PJ Morton is easily one of the hardest-working men in showbiz. The talented musician just picked up his fifth career GRAMMY Award earlier this month and has announced tour dates in Asia, New Zealand, Australia and the U.S. He’s also preparing to head back to Las Vegas to complete the next portion of Maroon 5’s residency. So, when he began posting up from various parts of Africa in late 2023, some of us likely assumed Morton was finally taking it easy, sprinkled with a little work here and there (like his appearance on South African Idol and several tour dates). However, we now know that that trip was so much more with the announcement of his upcoming album, which was recorded during the 30 days he toured Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana and Egypt.
He kicks things off with his latest single “Please Be Good.” The mid-tempo groove was co-produced by Morton and Nigerian producer P. Priime and features a blend of PJ’s signature laid-back sound mixed with Afrobeats.
On the song, PJ acknowledges he could use a break as he sings, “I’ve been on the go, working so hard / I think I need a break / Every now and then, it gets too much / Much more than I can take.” According to Morton, the song’s creation developed organically after P. Priime played the beat for him. “I immediately took out my phone and started to record ideas,” he recalled in a statement.
“Please Be Good” and the as-yet-untitled album were influenced by Morton’s travels on the Continent and signals a new sonic direction for him. Throughout the album’s recording, Morton connected with dozens of local musicians to create this new musical experience.
New music isn’t the only thing the New Orleans native has coming up. He also announced the upcoming publication of his memoir entitled Saturday Night, Sunday Morning: Staying True To Myself From The Pews To The Stage. Available November 12th via Worthy Publishing/Hatchette Book Group, the book finds Morton recounting his journey through music and faith as the child of one of the city’s most popular pastors, Bishop Paul S. Morton, and how he carved out his own identity as an independent artist.
This summer, fans will also be able to hear Morton’s work when Disneyland and Disney World both open Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. For the ride that was inspired by The Princess and the Frog, Morton wrote, arranged and produced several new songs, making him the first Black composer to write an original song for a Disney attraction.
It’s clear that Morton is showing no signs of letting up in 2024, and we’re definitely not mad about it. “Please Be Good” is available on all streaming services via Morton Records/EMPIRE. His memoir, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning is currently available for pre-order ahead of its Fall release. We have no doubt he’ll be adding more award hardware to his collection in no time.
- Advertisement -
