- PJ Morton is a father of three: sons Jakai and P3, and daughter Peyton
- The Grammy-winning musician spoke to PEOPLE about playing his new album, Cape Town to Cairo, for his kids before its release
- The singer-songwriter also shares why his children “still think they’re cooler than” him
Before PJ Morton thinks of dropping any new music, he “always” makes sure to give his kids a first listen.
The 43-year-old singer-songwriter dropped his new album, Cape Town to Cairo, on Friday, June 14, and tells PEOPLE his children — Jakai, 19, P3, 13, and Peyton, 11 — were among the first to get a preview of the “eclectic,” African-inspired project.
“I test [music] on my kids usually, the vibes,” he shares when asked if his three kids had heard the album before its release.
According to Morton, his oldest son, Jakai, “had his favorites” from the nine-track LP, which the musician created in 30 days during his fall travels to South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt.
To the singer’s surprise, the 19-year-old even asked for an early download of “Count on Me” — the pop-style album cut featuring Fireboy DML.
“I’m like, “Hold on, man.’ He’s like, ‘Wait, is this not out yet? Can I get it?’ ” the five-time Grammy winner recalls. “I’m like, ‘All right, you got it. Just keep it on the low.’”
Erika Goldring/Getty
Speaking about his “little ones,” Morton shares, “I always test my music out on them, and it was important.” Though his children didn’t join him on his voyage to Africa last year, the Watch the Sun artist says it was “important” for him to explain the transformative experience to them.
“They know that we’re going [together one day] because I need them to see it and feel it,” he adds. “I wish at that age I was able to make that connection and just see and feel that. But I know them seeing it after my experience is going to just change a whole generation.”
In addition to his new album, Morton also recently unveiled the original Disney song he was tapped to create for the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride attraction at Disney Parks. The New Orleans native is now the first Black composer to ever write music for a Disney attraction.
Asked if the “huge” achievement makes the singer’s kids see him as a rockstar or just plain ole regular dad, Morton laughs and says, “I think it’s just starting to hit them.”
“P3, the other day, he was like, ‘Dad, I don’t understand how you so calm. You just wrote a song for Disney, why are you so chill?’ And I was like, ‘Man, I’ve been up, up, I’ve been down, down.’ So it’s like I just take everything in stride,” the “Smoke & Mirrors” singer shares. “But I’m super excited and super honored.”
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
As his children get older and become more aware of his career, Morton believes they’re also finally beginning to acknowledge his level of fame.
“Now they’re at the age where they can recognize, ‘This isn’t regular,’ ” he says. “Us riding this Disney ride by ourselves at the park at night, this is not just what happens. So I think they get it a little bit. They still think they’re cooler than me, but as long as they’re trying to borrow my clothes and stuff, I know I’m still out here.”
He jokes, “I’m still outside because they still be trying to wear my stuff. I’m like, ‘Okay, I must still be fly.’”
Later this year, Morton will release his inspiring new memoir Saturday Night, Sunday Morning: Staying True to Myself from the Pews to the Stage, a book that he says will detail an “in-depth story” about his “crazy life” — including how he joined Maroon 5, signed to Lil Wayne’s Young Money Records, worked with icons like Kirk Franklin, Stevie Wonder and much more.
The indie artist also tells PEOPLE he plans to release a documentary chronicling the making of his latest album, sharing, “We are creating a documentary that’s going to follow the album because I wanted to see [the process].”
“I’ve never seen myself create anything from scratch,” he adds, “but I felt like that’s what would make it special.”
