Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Savanna Morgan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Savanna, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I learned at a young age that comparison is the thief of joy. I stopped comparing myself to others when I was maybe 11 or 12 years old, because by that time it was clear to me that I cannot please everyone. I was bullied constantly for my weight, my skin complexion, my hair texture, etc. to the point where I had to develop my own sense of self-validation and self-confidence simply to survive the terror I faced against my peers. I think lots of black women, but especially those who are dark-skinned and/or plus-size (by Western standards), can relate to having negative societal traits projected onto us even from girlhood. In order to build lasting self-esteem, I had to learn to remove myself from places and people that are not capable of seeing my personhood fully. My practice as a musician and creative has allowed me to express my identity and channel my emotions in a productive way, that can also set an example for others like me. I encourage everyone who feels overlooked and misunderstood to also develop a creative practice that connects you to your higher self so you define who you are on your own terms.
I was also extremely blessed to have two parents who poured into me and stressed to me how beautiful my blackness is from the time I was born. I have always had my mother as a glowing example of what true self-confidence looks like. She’s a natural risktaker, stylista, and nurturer to her bones. As I grow and mature, I am also intentional about who I let into my intimate space as my closest friends are the people who reflect the beauty that I see in myself. The people in my life uplift me in so many ways, and I have a handful of quality friends that I can rely on to pick me up and encourage me when I do have those moments of self-doubt.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My artist name “Sweetwater” is an ode to my Southern heritage. I grew up in East Texas eating delicate cuisines such as sweetwater cornbread, fried cow tripe, greens, crawfish, and all that good stuff–by way of Georgia and South Carolina. As an artist and folklorist/researcher, I embody the sensual and physical sensations of the South which welcomed me into this world and into my black body. I experiment with sound from a holistic perspective, aiming to integrate culture into my performance via music as poetry, music as spiritual, music as nourishment…I am heavily influenced by the traditions of the blues, blacktronica, and R&B equally. Although, I try not to lean too much on the “genre” as a commercial invention to describe my music.
My debut EP “Sweetwater” was recorded in Berlin, Germany this past September. It is now available on Bandcamp and will be out on streaming platforms in January 2025. Produced by Rabih Beaini/Morphine Records. “SWEETWATER” features my 5-part band “The Lovers” and includes 2 dics–starting with 5 jazzy, neo-soul tracks, followed by the ambient session featuring Sweetwater on vocals and Cavid Dhen on saxophone.
My current work is rooted in my residency experience for the Dak’art Biennale in Dakar, Senegal where I am currently based for the next two months. I am collaborating on performances for the opening and closing of this year’s Dakar Biennale “The Wake,” which invites dozens of international artists to explore the various meanings and evocations of the term ‘wake’ (awakening, trail, funeral wake, gindiku), whose rich semantic range ultimately provides cultural and metaphorical bridges between art and society.
For my Dakar-based musical performance “HOLDING ALL TRUTHS” and in my academic practice overall, I am researching the following topics: crucial connections between circum-Atlantic and cosmopolitan songs of Senegalese blues singers (ex: Aminata Fall) and those of African American blues singers such as (ex: Memphis Minnie and Bessie Smith); blues songs that have lyrics thematically and technically resonant with one another; similar instrumentations and technical innovation of the string instrument via the kora, the banjo, and balafon (modern bass).
Outside of my work for the Biennale, my writing and research on the blues via feminist scholarship has come to life in my performance lecture “Transbluesencies: a poetic you can see through” which has been made possible via support by the Archive Ensemble (based in Berlin, Dakar, and Milan), and also in my radio piece “We Have Been Believers” commissioned by Saavy Contemporary in Berlin.
My recent publications include debut poetry book, “cow tripe” (Hopscotch Editions, 2022), “Parabolis Virtualis” (Querverlag, 2023), and “Togetherward” (Archive Books, 2023).
My performances have been presented internationally in galleries and concert venues alike including Ford Foundation Gallery, the Whitney (NYC), Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Gropius Bau, ChertLuedde Saavy Contemporary (Berlin), VillaRomana Florenz (Italy), amongst other social and cultural institutions.
Blues for Mrs, a musical film written and performed by myself and directed by Dr, Anton Juan, recently had its Berlin premiere at Ballhaus Naunynstrasse in January 2024.
Overall, my work aims to foster conversations within the Black diaspora centering on its histories, triumphs, joy, and healing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being 25 years old, I still consider myself an early-career artist, so I am learning and co-learning just as much as I am sharing. For people who are starting out at the very beginning of their journey, I would apply one skill that I am recently absorbing into my life which is: networking across, and not only up. As opposed to constantly seeking those with more power and privilege than you within whatever industry you are in order to gain access, look to who is next to you, who is in the trenches with you, and who wants it just as bad as you do. Uplifting each other and giving the encouragement is takes to progress to your next level. Cultivating a solid community of like-minded artists is something we will be grateful for when we reach whatever destination we are headed for, as we will realize we will were faithful and had integrity on our journey.
Secondly, it is precisely in the space of vulnerability and uncertainty as emerging artists where we gain our power of discernment and instinct. Learning to develop keen instincts has done so much for me. Not too long ago I was paranoid about if I’m making the right decisions for my career trajectory. “Should I release independent?” “Should I sign with a label?” “Should I wait longer to release this project?” Instead of letting questions swirl around in my mind obsessively, I connect with my inner voice and allow the Spirit to lead me. I try not to lose sight of how far I’ve come and remember that if I just continue to follow my heart and soul, I will never be lead astray.
This leads me to my final point and back to the first question: your self-esteem matters most. In order to get to the first two skills, you have to be able to define yourself and your goals on your own terms.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
At this stage in my career, I am looking to collaborate with other artists and producers in electronica as well as R&B and jazz, so artists like: Aja Monet, Keiyaa, Neicy Blues, Solange, Laraaji, Angel Bat Dawid, Theo Parrish, Joy Guidry, Ghostpoet, and others in that vein. I’m also always looking to connect with curators at art galleries and festivals who know how to arrange programs where the artists and spaces are so complimentary to the point that the dialogue basically strikes itself up. Someone whose curation work I see and applaud is King Britt.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://savannanmorgan.wixsite.com/
- Instagram: sweetwater.morgan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sweetwaterandthelovers
Image Credits
Marbelite / @marbsworld
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