---
title: "Episode 08 – The Girl Next Door – Kailee Morgue"
url: https://altwire.net/podcast/episode-08-the-girl-next-door-kailee-morgue/
published: 2023-06-15T19:19:03+00:00
updated: 2025-08-21T00:41:37+00:00
tags: ["Kailee Morgue"]
source: "AltWire (altwire.net)"
---

# Episode 08 – The Girl Next Door – Kailee Morgue

Transcript

Automatic transcript: names and words may be misheard. Press a time to play from there.

**Derek Oswald** Guests of the AltWire podcast are recorded remotely. Due to the nature of remote recording, the quality of our guest audio may differ between episodes. Although we go to great lengths to apply noise reduction and reverb reduction, certain issues may still remain. We appreciate your understanding, and we hope you enjoy the show. Hello, and thank you for tuning in to the AltWire podcast. I'm your host, Derek Oswald. And today, have a special guest joining us, the incredible Kailee Morgue. You may have heard her vocals on Mike Shinoda's latest hit, In My Head, which appeared on the screen six soundtrack. In this episode, we'll dive into the stories behind her music as well as the experience that have shaped her remarkable journey. Also, if you've ever wondered what makes her tick or what shows she loves to binge watch, well, you're in for a treat as we explore all this and more in this episode of the AltWire podcast. The AltWire podcast starts now. Thank you so much for joining us today. How are doing, Kailee? I'm pretty good. Thanks for having me. I'm glad to have you with us. I wanted to start off by congratulating you on scoring such a big honor by appearing on the Scream soundtrack.

**Kailee Morgue** Thank you.

**Derek Oswald** Not only was your voice featured in one of the biggest horror movies so far this year, but it also... It held a big role in the intro and credits.

**Kailee Morgue** As a noted fan of the Scream franchise, what emotions did you feel suddenly having a song that you performed on lasting on thousands of movie screens worldwide? It was a lot. I mean, first of all, I hadn't seen it prior to, like, a private screening that we did. So I was in a theater doing a private screening with, the Linkin Park fans and my fans. I had no idea, like, when it was gonna play. I didn't know because I... I'm only really singing on the chorus. So I was like, I don't know what part of the song is gonna play. And it was just so crazy to see the title sequence and have... Like, see it saying screen and then it's my voice. Like, the first voice that you hear. So it's just... It was a really weird moment. And it's like kind of funny because I think this whole experience has taught me that I'm a very kind of calm subdued person because I was like, I'm screaming right now. But like on the outside, I'm kind of just like, oh my god, this is so cool. So it was definitely... It was just a lot. It was very overwhelming because I do just love Scream. I don't think there's a better franchise to be in the opening credits of a movie. It was just such a big moment for me as like a horror fan, a slasher fan. And I would have gone and seen the movie anyways. I was so excited about Scream six coming out. Regardless, like, I was just even that much more excited to go to the theater and, like, hear my voice on... In the movie.

**Derek Oswald** It was surprising for me how early it featured in the movie as well because, yes, I'm into Linkin Park. I like Mike Shinoda's music. So I knew that he had some songs on soundtrack. So I sit down with my popcorn. I'm getting ready to watch it, and it's literally in the first five seconds of the film. I'm like, well, There's no better place to have a song than in the beginning of the film. That's what I'm saying. It's just awesome. And also, like,

**Kailee Morgue** I think there's just a whole other element to having a song in a show or a movie because I think music is really timeless as it is, but there's, like... It's forever gonna be something that people hear for years because this franchise is so famous. And the movie is just also incredibly done. So it really, like, immortalizes this song in a way that I don't think I've ever experienced as an artist. So it's just really surreal.

**Derek Oswald** I loved it too. You know, it's one of those things where I gotta be honest, when franchises go on, sometimes they overstay their welcome. And when I saw that they were making a a scream six, gotta be honest, when I first saw it, I was like, oh, brother. You know, I was thinking, okay. You know, is this gonna be any good, or is it just gonna rehash the same bullshit that every six movie in a franchise does? Because no knock on fast and furious. I know people like it, but we're 10 movies deep now. I think we're ready to put the nail in the coffin here.

**Kailee Morgue** I mean, it's kind of like... I mean, even paranormal activity to a certain extent, there's just like a lot of horror franchises specifically too where you're like around movie number four, like, you're kinda tapped out. Like, most people are like, oh, I've seen the sixth one or the seventh one. It's like 90% of the original viewers have not seen that. And it's just like, I think... I mean, I think that they did a really good job with Scream as far as bringing back the old cast and making it feel new even though it is the sixth movie. I think there's like like the newer Halloweens are really cool. Like, there's a cool way of doing it, but there's definitely there's definitely people that drop the ball. And it's like, okay. Like, we're on the tenth movie here. What are we doing?

**Derek Oswald** And I absolutely agree. I think Scream six is probably one of the better movies in the franchise. I think it almost was like a soft reboot. Even though they didn't intend it to be so, They kinda made it so if they wanted to, they could go with that central cast of characters for the next few films.

**Kailee Morgue** Also, it's it's the first one that's not in Woodsboro, and I, like, didn't even really notice. Like, I don't know why until after the movie because, you know, like, when there's, like, the Jason... What is that movie called? Like, I forgot the specific title. It's... He's in New York. I think it's literally called, like, Jason Hits New York or something like that. But I didn't, like, I didn't notice that. I didn't feel like it was missing any of the charm of the old actors, like, Neve Campbell not being in it. Like, I thought it was gonna really make it feel so different and crazy, but there's just... It was really well done. Also, was, like, scary to me. It was the first scream that I was like, oh, this is... It's, like, funny at certain moments because I think that scream has always been kind of like a horror comedy, but it was actually, like, kind of gory and and scary, which reminds me I need to go see Evil Dead, but I'm, like, kind of scared because it's... It seems like it's legit scary. So

**Derek Oswald** Evil Dead, I'm gonna be honest with you. It is a bit much. I am the type of person where, although I don't get scared easily, I get very anxious.

**Kailee Morgue** And the new Evil Dead had me a bit anxious, but it is one of the... I'd say one of the best horror movies in the last fifteen years, actually. I've I've heard only great, great things. I was, like, surprised because I thought you were gonna say you didn't like it for a second, but everyone is saying that they're going and loving it. I think I'm the same way where, like, I actually... It's crazy that I'm kind of like a horror movie fanatic, but I actually do get anxious in theaters because I think it's just like it's so loud. I don't know what to expect. Also with Evil Dead, it was... We're talking about a franchise that started with, like, really almost comical practical effects. You know what I mean? So to see it be something now that's actually like terrifying, that does scare me a bit because I'm like, oh my god. Mean, the the trailers scare me. Like, not many trailers have scared me since I was like a kid. So I... It makes me nervous for sure, but everyone I've talked to about it says it's really, really good. So I definitely need to see it. I love when, like, we're saying, like, reboots happen or these things that actually are great because there's a lot of interesting ones.

**Derek Oswald** Very curious. How did the collaboration with Mike Shinoda for this track come about? Were you a Linkin Park band before this?

**Kailee Morgue** Yeah. I was actually. So I, like, had grown up listening to Linkin Park. I mean, my whole childhood was pretty much just rock music. And so that's why it's kind of interesting that I started off as, like, a dark pop artist. And I know a lot of people, like, pivoted into rock and it was, like, kinda came out of nowhere. But it... For me, was so natural because I've always loved rock music and alternatives. And I was such a huge fan of all these bands. Like, Linkin Park was a band that I heard. I think they were just kind of unavoidable. Like, it was so... They were so popular, so big that these songs, like, my sister will be playing... Blasting that song numb in her room. Like, I would also hear it on radio at water parks growing up. Like, it was everywhere. So it's such a weird moment to be in his house and, like, recording this song. We actually met a year prior to this collab just because he does, like... He does a lot of research on, like, up and coming artists and reaches out. And he's so talented, like across the board, even outside of Linkin Park. So he does like his Fort Miner stuff. He does his Mike Shinoda stuff. So he kind of just like reaches out to new artists and like produces stuff, wants to work with them, write with them. So we'd met a year prior and did a session. And then I had gone off like about six months later and done Scream inspired music video. And that kind of, I think, like, probably I'm assuming, like planted the seed in his head. So six months later, when this... He's looking for a female vocalist, like, I think my branding around them was just so built around horror movies. I had, like, Buffy the Vampire Slayer makeup on my album cover. It was also on brand and like Paramount loved me for it. So I think it kind of just clicked because of that. And then luckily, like when we went to go make the song too, it all... Like the vocal really elevated the song and I added harmonies and it seemed like... I mean, it ended up being exactly where you had imagined, but I definitely was worried because I have like a very soft approach to how I sing. And he was like, alright, I need you like scream. Like, did a lot of... No pun intended. But we did a lot of vocal takes. It was a long day of just like nailing what the vibe of the song was. I'm really happy that it ended up being not only, like, something that we both really, really loved, but something that seems to have resonated with the Scream fans because it is, like, a pretty central, like, moment in the beginning of the film that's played in the credits. And we also didn't make a music video for it, so we got to get super creative with, like, funny ghost face previews, like, leading up to the song coming out. It was just... It was a really fun time to, like, get creative with the marketing behind it.

**Derek Oswald** There are two schools of thought with Buffy fans. There are people who feel the show should have ended with season five as was intended, and then there's other people who like the fact that they try to squeeze, you know, two more seasons out of it before ending officially. What side of the fence are you on? Okay. So

**Kailee Morgue** I'm gonna sound like such a such a poser right now. Like, everyone's gonna call me out. I've only seen the first three phase series. Everyone's gonna be like, girl, you referenced this and haven't seen the whole show. And I'm like, listen. I have to be like, it has to be October. Like, I go into my mode when I watch all these shows, like, around fall. And then when it comes to, like, winter, spring, summer, I'm watching different stuff. Like, I'm watching, like, my nineties. Like, I'm watching Dawson's Creek. You know what I mean? So I like, I kind of just slowly over time watch shows. I'm not like, I'm I'm a binger when it comes to like true crime and drama. But with these comfort shows, it's more of like, I try to milk it and like watch it as slowly as possible so it never ends. Yeah. So I have only seen up till season three. But I I felt that way about shows before. So I think I'm I'm sure like once I arrived there, I usually am on the side of like preserving a show if it means like ending it sooner just because I think sometimes there's a lot of shows that went to shit once they're trying to like delay the ending. They want to make more episodes more money. Like, it just... The writing kind of isn't true to how the actual story would have been. Like, the characters kind of start changing. So that's usually how I feel about that stuff. Like, even there's shows that you watch, like Freaks and Geeks, for example, it's one season. And I'm like, I don't think it... If if it were to have, like, deviated or had this... The story wouldn't have been that great. Like, maybe it should have just been one season. You know what I mean? Yeah. So, like, I'm definitely on the side of preserving shows if it means, like, staying true to the writing.

**Derek Oswald** Well, if it makes you feel any better, I too have not completed Buffy. Okay. Okay. I got it. I was like, oh my god. The middle of season six, and this drives my girlfriend nuts. We go head first into a show, watch it for a while, and then I go, you know, I think I kinda need a break from this. So we go and start another show, and then we never return to it. Me too. It's so funny. We only just recently finished sons of anarchy. I've been watching Supernatural, and I'm up to season eight. Oh my god. I think we're gonna finish it without taking a break.

**Kailee Morgue** That's crazy. I mean, that's a long run right there. That's like Oh my god. It's a grind. I mean, if it makes you feel better, like, every... Like, okay. So I'm on season two of Succession and everyone's freaking out about it. Like, the new season and I still am like, I'm... I just need to be in the right mood to watch it. Like, I am such... I used to... It's crazy because I used to be able to really, like, watch six seasons of a show and, like, be... Like, I can run through it. And now that I'm an adult, I think, like, I just have other things to do. And, like, I like to, I just like... When I watch a certain show, I sometimes need a break and need to watch something that's in a completely different genre and like different vibe and then come back to it. Because sometimes that's something with a Buffy thing. Like, I will appreciate it more when I've given myself a little bit of a break and I come back to it. And I am not just watching it to get through it. Like, I'm watching it because I miss how it feels and I like how the the story is developing. But, yeah, sometimes those... It's it's rough. Like, that's why I don't know if I'll ever watch Game of Thrones because I feel like there's so much ground to cover that I just don't know if I can ever, like, sit through it. I will give you the following advice when it comes to Game of Thrones. Okay. I started and stopped that show

**Derek Oswald** three times. Okay. Because the first season has a lot of buildup, and it was one of those things where every single episode of it feels like a full length movie even though it's only an hour. Mhmm. It's one of those things where it was like, I kept on getting fatigue. And, you know, finally, you know, girlfriend just said, look. Just stick with it. Trust me. It's worth it. And it took a while, but, yeah, we got through it, and it was great. I liked season eight. Best thing I can say without spoiling it is that the reason people don't like season eight is because they feel a certain turn within a certain character was, no pun intended, out of character for that person. But my whole point is if you watched their family history and the lore around their family in the show, you should have seen it coming. So for anybody to suddenly be like, oh, that's out of character. I'm like, have you been paying attention to the entire show? Have you ever seen have you ever seen Weeds? Oh, you know what? It's kind of funny speaking of Linkin Park. There was one season of Weeds where... I don't know if they did it all the time, but if it was just one season, where they had a different artist doing the theme song, and Linkin Park did one of those. Why did I not know that? Oh my god. I need to Google this. It's because it sounds nothing like Linkin Park. When you finally hear it, you're gonna be surprised. Like, you'll hear it and you'll be like, oh, yeah. That's Chester, but he sings in such a high voice, almost like a lullaby,

**Kailee Morgue** that when you hear it, you're like, oh, that's Linkin Park. I I literally can't even picture him singing that, like... Because it's like little foxes on the hillside. I can't even... That's crazy. That's even more full circle because that's like my favorite show ever. I brought that up though because I was gonna say season five of leads is like really hard to get through. It's like, I think every show has that one season that you're like, okay. Like, I have to make a decision here if I'm gonna just never finish the show ever if I'm gonna get through the season. I don't know if it's season three or season five. There's one of the seasons where it's just like such a departure that it's like outrageous. It's like, okay. I don't I don't know what's happening here. But it's it's a really good show. That's interesting. I'm definitely curious. I'm like, I wanna hear this. Made of ticky tacky, little boxes on the hillside, little boxes all the same. There's a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow one, and they're all made out of ticky tacky, and they all look That's crazy. I love that they kinda were like, oh, we're gonna do this theme song. But then they were like, it's not gonna sound like Linkin Park at all. Like, you guys are not gonna get what you want. Like, it's just gonna be our... It was kinda cool take on it. Like, I kinda love that they did that. You know, you being a fan, think you'll agree one of the... My favorite things that the band has ever done

**Derek Oswald** is one more light, and the reason why is because

**Kailee Morgue** it pissed so many people off. Oh, yeah. We... We've talked about this. You and Mike talked about it? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He's just... Because I I think it's I think it's just funny to, like, do things as an artist. It's like when you have so many expectations and people that are expecting something of you, like, it's so... Don't I think there's anything more, like, rock and roll than just being, like, I don't care. Like, you're like, this is just kinda hilarious.

**Derek Oswald** I think that's why I respect artists that do that. Like, I'll be completely honest. I'll probably get some hate for this. Not 100% a fan of the direction Paramore has gone in, but I applaud them heavily for not sounding like, quote, unquote, Paramore. Because there are some bands where they'll they'll ride that train their entire career. They might change things a little bit, maybe add a synth here or there, but they're the same band the entire time. Also, I think it's like... I think it's so interesting when people don't understand that,

**Kailee Morgue** like, for Paramore, for example, like you said, you don't have to... Doesn't have to be your cup of tea because it is not really like the same band anymore. But it's like, this is... We're talking years now since they put out their first two or three albums, like, that really defined what Paramore is. They're all older. They're all, like, in their mid to late thirties. They're like, okay, are we really gonna, like, be the same thing for so many years? And I think, like, as an... A listener, you might not know that, like, as the artist, we have to evolve and we have to change because that inspiration, if you're doing the same thing for fifteen years, like, you're not gonna even care to be writing these songs anymore. It's just like, I'm doing the same thing over and over and over again. And like, I've even done versions of that. I've changed the course of what my sound is, what I'm writing about, what I'm... Right. My hair looks like. Like, I'll change... I'll reinvent myself completely for the sake of staying inspired and like finding that spark as an artist because it's... You... It's always going to be a means to an end if you are never evolving. So I I do always have, like, respect for people that just, like, pivot completely and are like, no, I'm gonna do this now. And whoever likes it likes it. Whoever doesn't, I don't care. It's, like, so and so necessary as an artist to do that. What was it like

**Derek Oswald** working with Mike Shinoda as a producer? What are some takeaways and things that you learned from him? Not just, you know, in the studio, but having conversations like you mentioned. What What were some of your biggest lessons from him? I mean,

**Kailee Morgue** as far as, like, yeah, in the studio, he's just... He's a very smart person. And I think there's a lot of actual, like, strategy that comes to recording songs. There's different, like, notes that he was giving me for singing and, like, how... We we even just wrote a track the other day, like, just aside from him and I collabing just to, like, produce some stuff for me. And, like, he's... Has such an interesting way of looking at music and, like, saying what you wanna say in a way that is kind of, like, still... Like, you're still thinking about strategizing and, like, well, what does this song really mean? Like, yeah, we can sing and pour our hearts out, but, like, how are we packaging this into something that relates to everyone? Because I definitely I definitely will write things sometimes that are so obscure and, like, so personal that I box myself into something that not everyone can understand. And I think that that even speaks to, like, Linkin Park and how they kind of, like, just connected with so many people because there's a line between being so so personal and writing about these situations and including everyone in that. So he's really like taught me that. And I also think just as a human, like, it's been so refreshing and kind of like restored my faith in humanity that someone that is that successful and has like everything is... He's just a nice person. And I think it's like, there's no reason for him to be seeking out up and coming artists and helping people and doing all that, but he's choosing to do that. And it's like so inspiring to see his house and, you know, meet his kids and like see what he's built from music. Because I think so many artists are like... Right now, especially with, you know, touring is weird. I think, like, it's just hard. It's hard to be an artist. It's hard to make money. It's hard to be vulnerable and do this all the time. So it's just really like pushed me to continue doing this and like continue fighting for it because he's just like built such an amazing thing from music and being passionate and being a good person. So it was just, like, so cool that he's not an asshole. He just sounds like there's so many people like that that are so successful and, like, forget that it's free to be kind. You know what I mean?

**Derek Oswald** Yeah. And you're absolutely right. I think that was one of the the biggest things that I worried about growing up and, you know, wanting to get into music reporting and eventually doing a music podcast. I always heard the old adage, never meet your idols. And you're absolutely right. It's free to be friendly. You don't have to be an asshole, especially to somebody who looks up to you or wants to learn from you. And I've been thankful, knock on wood, that the majority of people I've spoken to have been very genuine, very friendly, but, you know, hasn't always been that way. Speaking of people that inspire you, you've also made no secret of your love for the pop icons of the nineteen nineties and the two thousands. What icons have inspired you the most and what aspects of that era of pop culture resonate with you the most? Oh my gosh. Don't get me started. Here we go.

**Kailee Morgue** I love... So a lot of the time I've been, like, in saying... Bringing up these artists is when I'm talking about my last album specifically, but I've always been so, so obsessed with the nineties, obsessed with these figures. So with my last album, I was really, like, diving into Alanis Morissette specifically because I think there's something about that era that's so charming because all of the pop stars and rock stars were just like normal people. And they... Like, for Alanis to do massive, massive shows and come out on stage in baggy shirts and jeans, like, that's so badass to me. That's so... Like, that's such a rock star statement to me that she would just like minimal makeup, whip her hair around, just be like so unapologetically feminine in a way that's not, like, cutesy and I have to be sexy and this... Like, she kinda was just like, I'm gonna get on stage however uncomfortable. I'm gonna write about things that maybe you don't wanna hear and you're gonna be okay with that. And, like, her biggest songs were these unapologetic anthems of her just being angry and real. And like, there's so many songs too that I think like I personally and other artists can relate to of hers where she's talking specifically about labels, about men in the industry that like forget her name and only care about like just talking to her and being weird and flirty. And there's so many things that are so specific to being a woman in the music industry that are so cool. I also really like Liz Fair. She's kind of in that same era. She actually has, like, a book called horror stories kind of about different, like, vignettes of her life as an artist and and a woman. And there's just, like, there... There's something about, like, female pop acts at that time that was just so genuine. And there was no, like, untouchable. I'm wearing sequins and bras and, like, all these crazy, you know, pieces that separate me from you. Like, I'm on stage with, like, a backup dancers. Like, they were all just kind of, like, might as... They could have been anyone in the crowd that just walked up on stage. You know what I mean? There was this line of transparency of the nineties. And that's why, like, what I called at that time was to be like nineties normcore. That's like exactly how I dressed during my Girl Next Door era because I was like, I'm embracing, like, kind of mundane things. I'm embracing being an artist that like isn't putting on the glitter and the jewelry and all this stuff to make myself seem more interesting, which is like no knock to anyone else. It's just that it's not real for me to do something like that. Like, that's not who I am. So I was like, okay. I don't need to, like, go on stage and have, like, sequins and all these things and act like I'm some like untouchable diva because I'm awkward. I make jokes on stage. I like, well, I'll point out when I mess up. Like, I'm very transparent. And for me, the nineties is only people like that that were like, I'm going to be human. And like, you're still gonna listen to my music and connect with it because that's like what I'm writing about and what I'm trying to do. So, yeah, I just find it very charming that whole area. I also love like wrestling from that era. It's like the attitude era. I think it's so cool. So, like, everything around them in pop culture, like, I'm just obsessed with.

**Derek Oswald** When you say wrestling, it just makes me laugh. I will always have

**Kailee Morgue** a soft spot in my heart for Macho Man Randy Savage. I have a soft spot for, like, everyone in that era. Like, again, this is... We're talking about, like, a year ago that I was, like, so so into the nineties. So it's been a while, but, like, I would just put on all of the old matches and like Hell in the Cells, is that what it's called? Just for the vibes, the nostalgia. Because also my dad is like super into wrestling. So it's more just like a family thing, but I think it's hilarious. Like, I'm honestly really glad that like WWE is kind of making a comeback and all these, like, influencers and YouTubers are trying it because I'm like, why not? Like, it's it's really so ridiculous and so funny. Like, Johnny Knoxville was on WWE, like, a couple years ago and it was so great. Like, I just... Because I love Jackass too. So it's just like all my favorite things sometimes overlap and it's just amazing. Like I said, I think it's awesome that WWE is, like, so important to people again and that, like, new... This new generation of kids get to see, like, YouTubers and stuff on there. But there's just something about the mystique of these characters at that time that was just so, like... It was so important. Like, even, like, just like there there will never be somebody like The Undertaker. There will never be somebody Stone Cold. Like, there's just... There's... There were these... These people were like pop stars in their own way. Like, were rock stars. Like, these were like huge, huge figures that they're just so cool and so interesting. I think it's like, and maybe that was just kinda going from the eighties and like going from hair metal and just like this super costumey era of style and pop culture that burst to like the nineties, which are so great. Because they were just like, okay, now, like, we're getting rid of all the costumes. We're getting rid... It's like, just gonna be like kind of funny stupid shit.

**Derek Oswald** But, yeah, I I just... I absolutely adore that era. So speaking of Girl Next Door, since you were talking about how part of that was inspired by that whole nineties feel and aesthetic, In a note you wrote for that album, you expressed that the album began as an attempt to change your perspective and get past your grief and insecurities. Looking at the person you were starting out versus what you've now become, how would you frame your current perspective on life?

**Kailee Morgue** Yeah. I guess, like, everything is just... I think in the... In simple terms, it's really was more of a transitioning phase of my life from being kind of... Going from being like a teenage girl, having like the hardest, hardest year of my life when I was 20. I like lost somebody really close to me. I decided to get sober because I'm struggling with like alcohol addiction and drug addiction. So I I had a lot of things pivot for me when I was 20. And some of the songs I wrote for... Or like about 21, actually. So some of the songs I wrote for Girl Next Door started around then. And the first one on the album that I ever wrote, which is like what I didn't intend it to be on this album. Like, I didn't know what I was making at the time was... But it was Loser. And that track, like, you can even tell that being the first song I wrote, it's so negative. And so just like giving into what everyone thought about me, giving into, like, how my dad spoke about me. So I was very, at the time, indulging in this, like, hate for myself and just like, oh, like, I'm not gonna amount to anything. Like, I just... I have these addiction issues. I'm like, I have all these other issues. And kinda like just... Yeah. I guess, like, being a big baby and just being, well, I'm just gonna be sad about this. And I think towards the end, like, one of the the last songs I wrote for the album was Good Day to Be My Dealer, which is like also kind of like that, but it's way more witty. Like, I had this humor that started to change over time where I was kind of like, is it that deep though? Like, it's kind of funny. Like, it's kind of hilarious. And I think you have to lighten up as a human and as an adult because, like, there's things now where I'm almost 25 now that, like, if I handed 17 year old me, like, some of the things that have happened to me now, she would have been like, my god. I can't do this. Like, she would have been freaking out. And now it's just like there's a certain lightness to how I view things and how I feel because I can just, like, roll with the punches more. I think I really have experienced, like, loss, for example, in a way that makes you so appreciative of what you have. And it make... Made me feel so, like, silly, I guess, for being so sad about my little issues when there's things that are so much bigger than me at work. And there's like people that are, you know, like, there's just... There's a there's a lot more important things than like the small things that I chose to focus on and spiral about. So like I'm really a practice, like, having positive self talk and kind of like believing that I can do this music stuff, believing that I'm gonna be okay because it starts there. Like, if I don't believe that any this stuff's gonna work out, if I don't believe that, like, life is great, and I'm just like pretending that I think that, then it's never gonna change. Also, my dad's a therapist. So this is like a constant conversation. This is like in my ear constantly. He's like, no, like you have to like... He like the one of the best things he ever taught me, there's two things, was you have to know the truth about yourself and you decide what those truths are. Like, if you think you're smart, you think you're capable, like you will be those things and you will decide those things and those are your truths. No one can shake them from you. Like, no one can call... If someone calls you stupid, then you're like, alright. Like, I know my truth. I know I'm smart. So that... He taught me that. And so that instilled the confidence in me. And then also he taught me, and this is like really the turning point to be present because he's like, yeah, like when you're at the grocery store and you're like waiting in line to pay for groceries, like, you can do one of two things. You can be, like, annoyed and impatient and, ugh, like, I just wanna do this and I'm constantly waiting to get out of the store so then I can go eat and I'm waiting to meet up with this person. It's like, you're constantly waiting for things or you can, like, be there and treat everything as an experience, not just like the things that you want and the things that you're waiting for. It's like every small thing is an experience and, like, life is just great grand scheme. So, yeah, it's been a perspective change of, like, when you're an adult, you have to kinda realize that like things aren't that deep. Like, all these small things can be great. So that's like my little tangent because, yeah, it's it's been a really long few years of, like, internal therapy and just, like, changing those things because you can't can't, like, dwell on everything. Think when you're kind of in your mid twenties and, like, approaching adulthood, you have to, like, like, okay, Like, what's happening here? Like, this is kind of not that that crazy.

**Derek Oswald** That's a hard lesson to learn. I had Andrew Hagar on the podcast before you, and he talked about the same thing, about how important it is just to not only try to see the present and see the positives and things, but also the importance of having a therapist. Now for you, it might be a little more weird because your dad's a therapist, so he's probably always trying to psychoanalyze you. You know? Would you say having a dad that's a therapist therapist is more helpful or more harmful, you had to say?

**Kailee Morgue** My dad... Okay. So the thing is, like, he's so emotionally intelligent that he doesn't psychoanalyze us because he's like, I I almost... Like, for him, that's like working off the clock. He's like, that's gonna be $300 an hour, actually. Just kidding. So, yeah, he's he's... He is like really respectful about boundaries, obviously. I'm just like, I'm not gonna diagnose you with something just because like, I'm your dad. You know what I mean? I I think that if anything, he just gives really, really great advice. Like, I I I will... He won't like seek out any sort of like kinda issues and try to like cry. It's more like I'll kind of have a conversation with him and get advice. And he's... It's crazy because before he was a therapist, he was always like the best person to go to for advice. So he just already has had this like crazy emotional intelligence since I was... As long as I can remember. And now that he's a therapist, it's like he has the actual terminology and specific kind of like things that they... Little acronyms and things they tell you in therapy. But he... It's been really cool. It's... He's only been like a actual therapist for like three or four years, which is like right when I needed it. So I was like, this is great. So, yeah, it's been... It's cool because it's just like more for advice. And also in general, like just talking to my parents is always really cool because I think like they've lived they've lived like double the amount of life that I have. So whenever I'm like dwelling on something or think something is the end of the world, like, they're kind of just like, girl, it's it's really not. Like, really, you're gonna be fine. Because they just have so much more experience. And like, I really do take what they say with so much weight because they just they just know more than I do. And like, there's a lot of things like even, you know, like, younger siblings or teenagers now. Like, if they're saying something that, like, as somebody that's kind of lived a little bit more life, you're like, okay, you just wait. Like, you'll you'll learn at some point, but, like, everyone has to go through those things. So I always, like, kinda take what my parents say with a a lot of weight for that reason.

**Derek Oswald** And don't you worry about overthinking things because I'm 36 and I still do it. I just think it's a natural part of the human emotion, especially,

**Kailee Morgue** you know, you and I were both anxious people. So, you know, they both let that feed into who we are as people. Yeah. And I think people that, like, care about art a lot and, like, music and all this stuff, like, we're both into, it's like, you... It's almost worse because, like, as an artist, like, I'm just already, like, thinking of everything constantly and, like, that's how it turns into art. But I also don't wanna completely cut off that part of my brain because it leads to great things. You know what I mean? So it's just, like, it's the artist way, I think. And over the last few years,

**Derek Oswald** since you're in this period of discovering who you really are in your self discovery, what is something that you discovered about yourself and your music journey so far that has perhaps been unexpected?

**Kailee Morgue** I think... I don't know if I've had any, like, epiphanies. I think if I have, I haven't thought that much about them. Right? But I I've definitely like... I think it's less about like specific things that I've realized and more so that I'm changing constantly. I think music changes constantly. The pop landscape changes. The rock landscape changes. Everything is at such a high speed that it's like every six months or a year, I'll kind of pivot just slightly. And like, it's been really fun to know that about myself now, I think. So I guess it kind of is like some sort of realization that I am like constantly excited to see who I'm gonna be and like what I'm gonna wanna say sonically every six months to a year because it changes. And I think it does for everyone, like where the next project you make, you're gonna be talking about different things and you'll wanna like reference different artists. And it's just like, it's really fun that it's never... It's just the best job to have really. Because it's like, it's never the same. And I I've really like, kind of nurtured that part of myself versus being frustrated that I'm constantly like wanting to do different things. Because I think it can get really overwhelming if you can't like pin down what you want. But I actually think it's like a really great skill to understand so many different, you know, sounds sonically and musically that, like, you can't... It overwhelms you. Like, that's such a great thing to have where you're like, I just wanna do so many things that I have to pin down, like, one at a time what I wanna do. But it's just, like, really fun to never know what I'm gonna be doing in six months from now. It's, like, kind of scary, but also really exciting. You you you wanna do so many different things, especially genre wise.

**Derek Oswald** What's a genre that you would like to dip into next if you had the option of choosing?

**Kailee Morgue** So I kind of am doing something super secret that I will Excludes. Yeah. I will say, no one knows about it, but I will say that the genre that it dips into is kind of this like eighties, like, synthy goth type thing, which I'm so... It's just so cool to do stuff that you've never done. And it it inspires so much stuff that you wouldn't have otherwise thought of. I think it would also like, this is not something... This is not super secret. Like, I'm not working on anything like this. But in the future, I I... I'm one of those people like, I don't know why I would love to do country music at some point because I just love country music. I think that like, there's so many people that would be like, that's horrid and why why would you wanna do that? But I just like, I think it's cool. I think there's a lot of classic country. Like, when I'm saying country, I'm not gonna be like a radio country act. Like, would... I love Johnny Cash. I love a lot of classic country that I think is just so incredible. Like, I I guess on the more pop side, like, I love Kacey Musgraves. I think there's a lot of really cool things to reference there. But I just... There's no genre that goes untouched for me. Like, I I really just wanna do everything. But in the immediate... Yeah. I've been working with... I've been doing a lot of, like, synthy stuff, a lot of, like, more dance pop for something something else, and I'm really, really excited about it. So it's been fun.

**Derek Oswald** And, hey, everybody has their folk country album. Yeah. That's true.

**Kailee Morgue** Like, I I could just do it, really. Exactly.

**Derek Oswald** So I know you're still a relatively younger artist, but if you had to think, because I love asking this question, what is one of the funniest memories you've had so far?

**Kailee Morgue** I'm like, I have no idea what, like, a funny experience of mine has been. I'm trying to think. I guess, like, the funniest stuff is, like, always on tour usually. I guess, like, like, tour is just such a weird... It's like, I don't think people know that, like, humans just aren't built for touring. It's like, it's really just insane. Like, the last tour I went on, it was just it was so... It was just a lot. Like, in the last tour I went on, we were... It was like me and my manager and a drummer and we're all in a minivan. So like, there's so many things that happened that I didn't talk about. Like, we got pulled over by the cops because they thought we had drugs in the van just because we had like a huge we just had a huge drum kit and, like, a minivan with three women. And we're like, we're... Officer, like, we're... We swear we're not smuggling anything. We're in Kansas right now. Like, we're just like, I don't know what to tell you. And then there's like, you know, there's a couple nights, not gonna lie. Like, you know, things got a little crazy. They had to drag me out of the bar. Like, there's like... There was one morning I, like, threw up, like, six times. Like, their tour is just like, it's brutal, but it's so fun. I think, you know, there's like such funny moments that happen on stage, like tracks. Actually, you know what was really fun is I did a college show in Minnesota recently. And they were like, yeah, it's called the spring jam. Like, it's gonna be, it's kind of like to welcome the the spring and like, it's it's... When it finally gets hot out, it's gonna be so fun. It was 25 degrees. It was 25 degrees. So like, I get on stage and I'm like, I have to wear my jacket and like, I'm wearing gloves and I'm like shaking. But it was so fun. Like, it sounds like it's, like, nerve racking, but it was actually so funny because, I was just jumping around, like, purely for the warmth. And it was like, I gave no... I just did not care at all because it was just so so ridiculous and so cold. And like everyone in the crowd was just like, like, they're like, oh, like, we're we're trying to hype up because we know this shit sucks. Like, it's so cold. So there's just a lot of moments like that that end up being like my favorite moments because it's so human and like so just kind of hilarious that I love like being candid on stage of making jokes. I like it. I get a kick out of it like I'm a comedian for a second. Like, I just... I I like when things go wrong sometimes, it's just, like, pure comedy to me.

**Derek Oswald** I did open your Reddit subreddit. I don't know if you know you have a subreddit, but you do. I haven't checked it in a long time. And I opened up questions to them. And as asked on Reddit, are you still actively practicing witchcraft for the sake of your creative process?

**Kailee Morgue** Oh, yeah. So this is a... This is an interesting one. No, actually, I don't practice anymore. I didn't start practicing though for music. So I think like, I'm not sure if people... I think people started finding out that I practice because I had talked about it in relation to my music. I had like started talking about witchcraft. I made a music video kind of inspired by witchcraft. And I had like a video go viral where I was talking about doing a spell for a song. But I I kinda just something in me... I practiced since I was 17. That's why I was saying like, it's not really... It wasn't about music. It was just something that I did for six or seven years. Like nothing... There was nothing that happened that I was like, I need to stop doing this. But I just... Last year, like, I found... Or it was about fourteen months and I like never did this. I hadn't done a spell, hadn't done a ritual. Was like, oh, like, think I think I'm just kind of growing out of this. Like, it doesn't feel like something I'm I'm passionate about anymore. I also come from a very religious family. So I I think like, I personally, this is like no dig to anyone that does witchcraft. This is like my own issues. I felt like I was like trying to fill a God shaped hole with witchcraft. Like, I was like, oh, like me doing these rituals and spells is like me praying. Like, this was me like trying to like take control over my own spiritual experience. So I think, yeah, I just like, just felt kind of disconnected with it. But for a while, yeah, I was practicing. I still have like, I still have all my stuff. Like I have a crystal ball over here, right here. I have candles. I have the whole shebang. I just like kinda took a break for a while. I think it's... I don't know. I'm very much like everything in my life is kind of fluid and I kind of play it by ear and like it didn't... Just hasn't felt like something I've connected with for a bit, but I did definitely do it for a while. I think that's cool. I actually, like, haven't been able to discuss that. So I think that's really interesting.

**Derek Oswald** Perfect. Just to wrap up the podcast, is there anything else that you would like to share with people listening in? What does the future hold for Kailee Morgue? Oh. Well, first of all,

**Kailee Morgue** thank you for listening this far. I always like wanna like give people a little treat of like thanking them after a long interview. Thank you for being here. And, you know, stream Girl Next Door, stream In My Head. Me and Mike have been working on some stuff I'm really excited about. The whole Kailee Morgue project is just something that I've had a lot of fun exploring and and figuring out what the next sound is. I've been kind of digging into like some queen inspired stuff, some, like, fifties inspired stuff. So we're definitely putting together some sort of project there. And then like I was saying earlier, I have kind of super, super secret side projects that's in the works that works that I'm beyond excited for, and it just feels like it's gonna be massive. So just keep an eye out, I think, and look for any Easter eggs because they will be there.

**Derek Oswald** And that brings us to the end of this episode. I'd like to thank Kailee for joining us today and for being such an incredible guest. Please be sure to stream her debut album, The Girl Next Door, as well as her collaboration, In My Head with Mike Shinoda on streaming services worldwide. My name is Derek Oswald. Thanks for listening.

**Producer's Note: At parts of this episode, there is an intermittent scraping noise in the background. We could not remove it during post, as it is embedded in multiple frequencies and would have otherwise destroyed the spoken audio. We apologize for any inconvenience.**

Prepare for another mesmerizing episode of the **Altwire Podcast**, where we bring you in-depth conversations with some of the most talented artists shaping the alternative music scene. We are delighted to welcome our next guest—[**Kailee Morgue**](https://www.kaileemorgue.com/), an exceptionally gifted musician making waves with her captivating sound and spellbinding voice.

In this episode, we’ll dive into Kailee’s recent collaboration with [**Mike Shinoda**](https://www.mikeshinoda.com/) on the *Scream 6 Soundtrack*, exploring their haunting duet “In My Head.” But that’s not all – we’ll also discuss her stunning debut album, *Girl Next Door*, which showcases her unique talent and solidifies her place as a rising star in the music industry.

However, in alignment with Kailee’s uniqueness, this podcast episode is slightly different than usual! Throughout our conversation with Kailee, we often dove into some fun tangents, discussing topics such as our favorite TV shows, favorite horror movie franchises, our joint love of 1990s WWE wrestling, and much more. This episode felt more like two friends just casually chilling with each other, and we are sure you’ll love the laid-back vibe.

Don’t miss out on this engaging conversation with Kailee Morgue as she shares her thoughts on making “In My Head” and “Girl Next Door” and offers a glimpse into her exciting future in the music world. We have become completely enamored by her talents and feel you will be too!

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From AltWire: https://altwire.net/podcast/episode-08-the-girl-next-door-kailee-morgue/