Artist of the Week: Morgan Wade

CountryTown in partnership with iHeartCountry Australia is proud to announce Morgan Wade as our Artist Of The Week, following the deluxe edition release of her album, Reckless.

Wade first began writing songs in college, but only began performing in public at 19-years-old, when she put her backing band The Stepbrothers together via Craiglist and discovered she loved the stage. Together, they released the album, Puppets With My Heart in 2018.

She released her debut album, Reckless in early 2021. With a voice that is raw hurt, deep knowing and somehow innocence retained, Wade wrote or co-wrote a song cycle about the reality facing teens and 20-somethings that embraced raw desire, the reality of getting high and getting sober, the realm of crawling through the wreckage with a tough vulnerability that is as singular as the young woman from Floyd, Virginia.

She says, “I wrote to save myself. It’s something that benefitted me throughout childhood. I didn’t share it with anybody, but I could be honest with myself. I didn’t have to worry about what anyone else thought… and (now) I’ve had these great big men come up to me after shows to tell me I’m saying what everybody’s thinking. So, I figure if I keep saying the things I want to say, people are going to be thinking them, running straight into those feelings.”

Co-produced by Jason Isbell + the 400 Unit Guitarist Sadler Vaden and Paul Ebersold, the deluxe release includes six additions tracks, including a cover of Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds and The Night – Wade’s first release – as well as the singles Take Me Away, Wilder Days and Run.

She shared on Instagram, “The fact that there is so much love and interest in Reckless that we now get to present you with a deluxe edition… it just warms my heart. Thanks to everyone who has believed in me, who has requested Wilder Days on the radio, streamed the whole album, or come to shows. I am definitely grateful. Y’alls love is what makes all these next steps possible for me.”

Keep up to date with everything Morgan Wade on her Facebook page here.

For more Artist Of The Week features, including Morgan Wade, check out here.

Image: Supplied/David McClister