PJ Morton Bridges the Sacred and Secular on ‘Saturday Night, Sunday Morning’
When PJ Morton published his 2024 memoir, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning: Staying True to Myself from the Pews to the Stage, he had no intention of writing a double album bearing the same title. Yet, the concept eventually became the catalyst for his latest creative endeavor, a project that bridges the gap between his secular R&B roots and his foundational gospel upbringing.
“I was searching for why I wanted to make music this time around,” Morton explains. “Doing a regular new R&B album wasn’t super appealing or inspiring to me. And on the gospel side, I had taken a step back from my own music. Then the concept of a double came to me, and that’s what got me inspired.”
Loosely informed by sprawling classics like Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life and Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, the album serves as a bridge for every piece of Morton’s artistry. After stepping away from his solo work last year, he retreated to his countryside studio in Bogalusa, Louisiana, this January to bring the project to life.
A Tale of Two Sides
The Saturday Night side of the album leans into Morton’s penchant for reggae rhythms and vulnerable R&B, while Sunday Morning marks his first proper gospel record where he handles all the lead vocals himself. “I approached these less as a double-album and more as two separate albums,” he says. “I expected to switch between writing R&B and gospel songs, but every time I tried to write, it would be straight gospel, so I just locked in and wrote that whole side of the project.”
The release is timed for Juneteenth, a date that holds personal significance for the artist. “Historically, we worked hard during the week, used Saturday night to decompress and used Sunday morning to recharge,” Morton notes. “And Juneteenth is also my mother’s birthday, so it’s always been special.”
Reflecting on a Career
As he looks back on his evolution, Morton remains grounded by the advice of mentors like Kirk Franklin. “Kirk once told me, ‘As long as Jesus is in the room sitting next to you and it feels okay, then you’re all right.’ If I’m being the person I’m supposed to be, then the art should reflect that.”
The album also reflects the influence of his recent travels. “That trip to Africa unlocked the fact that everything goes back to Africa,” he says, noting how the continent’s rhythms continue to shape his sound. “When I hear Bob Marley talk about Fela Kuti, I get that it really all goes back to Africa. I have always been connected to Caribbean rhythms, but reggae, specifically, has always touched me deeply.”
With a career-spanning exhibition at the National Museum of African-American Music and a string of award nominations, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for the artist. For Morton, the success is a testament to the power of staying true to one’s roots while continuing to evolve.
