Alienware Travels with Morgan Page From Spark of Idea to Performance

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Researchers Banaji and Burn assert that while technology can promote creativity, what is important is not using the tools for their own sake, but to pursue meaning-making in projects. GRAMMY-nominated DJ/Producer Morgan Page says one of the most important roles of technology in the creative process is that it can fade into the background.

 A sold-out crowd at Emo's in Austin, Texas, for Morgan Page

“The machines, and the processes that happen, need to be working silently in the background while you’re getting your vision out,” he told me recently. “I don’t want to be troubleshooting or waiting for something to load. Things need to happen at the pace of my creativity.”

That’s one of the reasons Page has chosen Alienware as his “go-to setup” not only at festivals, clubs and every performance in between, but also in the original creation process. I recently got the opportunity to catch him as his current tour came through Austin, Texas, and he mentioned he’d just been tweaking on his Alienware 13 at his hotel a new remix he debuted that night.

 Morgan Page prepares backstage before his show with his Alienware 13 laptop

“Even before I get to perform the songs I’m using Alienware in the studio,” he said. “I’m creating new music, doing remixes, doing edits, doing mashups and just sort of creating the lifeblood of my DJ set, which is music.”

He enjoys the continuity of using the same platform from the spark of an idea to final performance; and, then revising the song, making it better and better before delivering the final mix to streaming services and stores. But it’s that moment when a live audience reacts to his creation that gives Page goosebumps – and it’s not always the moment he expects.

“There’s this element of surprise in there and I think that is part of the rush,” he said. “My job is to really navigate the tension and release of music throughout the night and keep the energy going. It’s a huge relief when you play something new and it reacts really well.”

 Morgan Page performing at Emo's in Austin, Texas

A desire for even deeper connection with his audience has also pushed Page ahead of the curve in use of new technology. While Alienware and XPS General Manager Frank Azor called 2016 “the year of virtual reality” at CES, Page started adding it to his creative tools several years ago. He agrees that this could be the year that virtual reality (VR) could get the critical momentum to move forward.

“It was really fortuitous to already be working with Alienware for a couple of years and creating a VR experience for Oculus Rift,” he noted. “To bring that experience to the fans early – before anyone knows what virtual reality is – that was a huge deal.

MORGAN PAGE VR EXPERIENCE at the Dell Lounge

“Fans come, they put the Oculus on, they lean against the Subpac, see the Alienware hardware and they see what goes into the process of making this content. It’s a lot of work and it takes a lot of power to do it; but, it takes the song to a whole other level when you have all this attached to it.”

Page said he thinks it’s important for people to know that these technology tools are about more than gaming, that they’re really good for all types of creators. The computer is one of the most important things he uses in creating something new from scratch, and he added that for anyone interested in electronic dance music (EDM) your studio is now your laptop.

“It’s not so much the space that you need to have with crazy expensive acoustic paneling. All you really need is a good pair of headphones and good mic chain and a powerful laptop,” Page said. “One central component to your studio and to be able to work in the hotel, work on the plane, and that’s the hub of your creative life.”

 Morgan Page onstage with his Alienware 13

He loves how slim the Alienware laptops are, and while he may desire for technology to fade into the background during the creative process, he stills wants it to look good when it is visible. Page said the Alienware form factor looks more distinct and cool, especially when he’s on stage.

One of his favorite stages to be on was at Coachella — he called playing that festival a bucket list moment. (Just attending is on my daughter’s bucket list.) But when asked what else is on his list, he was open to wherever the music takes him.

“But, I think it’s going to be about releasing really compelling VR experiences maybe doing film scores one day and just making music that resonates with people globally,” he said.

Dell and Alienware are excited to be along for the ride.

About the Author: Laura Pevehouse

Laura Pevehouse was profiled as one of five “social media mavens” in the March 2009 issue of Austin Woman Magazine and named an AdWeek’s TweetFreak Five to Follow. She has been part of the Dell organization for more than 15 years in various corporate communications, employee communications, public relations, community affairs, marketing, branding, social media and online communication roles. From 2014-2018, Laura was Chief Blogger/Editor-in-Chief for Direct2DellEMC and Direct2Dell, Dell’s official corporate blog that she help launch in 2007. She is now a member of the Dell Technologies Chairman Communications team. Earlier in her Dell career she focused on Global Commercial Channels and US Small and Medium Business public relations as part of the Global Communications team. Prior to that, she was responsible for global strategy in social media and community management, as well as marcom landing pages, as a member of Dell’s Global SMB Marketing, Brand and Creative team. When she was part of Dell’s Global Online group, Laura provided internal consulting that integrated online and social media opportunities with a focus on Corporate Communications and Investor Relations. She managed the home page of Dell.com, one of the top 500 global web sites in Alexa traffic rank, and first brought web feeds and podcasts to the ecommerce site. In her spare time she led Dell into the metaverse with the creation of Dell Island in the virtual world Second Life. Laura has earned the designation of Accredited Business Communicator from the International Association of Business Communicators, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Louisiana State University. Before joining Dell Financial Services in 2000, she worked at the Texas Workforce Commission and PepsiCo Food Systems Worldwide.
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