Singer-songwriter and musician Lauren Morrow is ready to talk about cannabis. Known for over a decade as the centerpiece of the Americana band Whiskey Gentry, Morrow moved from Atlanta to Nashville in 2018 and released her first EP as a solo artist, which garnered the “Best Albums of the Year” status from Rolling Stone and Garden & Gun. Now, her new record People Talk drops on March 31st and the performer has a lot to say about her passion for the plant.
Lauren Morrow's New Album People Talk and "Only Nice When I'm High"
Morrow released the first single/video from People Talk in late January, called “Only Nice When I’m High.” The video follows the singer as she ponders life and her interpersonal dynamics, while being accompanied by an anthropomorphic joint. Peppy melodies in the song and cheery psychedelic visuals make this a perfect musical treat for cannabis enthusiasts, and the track also seems to carry the tongue-in-cheek spirit of Adult Swim programming, where Morrow has been featured often. (She’s also performed on PBS.)
Watch the music video for "Only Nice When I'm High":
According to Morrow, People Talk is not only an exploration of various creative influences, but also a culmination of efforts from the past few years. Struggling with tours being canceled, she did everything she could to make it happen. Her guitar player (and husband) Jason started painting houses; the couple took out a second mortgage on their home, and even paid the backing band heard on the record in weed. Although based in Tennessee, where the laws remain restrictive, Morrow is an outspoken advocate of legalization who emphasizes the importance of medicinal cannabis, especially when it comes to anxiety and depression.
People Talk is mixed by multi-Grammy winners Vance Powell (Chris Stapleton, Jack White, Phish) and Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Tom Waits, Shania Twain). The album showcases Morrow's flawless vocals and intricate songwriting, but also her willingness to take risks — an edge that makes her stand out from the Nashville norm.
Lauren Morrow's Multilayered Weedsday Playlist
For Lauren Morrow’s Weedsday Playlist, she selected tracks that will surprise you in their complexity and nuance. “The songs I chose for my Smoke Sesh playlist are really cerebral to me. I like listening to music that is multilayered and has a lot of "ear candy" within it -- things you might not hear upon first listen but will creep up on you, especially after a toke or ten. There's a lot of thought put into these songs, whether it be in production, lyrics, or arrangement. They move me on an emotional level, and I can feel the processes that went into each song to make them so big and beautiful. So put on your headphones, open your mind, and sink in.”
Radiohead - "Exit Music (For A Film)"
It was really hard to pick just one song off of Ok Computer, which is hands down my favorite album to listen to after a sesh. It’s a glorious and gorgeous record, and every song plays into the next with such beauty. I picked this song, however, because there are so many musical layers within it. It starts so soft and innocent, and then the drums come in and Thom Yorke starts belting “And now we are one in everlasting peace,” and swells into this triumphant, bombastic place of sheer emotion - I get chills every time I hear it, and I've probably listened to it over 1000 times in my life.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Weyes Blood - "Andromeda"
I laid in the bathtub one day for hours and listened to this song on repeat over and over. It’s such a vibe, and I’m here for any song that talks about a galaxy. The melody in this song is so magical - I feel like I’m floating in space. Her voice is incredible and makes me feel like I'm on a 1970s dreamy spaceship set for a planet far, far away from the insanity of this world.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Sigur Rós - "Starálfur"
The first time I think I talked to God, I was on a bus driving through the English countryside, and this song came on my iPod playlist. I started crying and the world just opened up to a place of infinite beauty - I felt like everything was possible and perfect. I still feel that way when I hear this song. I hope it’s the song playing in my head when I cross over to the other side and meet God/The Universe/Source Energy and start my next journey.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Nine Inch Nails - "All The Love In The World"
Funny story about this song: when I was just out of high school, this record came out, and I was still pretty new to smoking. My friend John Paul came over to my house with some weed and was like, “You gotta come get high with me and listen to this new Nine Inch Nails record in my car.” We hot boxed the car, and then John Paul got so hype and was dancing, and I was WAAAAY too high - I started having a panic attack right when the breakdown hits at the end of the song. It’s so intense and the weed hit, and I was just BEYOND. I’ll never forget that night and I love this damn banger of a song still, even if I did freak out the first time I heard it.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Pink Floyd - "Us and Them"
Maybe it’s cliche to have a smoke sesh to Pink Floyd, but I don’t give a shit - I had to include this song on the list. One of the first times I got high with my friend Rachel, we dragged my moms record player speakers to the front lawn, laid in the grass, stared at the stars, and blasted this song. We talked about aliens and other life forms, human existence, etc - I remember thinking that I’d never had a conversation like that before and something unlocked in my brain. To this day, I can put on this tune and teleport back to that same head space. Music is a time machine, and it's a beautiful thing.
Click here to play on Spotify!
Lauren Morrow's album PEOPLE TALK releases on March 31, 2023. Click here to pre-order, and visit laurenmorrow.com for details about live shows, new music, and more.
What are your favorite Weedsday tracks? Tell us about them - reach out at @honeysucklemagazine on Instagram and @HoneysuckleMag on Twitter!
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Featured image: Lauren Morrow (C) Jace Kartye @jacekartye