Q&A: ‘We Survived the Storm, Vol.1’: Soulful Escapism From Moise on Life, Love & Loss in Minneapolis
AN EMOTIVE INVITATION INTO A POIGNANT NARRATIVE OF LOVE, LOSS, AND ESCAPISM — Moise’s latest project, We Survived the Storm, Vol. 1, explores themes of optimism amidst chaos, of living and loving in a world in which we strive to simply survive. Curated in 2019, prior to the pandemic, the project spans three years of cutting themes. Boldly exploring latent themes of introspection etched within the forever-changing social milieu of Minneapolis, Moise echoes the constant social change and turbulence experienced by himself and listeners alike.
While the pandemic altered Moise’s artistic approach to his music, the underlying role of the project remains the same. We Survived the Storm, Vol. 1 embodies a guiding compass to help us as listeners navigate the emotional turmoil of current events and the echoes of past political and social turmoil.
Inspired by the likes of Marvin Gaye and Amy Winehouse, We Survived the Storm, Vol. 1 is charged with emotion, crystallized by a multitude of genres spanning R&B, rock, and soul, combining to create a style unique to Moise’s artistry. As with the ever-changing sonic elements of the project, we are encouraged as listeners to navigate our emotions with daring optimism through the tempestuous times in which we live. A beacon of hope which “embodies the optimistic feeling of being able to move past the chaos,” Moise’s music invites us into a lyrical sanctuary of protection, relatability, and comfort.
Acting as a foundation for further projects spanning similar themes — epic tales of love, loss, and everything in between — for Moise, this is only the beginning.
Read below to learn more about We Survived the Storm, Vol. 1 and Moise’s upcoming plans for the year ahead.
LUNA: Congrats on the upcoming release of your latest project, We Survived the Storm Vol. 1! How does it feel to be finally releasing the project, and how did the early stages of the creative process behind it first come about?
MOISE: It feels so liberating! The earliest demos and sessions for the record started in 2019. At that time, I was working on my debut album, Postcards I Forgot To Send, and during that process there were songs that felt like they didn’t fit that album sonically, as I was experimenting with new sounds. I decided to not lose track of those songs because they were good but needed their own home. As the pandemic soon came, I began crafting songs that now embodied the fresh approach that I started and focused in on creating a narrative that was cohesive. I switched my primary instrument from guitar to bass, as well, which also changed my recording process, as I was now hearing music in a different way that was entrenched in finding a groove. Which explains the groovy tone that chases between all these songs on WSTS.
Most of the record came from jam sessions that were between myself and all the production collaborators, as we would work in tandem just trying to take my music forward. [I was] taking a next step in the artist's evolution, as much of my older work would feel very lo-fi and raw. It felt more calculated this time as I knew exactly the sound I was chasing after. I was inspired by Marvin Gaye, Amy Winehouse, Lenny Kravitz, Prince, and Curtis Mayfield as a few references when it came to songwriting.
LUNA: The title of the project isn’t listed as any of the tracks included in We Survived the Storm Vol. 1. Was there any reason behind this? What influenced you in choosing this as the title of the project?
MOISE: The title served as a defining narrative to describe the impact I want the songs to have on the listener rather than just referring directly to any song or lyric on the record. My life at the time of beginning the project felt like a storm, as I was dealing with the effects of COVID impacting my day-to-day life and then the uprising due to the murder of George Floyd that was amping just outside of my door. I had the forward thinking that, once I’m done with this album and it is out in the world, that I could confidently say, “We Survived the Storm” — it served as a benchmark. The title of the record helped motivate me when I was feeling down because I knew that if I can finish this and put it out in the world it will serve as another chapter in this epic tale that I am writing every day.
LUNA: Would you mind touching upon how you initially started out as an artist and how your journey has evolved since then?
MOISE: Initially, I never thought of myself as a singer. I always loved music, as my first instrument was the trumpet, and I grew up listening to Bob Marley and Tupac thanks to my parent’s ear for great music. Once I got my first opportunity to record a song back in freshman year of high school I sort of developed an itch for making my own music. This developed into self-producing and then collaborating with others along the way. I would say, so far, I haven’t skipped any steps; I’ve played shows to crowds of, like, 10 people all the way to playing in front of thousands.
LUNA: You recently stated that you hoped the project would reflect “the chaos” that you have experienced in the past couple of years “being a young black man in Minneapolis.” How do you seek to portray this within your music, and are there certain elements of the project — whether that is sonically, visually, or lyrically — that you believe best reflect this sentiment?
MOISE: I would frame it more so that this project embodies the optimistic feeling of being able to move past the chaos. Every song on here has some bounce to it, making the listener want to dance and sing along. As I put together the track list I was aware that when this album finally is out and in the world there would be a different feeling in the air. More optimism… which I am a fool to have thought, as there is still uncertainty and we are still amidst the waves of a pandemic that has affected so many of us. Regardless, we have gone through so much, so it is only right that in this moment we take a second to just relax and have fun again, especially amongst each other. I think you could play this record at a party and when you are all alone in your bedroom reflecting on a long day. It serves as an escape from the everyday chaos.
LUNA: Are there any specific feelings or emotions you want the listener to take from this project in particular?
MOISE: Have more fun in the moment. Life can feel so serious all the time, but we must remember that our time here isn’t forever, so let’s make the most of every day and night. I touch on subjects that are very personal to me; I know there is always someone else out there that is experiencing those same emotions — it’s not necessarily unique to just me. Hopefully, you catch those moments in the record and it can help you get through whatever you are going through.
LUNA: As the son of two Rwandan immigrants, you say that themes of the family and community are at the core of your music. Were there any key moments or experiences that you have had that drove these to be the key influences in your music? Why do you think it is important that these themes are prevalent throughout the project?
MOISE: For sure. Around me there are so many of my peers that have been affected by drug and alcohol abuse. I can be the first to say I have seen how it affects those relationships. Especially coming out of the hardships of a pandemic, it was so much more prevalent. By observing that, I give my two cents on how I’ve dealt with that and words of optimism as to how we can help those that are close to us get through that.
My favourite subject, love, is also prevalent. During recording this album, I met the love of my life. She has helped me in so many ways beyond what I could have ever imagined, [and] those feelings pour throughout the record as well.
LUNA: We Survived the Storm Vol. 1 spans various genres, including rap, rock, and R&B, as shown by contrasting songs such as the opening soulful feel of “Cellphone Receiver” to that of the closing track. “1ST,” which elicits a more R&B feel. What kinds of challenges, if any, do you face in trying to merge these different genres into one, and what kind of inspirations influence which genre overrides certain tracks when you’re producing them?
MOISE: The biggest challenge is being able to make that all cohesive, which is why the time spent mixing this record was so crucial. Will Levison and I spent so many hours on Zoom — as he is in the UK and I am in the U.S. — collaborating to make the sonics of this record flow seamlessly. Since I worked with several other producers it was nice to have someone who is equally as close to the progression of my music as Will to help bring this all together. It was his first time ever mixing a record, so we worked together closely, sending back and forth notes and track revisions. If I had to go back to starting this process again, I wouldn’t have changed anything. We ended up taking the responsibility for how this record sounds in its completed form on ourselves, and I think it paid off.
I grew up inspired by various artists from contrasting genres. So, it has just been natural for me to flow between so many soundscapes effortlessly because it was the way I was brought up.
LUNA: How do you find inspiration for the visual side of the project? How important is that side of the project to you in reflecting the emotions and the feelings evoked by the music you produce?
MOISE: Once again, a common theme with the way I work is collaborative. The visual motifs usually come from me just having a weird dream for a music video to fit a song. Then I’ve been blessed to meet and work with so many talented directors who can make sense of these loose ideas. Over the course of a couple months, we were able to craft a full plan for executing these visuals.
All the cover art was done by David Maxwell, a creative polymath who has worked closely with me since the first EP I ever released. At this point, he understands what I like creatively and has been able to mirror my vision when it comes to how the art component of these songs looks.
LUNA: Any upcoming projects you would like to talk about?
MOISE: The title is Volume 1 for a reason (wink wink). Expect to hear the end of this saga this year.
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