Following the release of his latest single Adelina, we caught an interview with long-time songwriting and artist Mr MooQ, to find out more about his musical journey so far. Here’s how it went.
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Hey – great to catch up with you, how are things where you are – how have you found lock-down so far?
It hasn’t affected me too much. I have always lead a kind of geeky isolated life. I respect what’s going on but I’m just trying to do my own thing in the studio everyday and stay out of harm’s way.
You’re a fairly prolific, fast-working songwriter – how long have you been writing songs, and what’s your process like?
Been writing songs for decades. Almost all my life, and that’s a long time!
It all starts with a good idea either lyrically or musically. This idea is developed and if I believe in it enough, it becomes a song! Sometimes this process is obsessively fast and other times painful slow. It’s like riding a bucking bronco. Jerking me all over everywhere and trying to buck me off! If I can hold on… I’ll most likely end up with a great song.
The song Adelina is beautiful, notably personal and unusual as such a passionate love song. How did the song come to be, and are the lyrics based on your own experiences?
All my songs are somehow tied to real life experiences. Adelina’s a little different. Pretty much all fiction with this one. It comes from a childhood of watching romantic western dramas on Saturday mornings. Somehow imprinting me with a cowboy code of ethics. Love, revenge, and murder are certainly not original themes for entertainment. But doing this in a love song was fun and unique.
What do you hope people take away from the song?
My favorite part of every song I do is the story. I know it’s expecting a lot to ask everyone to connect with that but I’m always hoping the audience will be entertained by at least a sliver of the original vibe. The truth is, whatever they connect with is fine with me!
Do you write, perform and produce your songs yourself?
I do collaborate in different ways with a team of people I have worked with for years and I am constantly inspired by their great ideas mixed with my own.
Is live performance an important part of what you do, and have you put on any live-streams yet – if so, how did you find it? And what are your thoughts on live-streaming in general?
Sorry not there yet! But we’re working on it. Go to my YouTube channel (Mr MooQ) and subscribe! We’ll send you a notice when we’re streaming some live content and any new videos.
What can you tell us about Fortune Frog Music?
Fortune Frog Music is a small indie label that gave Mr MooQ a chance to reach out to a bigger audience. I appreciate all that they do and am grateful for their support!
What’s something you’ve been able to get done during lock-down that you didn’t have the time for before?
The new circumstances haven’t changed me. l try to lead a simple life. I’m passionately driven to create music everyday.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be, and why?
It would be nice if it were easier for an Indie artist to make a living wage. The music industry mostly is a system of extremes. All or nothing is usually the case. I wish that an Indie artist could create music and not have to use his product as a free demo.
If you could sit down to lunch with anyone at all, past or present, who would you choose, and what would you ask them about?
You ask some really interesting questions. I never have once thought about that! I’d have to give that some thought but off the top of my head I’d probably select some weird writer like Edgar Allen Poe.
Is there a bigger picture or an overall ambition for you as an artist, or do you just love to write and release original music?
Of course I have the typical ambition that all artists have – to have a bigger audience, but there is so much you can’t control about that. I feel all I can really do is create musical content that is my best and eventually more people will tune in!
Is there anything else we should know?
Finishing up a ton of new songs and releasing an album this summer. Stay tuned for more Mr MooQ!
Thank you all!
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Find & follow Mr MooQ on Facebook or visit his Website.
