Morgan Bernard

Imagine knowing what you want to do at age 10 and totally going for it. That’s exactly what singer/songwriter Morgan Bernard did. After getting a taste for piano in first grade, then moving on to guitar a little while later, she decided to begin a serious singing career. And she has taken off! Morgan has already released 2 title CD’s and a 6-title EP (Give it All) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIXf7Md709g

Being that I’m a 30-something year old who still dreams about what she wants to be when she grows up, I had to find out what makes this 14 year old prodigy tick. So maybe, you know, she could give me some “how to be a grown-up and know what you want” advice…

Age: 14

Always has: Loved music

Proudest of: Own 12 track full CD

Is thankful for: My supportive parents

Wants to: Become a internationally famous rock star

Is afraid of: Bugs... any kind of bugs

Believes everyone should: Be themselves.

Is embarrassed by: My best friends :)

My style is: Rock'n'roll

Pet peeve: When people hum on songs

So you were VERY motivated at a very young age. Are you just that passionate about music or does it carry over into other aspects of your life? My parents, especially my dad always loved music and it was their life and I was kind of raised on it. I think that music is the best way to communicate a message.

Your life seems so crazy-busy. How do you, Morgan Bernard, teen phenom, so easily manage your career, school, social life? It gets a bit out of hand sometimes but I always do my best work under pressure so I guess it wouldn't be normal if I didn't have so much to do. I like to do a lot of things at once, but my music has never affected my school life and I've always been a straight "A" student and still have time to hang out with my friends.

What is your favorite venue to play? I love Skippers because its just a really old wooden place and has famous to local artist playing there and I enjoy there Rockabilly Ruckus event they have every year that I was actually a part of last year. I also like the Orpheum in Ybor City which is where I'm having my CD release event on December 7th.

Who is your favorite musician? How do they inspire you? My favorite musician is definitely Lady Gaga. Her messages in her music and how she's original and no one is like her is really inspiring.

If I raided your closet, what would I find the most of? EVERYTHING! Shoes, jeans, dresses,etc. I classify myself as a clothes hoarder. I own more than 30 pair of jeans.

Do you have any siblings? If so, what is your relationship with them? I actually have 4 siblings (2 brothers and 2 sisters) that are all older than 25 they live in France. I love my siblings so much and they're kind of like best friends to me but I don't get to see them that often.

 You're currently working on your first full-length album. When can we expect the release? You can buy it now but the official release of "Give it All" is on December 7 at the Orpheum. There's a little bit of everything so everyone will find a song they like, it goes anywhere from rockabilly to Lady Gaga style pop.

Check out song downloads and tour info on http://www.reverbnation.com/morganbernard

Be sure to check out our other music interviews with Jacob Latimore (who has put out another song with Diggy), Camryn (on tour with One Direction - AGAIN!), Justine Dorsey, Miriam Bryant and more! Let us know who you think Morgan sounds like... or if she has a sound all her own!

~Lisa, Music Editor

Halloween Songs: the party playlist

Halloween is sneaking deviously around the corner and we have been making Halloween candy, and have our costumes ready. It's the time of bubble, toil, trouble, vampires, werewolves and other tragically hip characters. And most importantly, it's the time for dressing up and procuring free candy. So, yeah. Maybe you're too old to pull off the whole "trick or treat" thing. But you're never too old to dress up and enjoy a good party with Halloween songs playing in the background. We've put together a quirky witches brew of tunes that even the most maudlin monster would enjoy! Yes. We started with the obvious. But c'mon! It's the quintessential Halloween tune!

"Is there a ghost in my house?"

An awesomely spooky song AND the video just adds to the creep factor. Unless skateboarding nuns and clowns of questionable character seem normal to you...

How did they make their faces do that??? *shudder*

The Ramones were an unearthly looking bunch, even when they WEREN'T singing about cemetaries. If you're really feeling brave, rent the movie based on the Stephen King novel. You'll never look at your darling pets the same.

More Halloween songs to finish off your playlist of horror... Sonic Youth- Halloween Zombina and the Skeletones- Horror High School Panic! At the Disco or Marilyn Manson- This is Halloween (cover) Blue Oyster Cult- Don't Fear the Reaper (or you can opt for the haunting cover by Gus) Pink Floyd- Dark Side of the Moon Radiohead- Wolf at the Door (this one drops the f bomb so you can take out if you want) The Black Keys- Howlin' for You Stars- I Died So I Could Haunt You Beck- Scarecrow Annie Lennox- Love Song for a Vampire  

Taylor Swift dishes about making "Red"

Taylor Swift had a busy Monday morning in New York City doing television interviews to promote her new album RED. She was seen leaving ABC studios wearing a red dress and then a yellow one after doing Katie Couric’s show.

The singer told Good Morning America. “I’m writing all the time. I wrote a new [song] two days ago. … I just grab a guitar and make stuff up. When I started writing songs when I was 12, I would run to my room and write songs about a difficult day at school or something like that. It’s kind of carried me my whole life and allowed me to filter through really complicated emotions and make them simple.”

Check out more from Taylor Swift on making "Red" and see more photos at Celebrity Teen Scoop

photo: INFPHOTO.com