When you hear Morgan Nagler’s debut collection of songs under her own name, you’ll probably wonder how she seemingly appeared out of nowhere with such jaw-dropping melodies, lyrics that cut right to the heart, and her distinctively beautiful, plaintive howl. The thing is, she’s been hiding in plain sight for a minute now, waiting for the perfect moment to emerge from band names and behind-the-scenes co-writes with her truest musical statement yet. With her bands Whispertown and Supermoon, and through Grammy-nominated collaborations with Phoebe Bridgers, Haim and Madi Diaz, the Los Angeles singer-songwriter has spent years honing her ability to craft tunes that are both heartbreaking and clever at the same time. It’s a gift that has made her a hugely in-demand co-writer – someone an artist will call in when they really want to get to the core of a feeling. Earlier this year, reeling from a devastating break-up and turning to her guitar to sing her grief, Nagler began amassing a group of songs that instantly felt like the beginning of something important. It was time to share her stories, as herself. “Cradle The Pain” is a preview of Nagler’s next chapter. Produced by King Tuff’s Kyle Thomas and mixed by Alex Farrar (Wednesday, MJ Lenderman, Snail Mail), the song displays her poetic acumen, atop an instantly memorable melody. “I originally wrote this song as sort of a letter to one of my dear friends,” Nagler explains. “It’s funny how it’s often easier to cut to the core of truth when the message is disguised as being for somebody else. It has since taken on many new and personal meanings to me, currently serving as more of a mantra. I think we inherently know it’s all in our own hands, but the allure of not being accountable allows us to romanticize falling victim to the whims of fate. I am constantly needing the reminder that perspective truly is the key to life, and only we contain our own salvations. We have to just keep getting back on the saddle again and again. Cradle the pain, it’s all the same, it’s what you make of it.” The track also features a stellar backing band including both Thomas and Meg Duffy (Hand Habits) on guitar, and Josh Adams (Cat Power, Weyes Blood & Tim Heidecker) on drums. Nagler will be sharing more music next year, and is putting finishing touches on an album. “This song is the first of a body of work I consider closest to home,” she says. After spending my childhood as an actor taking on alternate personalities, my young adult days writing and touring in various indie projects, and the last several years writing with and for other artists, I’ve compiled a personal collection of songs alongside my producer and co-writer Kyle Thomas. They will be released under my name for the first time, which is appropriate as I feel pretty raw and more like myself than ever. So in many ways, regardless of a lifetime spent in the trenches of creativity, this feels like a debut.”