How do you rekindle the magic of an album that launched your career without sticking too close to the status quo? That was the challenge Morgan Wade faced in the summer of 2022, still fresh off the re-release of her breakout record Reckless.
Videos by American Songwriter
The Virginia-born singer/songwriter hadn’t anticipated the level of commercial success her second studio album rapidly earned. Initially released via Thirty Tigers, Reckless was celebrated by critics and listeners for its gritty yet accessible mix of country, rock, and pop. The record showcased Wade’s artistic depth, juxtaposing polished, radio-friendly production with raw, autobiographical lyricism.
Within months, Wade inked a major label deal with Arista Nashville and celebrated the gold certification of her refreshing love song, “Wilder Days.” Her rapid-fire rise from an independent artist to an Academy of Country Music Award nominee left the 28-year-old in a very different headspace than the last time she began working on a new album.
“When your debut does really well, there’s a lot more eyes on your follow-up record,” Wade tells American Songwriter. “I wanted it to show where I was at now and how I’ve progressed, but not be so crazy that people ask, ‘What is this?'”
To help cultivate the project, she recruited Reckless producer and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit guitarist Sadler Vaden and engineer Paul Ebersold to retake their roles in the studio. Early on, Vaden offered Wade some sage advice.
“He sat me down and said, ‘Let’s not be so worried about what everybody [is] going to think.’ When we went in and did Reckless, I had no money, and I didn’t have a label or anything. So he told me, ‘Let’s just do that again.'”
Although Wade was eager to get things rolling, the weight of trying to fulfill others’ expectations began to weigh her down creatively.
“We recorded five songs, but it didn’t feel right,” she says. Vaden, whom Wade repeatedly praised during our conversation, picked up on her uncertainties.
“I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to get this record out super quick,” Wade adds. “No one was actually pressuring me. I put a lot of that on myself.”
Instead of powering through, Wade pressed pause, returning to the studio a few months later with a fresh perspective and a new set of songs.
“I’m really glad I did because I would’ve rushed that process, and [the result] wouldn’t have been as authentic,” she notes.
The result is Psychopath, out August 25, which finds Wade stretching her creative boundaries farther than ever. Instead of repeating the same sonic formula that made Reckless a hit, Ebersold and Vaden curated an environment that allowed Wade to feel comfortable with musical experimentation.
“I had a few weeks of vocal rest and was really relaxed when we went in there,” she explains. “I sang every song three times, and we were done. There was a whole day I didn’t even have to go into the studio because we really dialed it in.”
Psychopath includes an impressive list of high-caliber co-writers, including Julia Michaels, Natalie Hemby, Butch Walker, and the Love Junkies’ Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, and Liz Rose.
Entering these co-writing sessions served as another creative challenge for Wade, who was intent on bringing her best work to each meeting.
“I don’t want to be the only person in there that doesn’t have a good idea,” she says. “Especially with Julia Michaels, I thought, ‘I have to go in here with something great’ because she’s just such a genius.”
Wade’s concerns were unwarranted. Her collaboration with Michaels and Ben Rice, “Phantom Feelings,” is an intimate, imagery-driven tale of a former love that still lingers in memories. From the dreamy, synth-tinged “Outrun Me” to the anthemic Morrisette tribute “Alanis,” Wade’s unique perspective and cuttingly honest storytelling are apparent through each of the album’s 13 tracks.
The project ends with the gripping “27 Club,” which offers a powerful and raw look back at demons from the past, set against the sparkle and glamor of Los Angeles. Although Wade admits she’s never actually visited the Chateau Marmont, the famed Hollywood hotel mentioned in the song, she says the track represents the juxtaposition of her past and present.
“People look at me in a new light and in a different way, but I can also tell you that the person who wrote ‘Wilder Days’ isn’t really here anymore,” admits Wade. “For a long time [I wondered] how long was I going to make it, with my suicidal tendencies and the things I’ve struggled with. So, for me, I thought it was a really good way to close out the record and that chapter of my life.”
With the final touches on her record long finished, Wade has spent the bulk of her time out on the road, offering fans a preview of her highly-anticipated new songs.
“We’ve been playing ‘Psychopath’ for a long time, just acoustic by myself, and they know every word to that song,” she explains. “I’ve finally been able to play it with the band, and it’s going over so well. I haven’t had music out in a good while, so people are really hungry for it. I’m excited to get all this into their hands.”
The release of Psychopath is an obvious marker in Wade’s career, fulfilling fan’s long-awaited hopes of new music, but it also serves as a personal turning point. While Reckless reflected on many darker themes, including her own experiences with addiction, loss, and mental health issues, Psychopath echoes the transformative journey that led her to where she is today.
“Reckless changed everything for me. It helped put me on the map,” says Wade. “I’ve met so many people, booked shows, and made a living off of that record. I’ve had to learn a lot through that. I think I’m happier and healthier than I was when I wrote Reckless and when I released it. You learn a lot in three years. You can learn a lot in six months.”
Today, Wade seems more determined than ever to do things her way. When rumors began to spread online about a romantic relationship with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Kyle Richards, she responded by releasing a music video for “Fall In Love With Me,” which shows the pair in an array of sexually charged scenes.
Although the music sparked a new wave of rumors and questions, Wade largely opted out of the conversation. The success of Reckless has shaped many facets of her life, including the people and things she channels her energy into.
“I’m definitely different. I’ve learned to say no and that time is your most valuable thing,” she says thoughtfully. “I won’t just do something because it looks good. I’m going to do what I want to do. I’m learning to keep my circle small and not listen to what the internet says or what other people say. Just focus on the real fans and the real people around me.”
(Photo by Matthew Berinato, Courtesy of Sony Music Nashville)
