Story/ @bri.ng.schwartz

Photos / @juliacomita

Album Art Design / @stephiejae

Stylist / @andyomo

Hair / @adamesbrandon

Album Mastering and Producer / @jhevere

Morgin DuPont is anything but unlucky this Friday the 13th, as she basks in the release of Alchemy, her second EP. A departure from Pearls, DuPont embraces her ever-evolving identity. With lyrics more personal than ever, and a soundscape that is both vocal and rap forward, she staples herself as an inspiration for the New York girls who dare to be different, unapologetically.

Congratulations on the release of Alchemy. How long has this project been in the making, and what can you share about the development process of creating this EP? 

This project was born out of another project that I was originally working on. Originally, I was going for a more sad, emo, alternative route. But then life kind of inspired me to do a bit more dance, because I feel like that’s what the world needs right now. So it wasn’t necessarily planned, but I guess together with the project I was initially working on, I would say it’s probably 4 or 5 years in the making. 

“Reach Out” was the first single released from the EP. It’s such an anthem for us yearners. Have you had any memorable fan responses to the song so far?

I had one particular person who contacted me and mentioned that the song was super relatable, and that they’ve been struggling with being in a toxic relationship. They were searching for that gratifying feeling, that validation from the people who we love who aren’t necessarily the best for us.

I think people are going to love ‘I’m the doll’. Fans already love the snippets I have shared. I’m most excited for people to hear “Party from Home”, which is another track on the album. I just feel like it’s so relatable for those who sometimes feel a bit introverted and a bit tired of the nightlife and party scene. It’s almost contradictory in its sound, because it’s a very uptight, fast club type of record, but the whole premise of the song and the lyrics is talking about staying home.

Your message is incredibly raw and vulnerable. Has sharing about your experience in this way always come naturally to you? Or is that a confidence that’s been built over time?

I would say both. I’ve always been very authentic, and I’ve always been a person who follows the beat of my own drum. With that being said, following the beat of my own drum in front of an audience? Is that new to me? Yes. But I guess it is a little different when there are opinions that are shared when you put your life out there publicly. I am gonna be who I am, and I’m gonna always be unapologetic about it. But I guess it is a little new in a way, because it’s in front of people. I’m also an oversharer. I’m a person who kind of thinks everybody’s a friend in my head, so I kind of just spill all the beans and don’t leave much for the imagination. 

What advice do you have for other songwriters looking to tap more into the more personal parts of themselves in their work?

Walk towards your fear of putting your heart out there. Let the world have a piece of your heart. I think that’s where the best music lies, it makes a big difference. It hits different when it comes from a real place, when it comes from real-life experiences, and yeah, people can feel that.

What have been some of your biggest lessons learned so far in your own career?
Don’t wait for others to make things happen. I’m an independent artist, so I’ve definitely gotten a lot of no’s. At times working with other people, whether it’s producers or artists, people can be unreliable or they could have their own agendas that differ from yours.

I always like to work with people who do it for the love. We all want to make money, and a transactional relationship isn’t necessarily negative when it comes to the music business. It is a business, and everybody should be paid for their gifts and their talent. I’ve just learned to discern and enroll with the people who will do it for the art.

How do you think your identity as a native New Yorker informs your own artistic voice and point of view?

I’m a straight shooter, you know? Being a Puerto Rican tranny from New York, I have dealt with a lot of things in my life. Even my aesthetic, or how I present myself, is all an expression of rebellion. I don’t dress for somebody; I dress for me. I don’t create for people. I create for myself first. I follow the beat on my own drum and I think that’s very New York.

What advice would you say for other young trans creatives looking to push forward throughout the noise of the industry?

Embrace your uniqueness and your voice. Sometimes trans people experience gender dysphoria, and we can have a weird relationship with the sound of our voice. I want to inspire trans artists to embrace their voices, whether it’s masculine, whether it’s feminine, whether it’s everything in between, because it’s what makes you different. Do not let people put you in a box. Just be an artist.

Alchemy is being released on Friday the 13th. Do you have a relationship with superstition?

I’m not the type who’s gonna go frantic about splitting a pole, or knock on wood. I don’t necessarily believe I feel like I’m definitely more powerful than that. However, I do believe in synchronicity, numbers, and the power in numerology and astrology. I believe in a higher source, a power – the power of my pussy! When I released “Reach Out”, it was on 11/11. Little things like that do make me feel like I am aligning with something bigger. It’s not just any day, it’s Friday the 13th! 

I feel lucky to have basked in Morgin DuPont’s words of inspiration during our conversation, and to have a new soundtrack to my Spring. As New Yorkers begin to defrost and gather, I’ll remind myself to stay true to who I am, relating especially to songs like “Party From Home” as a self proclaimed extroverted introvert. Her brave and rebellious voice is a needed one in our current music landscape. As our Trans, LGBTQ and Latinx siblings and loved ones continue to face the unspeakable, Alchemy is a reminder of what it looks like to speak truth to power. 

CONNECT WITH MORGIN DuPONT:
INSTA / YOUTUBE

The post MORGIN DUPONTS PUSHES HER LUCK THIS FRIDAY THE 13TH WITH ALCHEMY EP RELEASE appeared first on LADYGUNN.