Interview with David Morin

Like the man himself, David Morin’s music is pure, authentic and from the heart. Self-taught and passionately committed to being a career artist, he’s blessed with the ability to turn strangers into fans.

That’s why he earned his stripes the hard way, busking on Vancouver streets and singing to make a living. This guitar (and loop-pedal) virtuo- so makes a solo performance sound like an entire band.

What first got you into music?

We moved around a lot as a kid. Having a single mother who was working two jobs and who was also pursuing music made it hard to make friendships that could stick. But I was also at Mom’s rehearsals, so I was around music a lot. And since we went to church often, music always came naturally to me, and when I discovered that, I knew that music was what l wanted to do.

Who inspired you to make music?

So many people. Artist like D’Angelo, Musiq, Eric Roberson and Stevie, but also my mother and my friends growing up. Omar, Jena and Noble started a band when we were in high school.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

It’s a lot of harmonies overlayed with a kind of boom bap 90s feel with elements of Motown and singer-songwriter, but it’s sort of classic R&B with newer sounds. We like to play around with the bridges a lot to make them full and rich.

What is your creative process like?

I sit with chord progressions for days, weeks, sometimes months, chiselling away at it until I get sections. Then I stitch ‘em all up in different combinations to get a skeleton built… Then I add and subtract instruments and different phrasings… then I get to writing. And I have a bunch of these little beats that I scroll through and work on until it’s complete.

Or I just get dank beats by Koyla. Go check him out.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

So many… to name a few:

Rob Araujo

IAMNOBODI

KAYTRANADA

Chris Turner

Niels Broos

Anomoly

Yebba

Glasper

MXXWLL

GoldLink

Snoop

Nicole Bus

Jamie Lidell

Saba and Kiefer probably.

With the pandemic, how have you found a way to get your music and your message out there?

I took advantage of Reddit live streaming. Their algorithm was really generous and had a stream with 300k viewers… like… it was unreal.

What is one message you would give to your fans?

I’m sorry it’s taken so long for new music, but there’s a shit ton coming.

What would you be doing right now if it weren’t for your music career?

Probably something creative. Painting, digital art, maybe an engineer or an inventor.

Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?

I have played all over this planet. India, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Mexico, Indonesia, UK, Israel, LA, New York, Toronto… and at the moment we are planning a tour once the record is out. Favourite Venue is anything with a low ceiling like the Anza Club open mic in East Van or the Troy Bar in the UK. My least favourite venues are night clubs.

How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

It was imbalanced before with major labels, and now it’s open access but saturated and artists are getting robbed per stream.

What is your favourite song to perform?

New songs. I have been playing some songs for 10 years so anytime I write something new I’m excited to play it. But my go to favourite cover is “Just Friends”. It’s just such a feel-good song ya know.

Have you got a ritual of sorts when writing and thinking about your music?

I have to be in a room with the door closed so I can move around the space and feel the track when I’m writing or I get stuck. The idea is to get into FLOW STATE.

A little smoke helps too.

What lead you to become a music artist and what advice can you give to others aspiring to make a hit?

Harmonizing. It was so fascinating to me. Like it would give me goosebumps right away and I was just hooked on singing. My advice on making a hit is stop trying to make a hit and enjoy making music. That shit will stop the flow and you’ll over think it and it sucks the life out of the track.

In your opinion, how do artists in this industry stay on top of the game when faced with so much competition? What is the secret to making yourself noticed?

They have to get their phones implanted into their retina so they can post every last experience 24 hours a day until they die obviously.

Which famous musicians do you admire?

Prince because he re-recorded his album to keep his publishing.

What is the best advice you have been given?

Let go.

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

Pays per stream. We need to set a new standard as artists because we’re getting robbed of our labour.

What is next for you?

I’m going to be travelling wherever the music takes me, eating good food, meeting lovely people, getting inspired and making more art.

What about your music is rebellious, unconventional, or unusual?

I refuse to use autotune.

What sets your music apart? What is unique, or at least uncommon?

My music isn’t ground-breaking. But it speaks to who I am as person. I think almost every idea has been used in some shape or form, but it’s how you manipulate those ideas and shape them is what makes art beautiful and meaningful.

I’d say my live performances over the years have been unique because of the use of my loop pedal. I was doing it before it got really popular but it still makes for an interesting performance. You can record the audience and make beats with them so it’s a bit of a collaboration with the viewers. Busking is something I still do, and there aren’t a lot of us around these days.

Has your musical journey had a deliberate direction, or did it simply gradually evolve in whatever direction it found?

Music is my life. It’s certainly a lifestyle my spirit has grown with. When I was naive and young my motivations were less altruistic let’s say. But that changed very quickly as I grew with it. Music is for me now a conduit in which I get to live my life freely.

Who are your main musical influences?

Firstly Mom. She can sing her ass off. Then those folks from the SOULQUARIANS.

David returns with the slinky new single “Flashing Lights” as the second slice of his forthcoming new album Flow State.

A fusion of sultry soul and funk vibes, the productions’ shimmering chords gorgeously offset with the lively drums and David’s warm vocal tones. Delivering romantic one-liners about the joys of discovering love again, the accompanying visuals (produced in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico) elevate the lyrics and capture the buoyant energy an intoxicating new love can bring.

Speaking on the track, David shared the following: “‘Flashing Lights’ is essentially my ‘Vision Board’ song. I was writing what I wanted my future to be like. I wanted to manifest abundance in my experiences, my relationships and happiness. I wanted a better life for myself. So I imagined blue skies, beaches and pure love.”