Check out Sean McMorris’ new single, “Elevated Man.” Find out the reason behind this amazing song.
Why did you select this song as your current single?
There’s a majestic quality to the feel and the sound of this track that captures the spirit of elevation I was after when I wrote the song. It’s inspired by the real life event of a man who took to the sky in a lawn chair.
How does this single relate to the rest of the album?
Elevated Man is the perfect tune to launch the album, an invitation to rise to the occasion and explore higher grounds with a sense of wonder and a healthy dose of incredulity. Your feet will leave the ground, so hold on tight to that chair. What goes up must come down!
What was the writing process for the song?
I read about Larry Walters’ flight in the New Yorker and practically fell out of bed – I simply couldn’t believe what I was reading. The flash of inspiration came at the exact moment I pictured the astounded look on the 747’s pilot face when he saw a man out his window casually sitting in a chair at 16,000 feet. I never bothered to look for footage online or to watch the movie “Up” based on this singular event. I figured I’d write my own poetic interpretation of the story based on George Plimpton’s article. It’s a beautiful piece in its own right that tells the story of a complicated man.
What does this song’s lyric mean to you?
The first verse is written from the point of view of our hero as he rises into the atmosphere. He has to pinch himself in order to believe it’s really happening. I tried to capture, how mortified he might have felt when he realized he had actually pulled it off. He was living the dream, so to speak, and there was no turning back. He was ascending the heavens at the mercy of the winds. We often pursue dreams without understanding the implications of our actions or the motivation that drives us. After the initial elation, there had to have been the realization of the danger he was in.
The second verse is written from a bystander’s perspective, including the pilot who witnessed this and radioed the control tower at LAX to report it.
What would it be like to see you in person performing this song?
Just like in the video, you’d see a man with a subtle grin on his face strumming a guitar as he rises to the occasion.
Could your fans summarize who you are as an artist by this song?
Many of the elements that characterize my sound are in place sonically, i.e. acoustic and electric guitars, piano, organ, etc. but it’s still a unique song in a diverse repertoire. The album actually delivers a lot more than can be encapsulated in one tune. The amazing slide guitar solo by Richard Feridun does propel the track to heights I had not anticipated! That’s part of what makes it unique.
Is there a video planned and or completed and if so, what was the idea behind the video?
The video is already up in cyberspace. I shot and edited most of it myself without ever leaving my apartment. Some of the aerial shots are black & white footage from archives in public domain. I essentially chose to support the story with slow moving imagery in multiple layers. Various filters were applied to get different textures and achieve a dream like state. I used the effects in Final Cut Pro the same way I run guitars through effect pedals for sonic depth. It’s amazing how much can be done in mixing and editing.
One last question, what is your motivation behind your music?
I chase the song. It’s a mystical pursuit. I’ve been at it for years and I still have no idea how it happens. I know I have to make myself available, which is easier said than done. At the end of the day, I’m into records you can listen to in their entirety. I love the idea of being on someone’s playlist, perfectly at home sandwiched between Stevie Wonder and The Beatles. It’s OK to dream, right?
Social Media:
http://www.seanmcmorris.com
http://www.twitter.com/Sean_McMorris
http://www.facebook.com/seanmcmorrismusic
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjrO4bn5Jr0hzvqSqX81K_Q
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/seanmcmorris2