MOONZz – Modern Ritual

By starrymag | April 14, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I would say I’m electronic infused pop, but I feel like I’m ever evolving. I don’t love to stick to one genre because I do feel like I genre bend a lot, but I definitely write pop structure.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) My biggest musical influences are Fiona Apple, Tori Amos and Regina Spektor and, more recently, The Bird and the Bee and Greg Kurstin.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Runnin’.”

A) The story behind “Runnin” was super anthemic and I wrote it about struggles that I feel like we all go through, not just as women. I wanted it to feel like an empowering reminder that even if you’re going through a rough time or a hardship in your life, you can get out of it and you can get through it. The storyline was kind of a hodgepodge of a lot of emotions. It wasn’t about one specific moment, but a bunch of different scenarios that all made me feel a certain way and I wanted to write about it from that perspective of fighting through and getting through that struggle.

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

A) I think that it’s very empowering and the video that goes along with it definitely touches on what I talked about before, which is that struggle and how even if you feel like you are controlled or trapped in something that you can get through it. I feel like a lot of people will see themselves in it, whether it’s in the story, in the workplace or maybe they know someone that’s (unfortunately) been in a domestic violence environment. I wanted it to feel really visceral, but I also wanted it to be empowering.

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

A) I wanted to thread together different stories. In my story, I’m the marionette doll. People can interpret that how they want, but for me it was like you are being controlled by someone and you have to put on this façade and act like everything is going well yet no one really knows how you are on the inside. And then that kind of reflects in the stories. One of the stories is a couple that live in a trailer park and it follows the narrative of her feeling really trapped in that environment and her taking care of him and he’s always drunk. Then, the other one is just being completely taken advantage of and mistreated in the workplace. I wanted them to be pretty extreme storylines.

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

A) Honestly, it really depends on the day. Sometimes I hear a word that strikes me and I’ll write it down in my notes and save it for later. Other times, I sit at the piano and I come up with some melodies and chord progressions. It really depends on my mood, who I’m working with and if there’s a pressure to write a finished song or if I can sit down and just write to write.

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

A) I definitely have a huge hand in production and writing from start to finish. For example, my song “What It’s Like” came to life from a vocal melody and chord progression I came up with in my studio at my house. I brought it to the session, laid those down and we built the song around the whole idea, which ended up becoming the chorus. I also collaborate a good amount and depending on the producer I’m working with, we will work together on certain parts, building the track, I’ll add a synth, etc. I think that really adds to the cohesiveness of my catalog and I’m proud of that.

Q) What can fans expect from a live MOONZz performance?

A) A lot of energy, vulnerability, and I hope an everlasting impression.

Q) Your upcoming EP was said to be inspired by rituals and patterns in our lives. What are some of your personal rituals? Do you have any before going on stage?

A) My personal rituals are taking an hour a day for myself whether that’s going on a hike, taking a workout class, meditating or journaling. Any of those things, but ultimately just giving myself that time to reflect. Before I go on stage, I just do a lot of vocal warm-ups. I have started implementing short meditations of just five or eight minutes, sitting in silence. But it’s mostly just breathing exercises that help calm the nerves.

Q) What songs off your upcoming Modern Ritual EP are you looking forward to performing live?

A) I think “Love Myself” and “What It’s Like.”

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your new EP as a whole?

A) I hope that they reflect on the people and the things and the rituals that make up their daily life and if they are really bringing them the most joy. I hope that they dance around to it because a lot of the songs are definitely faster than my last EP and more danceable. I hope that it resonates and makes people feel empowered. That’s always a huge goal of mine.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) I have always been a lover of LA’s Hotel Café because of the intimacy in there. It always feels like my living room. I’ve performed there since before MOONZz came to be, so that will always be a really special place for me. My favorite places elsewhere would probably be singing at Red Rocks when I opened for Odesza with Pluko and at the Electric Forest Festival, for sure.

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

A) I would love to collaborate with Greg Kurstin because he’s a dope producer and Pharrell.

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

A) The new Tame Impala album has been on repeat. Kevin Parker just has this innate, effortless ability to write songs that you feel existed before. You feel like they’ve already been out for so long and there’s this nostalgic feeling to all of them. I always love that about their music. That’s literally been on repeat.

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

A) Well, I get to talk with people from around the world and I think that’s the most powerful part. It’s always important to me to show every part of what’s going on in my life, including the struggles. I think it’s important to be real online and not only show the highlights. I love being able to talk to people on the daily and be a resource when people message me and share stories with me. I think it’s important to be a mentor and be available to people if I can.

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

A) I would be nothing without you and you sharing my work and I can’t wait to see you at my shows in the future.

 

 

 

Watch the Video for “Runnin'”

 

 

Modern Ritual EP: