By Megan Routledge.
After announcing the single on the heels of his fifth GRAMMY® win, and teasing the track on the Tamron Hall Show earlier this week, PJ Morton has released "Please Be Good" (Morton Records / EMPIRE). As the first preview of a forthcoming album that he wrote and recorded entirely in Africa this past fall, the song signals one of the many new, sonic directions that Morton is embracing and exploring in this next chapter of his remarkable career and continued creative journey. Inspired by the sounds of the continent and the genres of music it has birthed, Morton co-produced "Please Be Good" with Nigeria's P.Priime, a brand new collaborator and influential, international force whose credits include Burna Boy, CKay, Davido, Wizkid and more. "I was in Lagos, Nigeria and one of my favorite new producers P. Priime played this beat," says PJ Morton. "I immediately took out my phone and started to record ideas. I love that it’s a mixture of so many vibes."
Fully created during a life-changing 30 days he spent traveling across South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt, PJ Morton's next album features dozens of local musicians and fresh approaches to songwriting. But while he describes his time in the continent as the best trip he's ever taken, it quickly turned into so much more than just the music. He immersed himself in the cultures and stories that have shaped him, and formed deep connections with the land and people. "This trip is not just a physical move, it's a spiritual return," as Essence said in a recent interview. "The soul of Africa pulses through every note he plays and every word he sings".
This past Wednesday, PJ Morton also revealed the publication of his inspiring and life-spanning new book, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning. Arriving November 12th via Worthy Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, the memoir sees him recounting and reflecting upon a trailblazing path that continues to defy expectations and straddle the tensions of music and faith, race and culture, expression and identity. As the son of two pastors and gospel artists, PJ Morton grew up grounded by the sound of the Church, but soon found himself drawn to R&B, pop and soul, writing songs that the industry, his family and community struggled to understand. In the face of mounting pressure, rejection and constant miscategorization, he committed himself to a steadfast path of independence: making music on his own terms, launching his own record label, joining one of the biggest bands in the world while staying true to his New Orleans roots. The risks he took paid off, and through his transformation from preacher's kid to the busiest man in showbiz – performing everywhere from his local congregation to the Super Bowl with Maroon 5, collaborating with everyone from his father to Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Jon Batiste and Lil Wayne – PJ Morton hopes to encourage readers and listeners to overcome obstacles as they seek their dreams.
"Please Be Good" and the launch of Saturday Night, Sunday Morning further forecast what is about to be PJ Morton's most prolific and tireless year to date. This summer, he will officially become the first Black composer to write an original song for a Disney attraction, having written, arranged and produced original music for Tiana's Bayou Adventure, coming soon to Disneyland and Disney World. Before then, PJ Morton will have other film and television endeavors to debut, and will soon return to the road for tour dates in Asia, New Zealand and Australia, plus US performances at the Kennedy Center, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Roots Picnic alongside Lil Wayne, The Roots and Trombone Shorty, as well as the next leg of Maroon 5's Las Vegas residency and more to be announced.
PJ Morton Tour Dates
3/10 - Manila, NCR - Wanderland Music & Arts Festival
3/12 - Beijing, CN - Blue Note
3/13 - Beijing, CN - Blue Note
3/15 - Seoul, KR - Musinsa Garage
3/17 - Tokyo, JP - The Garden Hall (Ebisu)
3/22 - Wellington, NZ - San Fran
3/23 - Auckland, NZ - The Tuning Fork
3/27 - Melbourne, VIC - 170 Russell
3/28 - Sydney, AUS - The Metro Theatre
3/30-4/1 - Byron Bay, AUS - Byron Bay BluesFest
5/4 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
5/12 - Washington, DC - The Kennedy Center
6/2 - Philadelphia, PA - Roots Picnic
6/15 - Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center
FOLLOW PJ MORTON