Code Orange's Jami Morgan: What I've Learned From Nine Inch Nails

Long before Code Orange were the Code Orange Kids — or even a band at all — guitarist-vocalist Reba Meyers and drummer-vocalist Jami Morgan were just two teenage music fanatics living with their respective families in Pittsburgh and discovering their love of punk bands such as Operation Ivy and Black Flag and industrial acts including Nine Inch Nails. Even at that very young age, the dark, cinematic, industrial metal of Trent Reznor's outfit particularly resonated with Morgan, and to this day they remain his favorite act. We sat down with the musician to discuss the lasting impact of NIN, and why records like Broken and The Downward Spiral are perfect examples of how to write an album that balances aggression and "venom" with creating a "thematic world" rich with dynamics.