Mondo Cozmo – This is for the Barbarians

By starrymag | May 30, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I usually just say it’s rock ‘n roll but in reality, it’s all over the place. I write how I listen. I don’t try and fight the songs or push them into a specific place or genre. I let the songs lead.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) I’m a 90’s kid so I love Oasis, Blur, Nirvana and Radiohead. I got into [Bruce] Springsteen and [Bob] Dylan later on. Mostly, now I am into my friends bands and such.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Meant for Livin’.”

A) This was the first song I wrote when the pandemic hit. I wanted the lyrics to read as a manual for successful living. The boys and I joke about the lyrics now but when I wrote, “Here’s to hoping that you get out alive” – it was a pretty honest statement at the time.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I don’t know. I think it’s the vibe and the vocal delivery. It sounds old and new all at once.

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) The initial idea was a pastor or politician preaching from a pulpit. I loved the idea of different people of power giving terrible life advice to a cored of people. And I knew I wanted to dance like Rodney Dangerfield from CaddyShack. It was shot during the pandemic so we couldn’t bring people together and that’s when we came up with the stop motion idea. I didn’t know if people were gonna like it at all, so it’s been a nice surprise seeing the response.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) For me it’s all about the melody. If the melody isn’t strong, I usually stop working on it. I usually sit with the guitar or at the piano and just sing over some chords and see what happens. I like to voice record these early moments on my phone to see if any words/lyrics come through. The songs themselves only take two or three days to finish. I usually keep my initial vocal takes even if they are a little off, I love the excitement and delivery of the early takes.

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I record everything myself. The only thing I do outside of my studio is cut drums. I usually just have my friends record the drums and send them over.

Q) What are some themes you explore on your new album This is For the Barbarians?

A) Life and death were a big one for this record. Beyond the pandemic, I lost my uncle during the recording process, and I found a lot of inspiration in that. The record also deals with isolation and a general narrative of what was happening in America.

Q) How did the Barbarian poets help inspire the songs on this particular album?

A) Their raw delivery of a line was really exciting to me. Super exposed and beautiful. I love when I hear a line in a song that just sums up how I am feeling at that moment.

Q) What songs on the album hold a special place for you and what makes them so significant?

A) “Hang On” is my favorite moment on the album. The way the song builds over two chords into the massive moment is so powerful to me. Lyrically, I am really proud of that one.

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from exploring For the Barbarians?

A) I hope people listen to it from to back. We put a ton of effort into the sequencing of the album. I hope it speaks to them. I hope they find something in it.

Q) You’re out on tour now. What can fans expect from a live MONDO COZMO performance?

A) The Mondo live show is really special. We really lay it all out. Delivered with conviction and heart. It’s a really powerful show.

Q) What songs off the new album have been enjoying performing live?

A) “Electrify My Love” and “Meant for Livin’” have been crushing.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform?

A) I love playing the smaller towns, but beyond that any show in Philadelphia usually has a bullseye on it for us as I grew up in Philly and feel a sense of responsibility to really deliver there.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Springsteen would be rad.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) I love the new Spoon album.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I struggle with socials a lot. Sometimes it’s great and sometimes I fear it is a huge waste of time. But it really is an amazing way to connect with folks and I think that is the whole reason we do this.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) I love you.