See Maren Morris’ Jazzy Cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Turn Me On’
With her first Number One song in the books and a busy summer on the way, breakout country star Maren Morris got back to basics on Sunday, taking to social media for effortlessly soulful rendition of John D. Loudermilk’s “Turn Me On.”
Recorded by jazz-influenced stylists such as Nina Simone and Norah Jones, among others, Morris chose to douse the sensual track in casual country cool, singing and plucking her acoustic guitar while perched on a kitchen stool.
While the short performance was just for fun – Morris noted that she was having her wisdom teeth removed the next day – it may provide a hint at the Grammy winner’s headspace as she begins recording her second album – the follow up to her acclaimed debut LP Hero. Speaking with Beats 1 radio on Apple Music, the Texas native said she’s getting out of her comfort zone for the project by working with new songwriting partners like Julian Bunetta, who co-wrote Morris’ pop-flavored “Craving You” duet with Thomas Rhett and former One Direction star Niall Horan’s smash “Slow Hands.”
“It’s still really soulful and rooted in country, but there’s still like these R&B vibes to it,” she explained.
Morris has had multiple brushes with the pop mainstream including as a guest on Horan’s “Seeing Blind.” “The Middle,” Morris’ electro-pop collaboration with Zedd and Grey, hit Number One on Billboard‘s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart in February. This summer, she’ll perform as part of Horan’s international Flicker Tour, which begins June 1st in Auckland, New Zealand, and has its first U.S. date July 18th in The Woodlands, Texas. After scoring her first Number One with “I Could Use a Love Song,” Morris has released the Hero tune “Rich” as her latest single.