Welcome to a backstage pass into the world of Shaun Morgan, the powerhouse behind Seether. Originally from South Africa, Shaun’s journey through the world of rock has been nothing short of inspiring. In this exclusive interview recovered from our 2011 archive, harking back to our days as Resonance, we take a nostalgic journey to our humble beginnings. Join us as we venture beyond the rockstar facade, exploring everything from tour adventures to inspirations and even indulging in some guilty pleasures.
How are you, Shaun?
Shaun Morgan – I am very well, thank you.
You’re out on a massive tour with 3 Doors Down. How has that gone so far?
Shaun Morgan – The tour has been great. We’ve been playing some big rooms, with some very good friends of ours so we don’t really have much to complain about. We’ve been to some new countries on this tour, too, so hopefully, we’ve started the ball rolling on building our fan base in Europe. We’re already looking at booking a headlining tour of Europe in October and November of this year.
Do you have a particular country or city you’re most looking forward to playing?
Shaun Morgan – We really don’t have many preferences, but we have seen some great shows on this tour so far. My favourites have been Melbourne, Moscow, Amsterdam and Graz. Usually, we have a great time in Paris too, so we’re psyched for that, and of course, we have some great fans in the UK, so we’re looking forward to that as well.
We’ll be at your Bristol show, which will be our first time seeing you live. What can we expect?
Shaun Morgan – We’re just a simple rock band. We get up and make noise and play songs that we love. I think we play with a lot of passion and energy, so hopefully, that translates into an entertaining show for the audience. It’s all about having a good time and possibly drinking a little bit too much.
We’re very excited about your upcoming release, Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray, which is set for release on March 5th in the UK. How was the recording process for that? Was it much different from usual?
Shaun Morgan – We recorded the album in 4 different segments, starting in February of 2010 and ending in late August 2010. Basically, we walked in with a batch of songs and picked the 4 or 5 best ones and recorded those, and then we would scrap the rest and write new songs for the next batch to keep raising the bar. Usually, on prior albums, we would have walked in with all the songs written and chosen the best 15. I prefer the way we worked this time because it became a challenge we set for ourselves. Brendan O’Brien produced the album, and I think he was an absolute godsend. He helped us make the best album we could without trying to turn us into something that we weren’t. He really inspired us to write better and smarter music, and I think it makes for a far more interesting-sounding album.
Did you have a theme or ideas of what you wanted to do beforehand, or did it all unravel once you started writing?
Shaun Morgan – There is never a theme or an idea. In fact, we have no idea what any album is going to sound like until we start writing music. It ebbs and flows, and ultimately, a subconscious theme will start presenting itself, and we allow it to happen. It’s an interesting experiment to uncover what is hidden in our minds and what is really sitting just beneath the surface. Sometimes I go back and read lyrics I’ve written and find the hidden meanings that I had no idea were there, which can be quite a trip. It’s best just to lose yourself in the writing process and worry about where it’s all leading at some later point.
What is your favourite track on the album?
Shaun Morgan – I’m partial to Roses and Forsaken right now. Those 2 songs have a sense of drama about them that I really love. They are the tracks that I am most proud of on the album, and I love that they’re a little different from what we usually write.
You can really hear who you’ve been influenced by in your music regardless of how much your work evolves, and we know you’re a big fan of the grunge scene (i.e. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains), but what do you feel you’ve taken most from each band (or artist)?
Shaun Morgan – I think I have taken the attitude from bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana because they inspired me as a kid. I loved the anger and the emotion in the songs – the lyrics were so deeply personal. Those bands were all really melodic, too, and that’s important when I write songs. There needs to be something that sticks in your mind, and that’s a key element in all the songs I write. Sometimes I get it, and sometimes I fail, but that is the goal. I loved the intense intimacy of Alice in Chains, as far as the lyrics are concerned, and I loved the heaviness and sludginess of Soundgarden. Basically, there was an honesty and vulnerability that all those bands had that I identified with, so it has always been the way I write.
Do you get a lot of time to spend with fans?
Shaun Morgan – I spend as much time as I can. It can be overwhelming sometimes – people have such touching stories, and I find myself to be a very empathetic and sympathetic person, so they affect me quite profoundly at times. People who listen to our music and come to the shows and buy the merch – those are the people who keep this band alive, so I have incredible love for them. I will always do my best to accommodate fans and give something back.
What has been your most awkward fan encounter?
Shaun Morgan – I’m always awkward, so they all are. I’m not a very social person, and I can be painfully introverted. It’s actually quite stressful for me to get on stage and play, which I have been battling my whole life. I guess it all falls under the low self-esteem category. I feel awkward in so many social situations that it’s ridiculous. I guess I should thank all the fans for dealing with me being awkward, huh?
No, thank you! I’m the same way. The fact that you manage to battle through it and do what you do is pretty damn amazing.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Shaun Morgan – Cigarettes. I know I should quit, but I just can’t give the little fuckers up quite yet. Good red wine is another. I can drink 2 bottles easily.
And the most embarrassing thing on your MP3 player?
Shaun Morgan – Kelly Clarkson. I really can’t even defend that, but there are some great songs in her catalogue. Great pop music.
Do you have any must-have items on your rider?
Shaun Morgan – Vodka. Soda. Limes.
What home comforts do you miss when you’re out on the road?
Shaun Morgan – I miss everything about home. My little family. My house. My car. Clean toilets. Hot showers. Comfortable bed. Sex. Cooking. Cocktails on the deck at sunset. I have a very quiet life at home, and I really like how it is the exact opposite of touring.
Who has the worst tour bus habits?
Shaun Morgan – Probably me. I tend to let personal hygiene slip when I’m touring. It’s not intentional, but you have to be pretty anal to get a shower in every night after the show, and quite honestly, there aren’t always the facilities. In fact, I think that’s probably a bad habit all touring guys fall into. There is always something more interesting to do than shower after a show.
What would be your ideal piece of kit?
Shaun Morgan – Comfortable jeans. They become your best friends. A good pair of Converse hi-tops is essential, too.
If you could only watch one movie, listen to one album and read one book for the rest of your life, what would they be? You know, like if you were on a desert island.
Shaun Morgan – The movie would be Snatch. The album would be Brand New – Daisy. The book would be a dictionary so that I could at least learn new words whilst I’m in exile.
Do you know if you’ll be making an appearance at a festival or two this year?
Shaun Morgan – There may be plans in the pipeline. I know we are scheduled for at least three festivals in July, so you’ll have to check our website for details, I guess.
What would you change about the music industry if you could?
Shaun Morgan – That’s a very long list. How about I just give you the one at the top of my list? I would restructure the profit versus risk margin that record companies operate under. Bands wouldn’t be making 13 to 18 cents per dollar for the songs they wrote and tour their lives on. Record companies wouldn’t be able to make the bands feel like they owe the industry something. For fuck sake – without the music, there would be NO record companies, so the power needs to shift back towards the musicians who keep the companies in business. I could rant all day, so I’m going to stop there.
If you had the chance to take the band back to any year and in any city in the world where would you want to be transported?
Shaun Morgan – I’d go back to the 60′s. I’d love to be able to see The Beatles on tour or party with the Rolling Stones. That was a great time in music, and I think I would have been more comfortable then.
Shaun, thank you for chatting with us. It has been a pleasure. We look forward to seeing you at the next show!
Shaun Morgan – Thank you, you too. See you there.
