PJ Morton On Why He Considers Himself 'A Soul Artist'

essence.com:

PJ Morton, whose music oscillates between soul, gospel and R&B, the remnants of the COVID-19 pandemic still linger. The surreal circumstances of the last two years prompted Morton to make Watch The Sun, his solo album that drops on April 29.

Weaving a theme of palpable hope at a time when it remains in short supply, the album is the eighth studio project for the musician, who still maintains his decade-long role as one of two keyboardists for pop-rock band Maroon 5.

Born in New Orleans, Morton grew up in a musical household. Notably, his father is a pastor and gospel singer, which led him to learn to play instruments as a young child—though it was by ear and not formal instruction. “I started on drums, and then I started to mess around with keys,” he says. “I tried guitar for a minute, and then I went back to keys.

I realized piano was the thing that came most naturally to me.”  Coming of age in the Big Easy, Morton says he was also influenced by the music of the city, where Super Sunday services were often followed by a Second Line parade after church.