Morgan had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with Lady Gaga on 3 orchestral arrangements for her latest release “Chromatica”. “Chromatica I” set the backdrop for the first 2 teaser trailers for the single “Stupid Love”. Watch HERE and HERE
“CHROMATICA” is out now on all streaming services. Spotify link HERE.
Executive Producer: BloodPop
Mixed + Engineered by Mike Schuppan.
Orchestration + Conducting by Amie Doherty
Contracted by Gina Zimmitti
Morgan was thrilled to contribute to the title track of Harry Styles’ new album “Fine Line” produced by Kid Harpoon.
Listen on Spotify HERE
Morgan initially collaborated with Brendon Urie on “Death of a Bachelor”, co-writing 4 songs on the album that would go on to earn Panic their first #1 on the Billboard charts as well as their first Grammy nomination for Alternative Album of the Year.
She has subsequently co-written another 5 songs on their most recent release “Pray for the Wicked” which also went to #1 at Billboard and saw Panic playing exclusively in stadiums across the world.
Morgan’s 7 years with M83 waere an epic and unexpected journey. From “Saturdays = Youth” which Kibby co-wrote, sang and toured globally, to the meteoric rise of “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming”, most notably with the single “Midnight City”, Kibby performed on live T.V. contributed to a grammy nominated album, scored her first platinum single and headlined the Hollywood Bowl. Highlights below.
Sue Clayton’s debut album “Rookie” can be listened to HERE.
All Photos by Samantha West
Forlorn matters of the heart can indeed be turned into art proves Sue Clayton – a new sonic persona created by songwriter, composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist Morgan Kibby, who has formerly released songs under the moniker White Sea.
It all began in Palm Desert, California. Sue took a room at the first dusty roadside motel she drove past, one where neon signs boasting of hot tubs and Color TVs illuminate the sky. There, she made her stand, collaborating with the night and her twelve-string while the Santa Ana winds whipped sand into her tequila glass and tear stained eyes. As she croons, her heart-wrenching tonic of femininity unfurls, poured like liquid confessions into the crevices of Rookie.
With nods to folk, country, and the singer songwriter tradition, along with a sprinkle of dark, orchestral pop flourish, Sue Clayton is at home in Austin, Laurel Canyon, Nashville and everywhere in-between.
Each song on Rookie is a diary in motion. In “Extraordinary Life,” Sue whispers into her lover’s ear, “when you share my bed, you share my pain.” She bargains with God on “Runaway Bride.” On “Palm Springs Cemetery," she exclaims, “I buy my own pink flowers now,” a cry of mournful independence as she steps into her future. On “Buttermilk Sky,” Sue confesses, “I didn’t know when I was happy, but I knew when I was not,” a tangled idea of womanhood sung against a cascading guitar. In a moment of reflection, she casts the beautiful mess aside, singing “I wish I’d realized now and then, I could be loud and still be loved.”
For all of the richness in the album, listeners might be shocked to find however, that Sue Clayton is not real; but rather a figment, an extension, a creation of Morgan Kibby, whose has contributed to the role of composer, songwriter, musician, remixer and sought-after collaborator in pop, rock and film. Her sonic resume is a guide to the most important artists of the last decade: she’s written for, produced, or remixed the likes of Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Lorde, M83, Panic! At the Disco, and more.
As it so often happens, after almost a decade after throwing herself into the world of composition for film and TV, Kibby finds herself coming full circle to her original source of creative joy: songwriting. In the span of two weeks, she poured, painted, stretched and sung seven years of private musings into Rookie, and Sue Clayton was born.
Morgan spent a great deal of time honing her production skills by remixing for a range of multi-platinum selling artists and folk heroes. Selection below.
LORDE via MTV
The Weeknd via Exclaim
Ellie Goulding via premiere on Rolling Stone
Active Child via Rolling Stone
Kibby’s solo project White Sea has been an evolving beast. Her debut album saw her touring with Phantogram and The Naked and Famous, while her second allowed her to explore the idea of releasing singles instead of larger bodies of work all at once.
She is currently gearing up for her third effort TBA in collaboration with Itai Shapira, Sonny Diperri and Third Side Music.
The White Sea catalogue can be heard on Spotify HERE
Kevin has always been one of my favorite collaborators and creators. His songwriting is transcendant and the more you dive in, the more there is to discover. He is one in a million. I recently had the privilege of contributing vocals and additional production on his newest EP “Noone’s Waiting Up For Me Tonight”. Listen HERE
