Artist: MJM-Mark J. Morgan, Singer-Songwriter
Album: MJM Parables Part 1
Production: Mixing by TYE and Mastered by LANDR
The harrowing heartaches people are often forced to overcome in their personal relationships are often the very emotions they embrace as they strive to better themselves. But for soulful singer-songwriter, Mark J. Morgan, who’s commonly known by his stagename, MJM, those tribulations don’t fuel his unique talents as a musician. As showcased in his latest album, ‘MJM Parables Part 1,’ the singer doesn’t embody his misfortune in love in his quest for redemption; instead he leans on the support of his faith as he tries to atone for the mistakes that have tainted his connection.
The musician’s current record begins with its best song, ‘With You,’ which features sensuous beats and soulful R&B vocals and harmonies that are naturally reminiscent of Frank Ocean’s musicality. MJM passionately sings that he never wants to give up on himself, and he instead wants to maintain a positive lifestyle, particularly through his spiritual connection with his faith. The lyrics enthralingly reveal that he can only be true to his goals with am undivided commitment to his true emotions and beliefs.
With MJM takes a noteworthy stance of not compromising his convictions just for the momentary joy of life’s superficial elements in ‘With You,’ it’s follow-up, ‘Parallel,’ unfortunately fails to maintain the singer’s musical potential. The second entry isn’t as vocally strong as its predecessor, as it’s more difficult to understand MJM’s vocals at times. But the writer is still able to communicate a powerful message of fighting to maintain a relationship with the person he truly loves, if he feels he can protect himself from further pain. MJM reveals his stunning realization that true love can only be upheld if both people are willing to work to maintain it.
‘MJM Parables Part 1’ then transitions into its current lead single, ‘Hold You Down,’ which features Delanor Page in a noteworthy collaboration. MJM and Page reflect on their struggles of surviving the difficult challenges they have faced in their lives, as they tried to live up to society’s accepted standards. The duo’s engaging rap about realizing they have a purpose, which carries their powerful message of fighting to survive the hardships they regularly encounter, make the song a perfect track for an inspirational theme in a dramatic film scene.
Another stunning and inspirational entry on MJM’s latest record is ‘All It Is,’ which is infused with a similar sound to the leading track. Like ‘With You,’ ‘All It Is’ features the soulful R&B side of the musician’s voice, as he emotionally sings about getting lost in his search for love. But he admits that as he tries to figure out how to love the other person he’s singing about, including looking to faith for inspiration, he has realized they don’t have true love together.
The last intriguing track on ‘MJM Parables Part 1’ is ‘For the Culture,’ which begins with a soulful piano solo that leads into a gripping rap. The singer emphasizes that he wants to lead his life by making righteous decisions, as he doesn’t want to act on hate. The song is an important example of how to best promote equality and peace among everyone, no matter what differences separate them.
The agonizing grief people are often forced to overcome in their personal relationships usually end up being the very emotions they learn to appreciate as they strive to better themselves. But for soulful singer-songwriter, MJM, that pain doesn’t always fuel his unique talents as a musician. As showcased in ‘MJM Parables Part 1,’ the singer often turns away from his misfortune in love in his quest for redemption; instead he embraces his faith as he tries to atone for the mistakes that have tainted his connection.
For more information on MJM< visit his Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages. Listen to ‘MJM Parables Part 1’ below.
Written by: Karen Benardello