the songs off her upcoming album [the follow-up to her EP This Is Me Part 1] entitled Billy Joe, is a song the two collaborated on.
Any woman could relate this song to their specific man. I draw my inspirations for my songs through observations of life around me. And however I feel will produce the music I create; different feelings equal different music. The idea of genre placement does not fit me. I draw from the 50s with a lil’ jazzy, hip hop and R&B sound. I want what I create to sound like me.
When asked how she begins to create the framework of her songs, Morisha replies,
For Billy Joel, I wrote the song with a melody in mind and I sent it over to Big Cee and he created around what I initially laid down. I enjoy the effect of using live instruments. It produces the kind of music that will last a lifetime. Live music helps to create originality.
And Morisha’s story is quite original. The songstress almost never sung another note; she was involved in a serious car accident, which left her voiceless.
I stopped singing some years before the accident. I was 18 when I moved from Chicago, and I didn’t begin to sing again until I was 23, the same year my neck was broken in a car accident…. I was scared to death. I couldn’t sing. I could barely talk!
Looking in the mirror, I would sit back and just cry, thinking to myself, my voice cannot be gone. How could I not have the choice to sing again? I thought, because I did not use my gift, God took my voice away. I just did not know what to do.
She chuckles.
My voice was weak once I started using it again, but I was happy that it was not gone. Grateful that it wasn’t over for me as a singer. I worked hard. I sung every single day. And from that first day out of the neck brace, I vowed to never stop singing, and I haven’t since.
Morisha wants her fans to know just how much their support means to her, that the music she puts out, how they receive it and relate the lyrics to their experiences, has her filled with gratitude.
Love my fans! If I could spend personal time with each fan, I would. The fans think I give them what they want, but the fans give me what I need. I appreciate the support they give me to do what I love. It has been journey that has taught me that; time, prayer and effort, will take me far, I have to keep motivating myself.
And we, the fans, will be ready to cheer you on.
Stay tuned for: Morisha Danee Part 2! Q &A This Friday as part of the Flyy Girl Friday Feature
Nov. 7
HEYY GURRL HEYY 