“What’s That Track Wednesday?” is a biweekly music column dedicated to finding the top up and coming artists in various genres. It gives readers an inside look to the process of creating music and offers the chance to partake in a more intimate relationship with the artist. 

(Photo courtesy of Cyra Morgan)

Artist Name: Cyra Morgan            

Age: Depends on the day                                         

Genre: Singer-Songwriter, Folk                        

Hometown: New York, NY            

Interesting Fact: I am a vegetarian, a yogi, a romance junkie, and I believe that chocolate needs to be added to the food pyramid.

SEE ALSO: What's That Track Wednesday: Chris Meid

NT: What inspired you to pursue and create music? 

CM: Writing and performing is essential to me.  I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember, probably as early as four years old. I tend to be a person that feels deeply- certain moments in my life have led me to places where the emotions, good or bad, are so immense that they feel too big to carry. And I feel like if I can capture those feelings as authentically as possible in a song, it somehow helps to carry the weight of the emotions for me. I’m sort of a shy person but the one place I feel completely safe in my vulnerability is in my songs.

NT: What interesting opportunities have you experienced through producing/creating music or being in the music realm?

CM: I’ve experienced so many amazing opportunities over the past few years. I’ve been featured by some amazing companies including SoundCloud, Propellerhead Software, The Financial Times UK and US for SoundCloud, Creature Mag UK, and I was a finalist in Guitar Center’s Singer Songwriter 2 Competition which was a huge honor. I’ve had the honor of playing some awesome festivals including Youbloom in Dublin Ireland and SXSW in Austin. And I’ve had the opportunity to connect and collaborate with incredible artists around the globe through SoundCloud.

NT: Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

CM: There are so many. Regina Spektor is at the top of my list for admiration. She is one of my biggest inspirations- she is such a courageous songwriter. She’s not afraid to take risks in her writing, she’s so direct and brilliant with her phrasing, and no matter what she does, no matter how out of the box, she pulls it off with her incredible voice.

Damien Rice is another, along with Ray LaMontagne. Their music holds such power, yet such intimacy. The Arctic Monkeys and Jack White are also up there on my list…. and the iconic folk singer songwriters from back in the day: Neil Young, Bob Dillon, Simon and Garfunkel have to be mentioned as well.

NT: What is your favorite part of creating and producing music?

CM: My favorite part would have to be reaching others in some way. I can’t really express the gratitude I feel when someone tells me that my music has touched their life; that it makes them feel like someone understands what they’re going through, like they’re not alone in the world. It’s the reason I keep going, keep writing, and [keep] sharing.

NT: Referring to the track that you included, what is the message or meaning behind it?

CM: "Solace" is a song about being in that place in a relationship where love isn’t enough. It’s about that point of no return, the last plea for understanding. "Calling" was inspired by a book that I read about life after death. It really resonated with me, the incredibly beautiful picture it painted and the idea that there is someone out there loving you, pulling for you, lighting your way during dark times. That idea, that image is hugely comforting to me.

NT: What program or instruments do you use to create tracks and why?

CM: My music is generally very bare bones, very simple. I use Reason Essentials to record all of my tracks at home, on my Mac with either my Martin guitar or piano and a really good mic. Currently, I use a Shure mic.

NT: What are your long-term career goals with or without music?

CM: Paying the rent with my music would be lovely! Having my songs fully produced and professionally recorded is an immediate goal of mine. Long term, I’d just like to be able to do what I love for a living, touring, writing, an appearance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." I’d also love to work with some of my musical heroes in some way or another: Regina Spektor, Damien Rice, Alex Turner.

To hear more of Cyra's tracks and connect with her, visit her SoundCloud.

Contact Columnist Vivian Tang here.