10 Questions with ... Ronny Morris

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Video: RONNY MORRIS / Sweet Silence / Video Epk

Ronny Morris was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark. He wrote music for years, but it wasn't until he placed his music with major TV shows, such as the Ghost Whisperer, that people outside Denmark heard about him. He was awarded six times in Hollywood and won two HMMA awards for his music in major TV shows. He has worked alongside Ronny Wood, Brian Adams and Coldplay on international campaigns for Greenpeace and in November 2018 released his debut album Sweet Silence produced by Adam Kviman (Eagle Eye Cherry and Jewel), and was mixed by Grammy winning producer Steve Thompson (Guns and Roses, Metallica and Madonna). His first single, "Windows," made the top 5 at Hot AC and an amazing top 10 for AAA. A Los Angeles critic calls Sweet Silence one of the 40 best albums of 2018.

1) You released the album "Sweet Silence" at the end of the year. Are you pleased with the way that it's been received?

It's always a slow moving process. I know we live in a fast moving world, but whenever it comes to taking on new stuff, we all tend to move slow. Radio is, to me, still the way to go.

I have been blessed with several stations that are out front on the album. The best feedback I got was from a record shop owner in Sweden, who called me up in person, to thank me for the album, appreciating the great length of time we spend on the production. I mean, a record store owner is a tough nut to crack, just like many music programmers who are bombarded with new music every week. I am super-excited that I got to play at iHeart Radio in New York, and that the L.A Music Critics just awarded it one of the top 40 best album releases of 2018. Knowing how much music that comes out every week, this really seem very special.

2) Do you still live in Denmark? How did growing up there influence your music?

No, I left my beautiful native country some 10 years ago, and haven't looked back. I still love going there, but since then home has been in the states and now Spain, which I adore on so many levels. Denmark, being a small country, we were influenced on so many levels from all parts of the world. Though the American music scene has always played a vital role, countries like the U.K, Germany, Sweden and other places had their take on me as well. I was really into great bands like A-ha out of Norway and Depeche Mode from Basildon in the UK. The glam-rock period was followed by the grunge scene, which swept us all, and later the Britpop period which gave us amazing bands like Oasis, Verve etc. I was lucky to grow up with a stepdad who randomly would collect new vinyl records, creating mix tapes for me, and though I was really into electronic music. These tapes had a bigger impact on me than I thought, when it came to my own songwriting and style of production. Denmark has a rich scene in native folk music, but I knew that English was my way to go if I wanted to connect with the world. My first major influence came when I was sent to boarding school. This was a music school, and for a kid like myself, who found it hard to focus and concentrate in school, this was paradise. We all had our role to play within the school big band, the choir and on each of our solo instruments, which for me was the drums. I believe my exposure to musicians like Glen Miller and more was a really big eye opener for more classic stuff, which has stayed with me ever since.

3) What are some of the differences that you encountered between fans in the U.S. and across Europe?

The amazing thing with music is that unites us. It doesn't matter if you play London, Berlin, New York or L.A. I do tend to think that people in southern Europe are expressing their emotions more, which is always great fun. When I played Russia last year, I was fearful throughout the show if they liked it or not. But getting to know the amazing Russian people, you realize that they just don't express emotions the way that others do. But having people coming over after the show, is really something.

4) What is your favorite city in America?

Oh my, I have so many favorite places in the U.S. I truly do like pockets of L.A and even the coastal cities are great. I love New York's pulse, but being a dad, it's really not a place I hang with my kids. I do think that San Francisco has cleaned up nicely and has so many things to offer. But spending time in Seattle, I was truly impressed. I do love the outdoors and what's better than stay in a city on the border of an amazing national park.

5) You've had songs featured on television shows the Ghost Whisperer, Brothers & Sisters and One Tree Hill. How has that helped your career? And do you feel like you've seen your audience expand when that is the case?

Well, on many levels the entertainment industry is one big popularity contest. So having your music in well-known shows all adds to the level of name dropping. It's pretty simple; our human brain has a hard time, engaging with anything new, so in that sense, it brings my unknown music to a known TV show, which engages people. "If they like it, that's it." It has definitely opened some doors. Fans of the shows stared finding me online, but unfortunately the album wasn't recorded yet, so I they had to wait until now to find it. Bottom line -- the shows have aired successfully around the world, which meant that the music was exposed a great deal in different territories.

6) What role has social media played helping to get more ears on your music?

I do think that social media is key. Everybody seems to be on social media these days. And what somebody would need MTV for back in the day, is now possible through online media. It's an amazing platform and way of exposing new talent. But there are no free rides. Like anything in life, it does take time to build a network. I love the fact that I have made great new friends through social media, people I even see today in real life.

7) There's a nice buzz on your new single, "Windows." Where did the inspiration for that song come from?

I grew up in the time with no cellphones. Yes, I am that old ... LOL. In time I saw more and more people being detached to life around them. It seemed strange seeing friends meeting up at a cafe only to connect with people through a screen. At the time, wars escalated in the Middle East and I thought, "Something is wrong. We are simply moving in the wrong direction." That led the idea of the lyric, "Looking at a world stopped dreaming, there is fire in the sky, no meaning."

8) What is the songwriting process like for you? Do the words come before the music or do things all fall in together?

My mind is a jukebox. I hum melodies all the time. So the melody sets the tone and leads me to the lyrics that has to tell the story. It's like seeing a movie; once you see the leaves fall off of the trees, as an example, you know you are heading for winter. I was lucky not being taught to play guitar. So learning how to play, all chords were my own, or I like to think so. That way, all the tunes that came out were new and exciting, so I never suffered from comparing my songs. The best way to describe is to "get out of its way." The less thinking the better. A great song for me simply just flows and kind of creates itself. I am merely the instrument it seems.

9) Who are the musicians who have influenced your art the most?

Wow, that list could go on forever. There are simply so many and I am still adding a few a year to that list. Songwriter Martin Gore out of Depeche Mode was and is a great inspiration. His lyrics and chord changes were strange to me and I found that very fascinating growing up. George Harrison is really up there and the whole Beatles thing blew me away going through my dad's vinyl collection. I think Neil Finn of Crowed House is an amazing songwriter and even people like Bono, Lindsey Buckingham, Noel Gallagher, Gerry Rafferty and many more.

10) You've not been shy about donating your time and voice to charitable causes. Which ones are you most involved with?

I truly love Greenpeace and truly support their cause. Without them, I am fearful where we would be. I truly, truly love my new work with Musicians On Call. I've worked with the sick and elderly for years now, so things are coming full circle, getting to bring healing to people where it's needed. I know it can seem strange visiting sick people at their bedside in hospitals. But on several occasions it more than singing a song. It's a squeeze, a touch, a small talk, and letting them know we care. That I truly believe saves lives on a major scale.

Do you have plans to tour the world in the New Year?

I have so many plans for this album and touring is one of them. I am working with several people trying to make it happen. With a little luck we will get there. For now I am scheduled to play in Russia, Italy and Denmark, hoping to add more shows soon.