Things To Take Away From Morgan Evans’ Five-Part Docuseries

On March 1, Morgan Evans released a new online docuseries centred around his song Over For You, which he wrote about his split from Kelsea Ballerini, as well as the ups and downs of his 2022 musical journey including bringing viewers backstage and back home where Evans grew up.

Directed by Peter John, the docuseries brings viewers backstage and back home where Evans grew up. After a year of planning and just weeks before shooting, Evans went through a divorce.

You can watch the five-part docuseries on YouTube here.

1. He debuted Over For You at CMC Rocks QLD in September 2022.

On September 24, Evans debuted the heartfelt single for 22,000 people at CMC Rocks QLD festival, while on tour in Australia and New Zealand supporting Brad Paisley. “This song is the most personal thing I’ve ever written and the most personal thing I’ve ever shared,” said Evans.

He wrote the song a week before the festival, shortly after for divorce was filed.

More than a show, Evans says the song became a release. “I didn’t realise that I was going to feel this, but after I played it at CMC Rocks, I did feel a weight off my chest,” he shares. “I felt like I told them the most honest, real, and most positive way possible. It’s the only song I’ve written since going through all this shit. It felt like channelling all that sort of awfulness into something positive.”

He shares that he kept his eyes closed during the performance, saying “the connection that I’ve had with people on the internet since… has been so real. When you share something that’s the most personal thing you’ve ever shared, that so many other people can relate to it. It’s one of those things you’ve heard a million times but then like to actually feel that is really, pretty wild.”

2. He wasn’t sure he wanted to release Over For You as a single.

“Since we played the song, it’s gone viral and everyone is kind of, ‘you need to get it out, let’s get it out,’” he says. “I’m sort of paralysed by it a little bit because I don’t know what the right thing to do is, because it’s the most authentic thing I’ve ever communicated through music. And I don’t want to tarnish that by however we share it. I’m not sure what the right way to do that is.”

In response, after the performance received hundreds of thousands of views on social media, Evans released Over For You – Live In Melbourne as well as the recorded studio version.

“The reaction has been unreal online. The amount of nice comments is great but the amount of in-depth messages that I’ve got on social media is, like, I’ve never seen anything like it before, it’s crazy. People are opening up. There was one lady who was like ‘I hadn’t been able to put words to my feeling before, but you did it already’. It’s been really nice to experience.”  

3. The studio version was recorded quickly shortly after.

Following the response to the live version, Evans’ co-writers – Jeff Warburton, Tim Sommers, and Madison Love – suggested they quickly record a studio version adding some minor changes.

“The writers, who I wrote this song with, heard the live version and suggested that we tweak a couple of things on the studio version to match the live version,” he says. “We all madly called around Auckland trying to find somewhere with the same microphone that we recorded this thing.”

Evans and his band recorded the studio version at singer-songwriter, Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios in Auckland. “We’re here for only as long as it takes to get these few lines,” he admits.

5. He celebrates his family in Episode 2: The Reset.

Evans refers to family as a “safe place”, including his parents – who go on tour with him when he’s in Australia, brother – who has three kids under three – and sister – who has two kids under three.

5. Evans’ parents reveal that his life was “destroyed” after his split from Ballerini.

“Everything’s blowing up, destroyed in his life,” John Evans says. “I think he needed to come home and feel he’s a special person and everyone loves him.”

Sue Evans adds, “At our place the other day there was like a reconnection with what’s important in life. It is your family and those people who love you, regardless of who you are or how well you’re performing.”

“I think it’s a reset for him to actually work out what’s important to him. I think that’s one of the things that’s going on with him,” John replies. “Just to remember what he wants, what he values.”

6. He Closes His Divorce On A Positive Note

Following some time spent out in the bush and on the coast – and admits he takes time to meditate and practice mindfulness – he admits though he has a long to go, “considering everything, I’m a long way from where I was three weeks ago. One day at a time, that’s all you can hope for.”

“I’m super grateful to be in this moment. I feel like I’ve always struggled with that balance of whatever it is that drives you to get to the next thing and then enjoying where you’re at,” he says. “I think in the last three weeks I’ve realised, that there’s a potential in moments, I don’t know what that is, but I don’t think it's not being present, but it’s being present and recognising this is the first step towards the next thing. I’ve really been trying to take that in and appreciate that.”

"I was sort of dreading heading back to the States, just because it feels good to be on the other side of the world right now, but I love it so much there," he continues. "I love Nashville so much. I love country music so much. I'm kind of excited as to what that's gonna look like now. And if I can bring in this perspective that I've got here in the last three weeks, I think I'll be in as good a spot as I can be."
 
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Keep up to date with Morgan Evans on his Facebook page here.