Girl Next Door: Interview With Kailee Morgue
By Lea Byrnes
Kailee Morgue is a 24-year-old singer-songwriter from Phoenix, Arizona who has been gaining fans all over the world since the release of her debut single, Medusa, in 2017. At only 19 years old, her song went viral and its success quickly led to a record deal with Republic Records. Her Medusa EP was quickly followed by her second EP, Here In Your Bedroom, which was released in April of 2020. Since then, Kailee has worked with numerous other successful artists in the music industry, including Zolita, Hayley Kiyoki, and Mike Shinoda. Kailee’s debut album, Girl Next Door, was released in 2022 and was met with an overwhelmingly positive reaction by her fans. This album, she says, is her favorite piece of work to date. Girl Next Door is truly a work of art– Kailee’s voice sounds flawlessly soft yet strong, and her lyrics are filled with both humor and truth. She is raw and vulnerable in sharing her life and experiences with her audience through her lyrics, which have resonated with thousands upon thousands of people.
Kailee Morgue, Photography by Skyler Barbario
From Girl Next Door comes one of the most relatable songs out there for the 90’s baby generation, entitled End Of My Life. With rocker girl vibes and a nostalgic, early 2000’s feel, Kailee sings beautifully: “And all of my friends are getting married– the older I get the world feels so scary– and my mother says that I’ve still got time– but 20-something starts to feel like it’s the end of my life!” The comment section is filled with 20-somethings who deeply relate to the emotion and truth conveyed in her song. If you watch Kailee’s music videos, you know you can expect something beautifully produced, with a clean, vibrant aesthetic that matches the songs perfectly. One can clearly see how intentional Kailee is with every aspect of her artistic process; from the thoughtful song lyrics, to the album art, to the music videos. She pours her heart and soul into her craft, giving her audience something to remember. Her vulnerability, honesty, and passion has drawn her fans to her work, and caused many to describe Kailee as highly underrated and deserving of even more success.
Kailee Morgue, Photography by Skyler Barbario
Kailee won’t shy away from being honest with her fans, and they love her for that. In a description of one song titled Good Day To Be My Dealer from the Girl Next Door album, she writes to her 179K Youtube subscribers, “This song was inspired by a series of mental breakdowns where I would take the mirrors down in my apartment and decide there was no room for me in LA. I felt like I was losing competitions I was unknowingly participating in. This isn't romanticized spiraling, it's quite literally pacing around CVS not knowing whether to refill my antipsychotics. If this song resonates with you beyond just being a dancey tune, I'm sorry you can relate to it, but I'm glad you're here. Please never be afraid to tell someone you're struggling.” Kailee, known by many of her fans as her Instagram handle @morguemami, has been creating her music and connecting with people’s hearts for over 5 years. The journey began all the way back in 2015, when she began posting acoustic guitar cover videos on Youtube.
Continuing to post her work on social media was essential for her career. By 2017, Kailee had released her hit EP Medusa which skyrocketed her to success. Kailee, who describes herself as a “a very ordinary introverted person that happens to make sense of things through music”, finds solace in her creative process and expression. About her inspiration for her songs, Kailee says, “I think for the most part my muse is some form of my inner self and the fears and unspoken things that float around my internal monologue.” Kailee also collaborates with other artists, having recently released a new song with Mike Shinoda, titled In My Head. Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda is a GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer who wrote the new single for the soundtrack of the 2023 hit horror film, Scream VI, starring Jenna Ortega. Kailee, who’s favorite horror movie happens to be Scream, says that collaborating with Mike on this song “...has to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever done since I started making music!”
When not creating her ethereal music, Kailee enjoys reading for fun and inspiration. “I picked up reading again last year and was instantly reminded why I love it so much,” she tells us. When it comes to her own music taste, Kailee shares, “...right now I’m listening to Bruce Springsteen more than anyone; he has really inspired my new stuff lyrically. I love incorporating this Americana synth sound into a more alternative sounding project.” Kailee’s own genre has been described in numerous different ways, such as alternative pop with goth/punk influences, indie pop, and ‘90’s inspired indie rock. Her sound is undoubtedly a unique blend, which gives reason to her undeniable popularity.
Kailee Morgue, Photography by Skyler Barbario
Reaching to the levels of success that Kailee has in her artistic career has not come without its share of struggles and lessons. “Being an artist has taught me so much about myself [and] how other people look at each other,” she says, “I’ve had great moments and moments where I’m so certain I need to give up on it.” Kailee’s perseverance and dedication to her craft has certainly paid off. She continues, “It’s shown me that you can’t fail at something you’re passionate about; success is subjective to an artist. You’re an artist no matter how much money you have or how many people care about you, as long as you have the passion to create.” Her passion to create is clearly displayed in her music, which has undoubtedly inspired countless other people to do the same. Kailee says, “I’ve kind of recently figured out how to balance my need to create with my need to keep parts of myself hidden from the world. I like discussing introspective topics and being open about my struggles in a way that isn’t overly negative so that people have an outlet of catharsis through hearing my music!”
Kailee Morgue’s music has moved so many people over the years, and her fans look forward to everything she drops. When we asked Kailee what the near future holds for her, she replied, “I’m working on a lot of cool music that leans away from just being short and catchy; not necessarily chasing the zeitgeist. Just making songs that hit home somewhere in my head or my heart that I can’t wait to share! I also have a tour coming up late March - April that I’m super stoked about. It’s gonna be a lot of fun!” As the years go by, Kailee’s music has evolved beautifully and continues to impress. The future is bright for a talent who shines as radiantly as Kailee does, and that she will continue to inspire people around the world with her gift.
