Returning with their first release in three years, indie-come-alt-pop connoisseurs Me And The Moon share their new single “Strangers”. A concoction of dreamy guitars and folk undertones, the single is unveiled ahead of their headline show at The Brink in East London on 17th September.
Produced and mixed by Patch Boshell & mastered by Pete Maher (The Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, U2), “Strangers” tells the tale of moving forward without someone in your life only for them to reappear once it’s too late. With an inimitable taste for indie catharsis, the pair gravitate towards tranquillity and offer and insightful glimpse into their personal lyricism. Blanketed in a warmth of guitar tones, the duo wrap their indie-folk intimacies with percussive drum patterns to produce a track solidified with expertise. Layering Tamara’s honeyed vocals upon the soothing backdrop, “Strangers” reignites the band’s vibrancy and once again hails them as a key indie duo of the south east.
“Strangers is written about someone you cared about coming back into your life but it feels too little too late,” explains the band. “We spent a lot of the first lockdown working on our new sound and writing as much new material as we could after spending some time away from the city at The Dog Haus in The New Forest. We came home with the bones of Strangers as the lyrics and melody came together incredibly quickly and naturally.”
Tell us about the story of your act.
We met at university about 5 years ago and started writing and performing together with a few friends. Over the years the lineup has changed but the two of us (Tamara & Jonny) have been consistent. We spent the last few years just working and writing and figuring out the sound and now we’re here!
What is the message behind your art?
I’m not sure there’s a direct message that covers everything we do, but we always write about things that are affecting us and people who are close to us. So hopefully that comes through and the songs resonate with the listener to mean whatever they interpret it to mean to them.
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
Over the last few years we’ve moved a lot, so the changes in places and people around us has definitely inspired the lyrics. Sometimes things don’t work out as planned but we’re both firm believers that everything happens for a reason, so I think that’s a common theme too.
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
There are so many it’s hard to pinpoint just one. I think artists that use their voice to talk about things that are important and get a message heard is something we admire. I guess one of the many examples would be Haim with their album Women In Music Pt3 tackling the difficulty of being a woman in the music industry. It’s delivered in a powerful and understated way that makes a wave across the industry through clever writing and I find that inspiring.
What was the record or artist that changed your life?
There are so many, we both have different experiences but one we share is Cleopatra by The Lumineers. After we finished studying we spent some time traveling around Australia. We missed the last bus and ended up having to get this weird shuttle taxi through the outback in the early hours of the morning, we had one headphone each listening to the album from top to bottom. It was a time where we really weren’t sure which direction we wanted our music to go in and I think it felt like a reminder to just be ourselves. Its an album we also go back to when we were feeling a bit lost.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about.
We were lucky enough to spend some time in a log cabin in The New Forest at a place called The Dog Haus. We packed up the car with all our guitars and they had a little piano and we just spent 4 days writing with no distractions. It was one of the first songs we finished and it came together really quickly. We finished a few other songs that weekend, some that have been kept and others we’ve put in a drawer, but this felt like the first song we’ve wanted to put out in a long time. It feels like a fresh start.
You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?
We both listen to lots of different music but we mainly stretch from folkier bands like Fleet Foxes and Bears Den to more electronic pop such as Sylvan Esso. Mixing that together with guitar bands like The War on Drugs or even The Vaccines, I think there’s something to take from everything you listen to.
How would you want people to feel while listening to your music?
It’s difficult because a lot of the music gives an upbeat sound but the stories behind the lyrics are usually pretty sad. I think that conflict means that it can be listened to in different frames of mind. Someone told us once that it’s almost like driving home from the beach with a sunburn. You know you’ve had the best day, but also it stings a little and you’re sad it’s come to an end. That stuck with me as an interesting concept.
Where are some things you really want to accomplish as an artist?
I think for those kind of things the bar always moves. For example we had our first ever show at Victorious festival in 2015 on a tiny acoustic stage at the front gate. This year we opened the main stage and it felt like that was one of those ‘one day I want to hear’ kind of moments. So I guess it’s just what’s next. The main thing right now is to keep releasing music we love and are proud of.
What inspires your style?
A lot of Canadian and Australian indie pop bands inspire our style, its very different to English music, it’s got a more laid back feel. And visually I guess we like colour and natural surroundings. We take inspiration from lots of things, not just music. We’ve just moved to London and being in a new place is inspiring. We also like watching movies, Wes Anderson is a household favourite.
Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?
We’ve had a bit of a tough time over the last few years, a few obstacles have made it feel like maybe we shouldn’t be doing it anymore. But we’ve never really stopped, we’ve just been working away in the background and figuring it out. And now we’re back we’ve got lots to share.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
I think the best advice that I always think back to is to just keep doing what you’re doing and it’ll work out. There was a time when it was so easy to get caught up in what everyone else was doing and it made us doubt ourselves or the music we were making, maybe it should be rockier or popier. But I think we’ve begun to realise its ok to just write what we like and show how we feel and do things at our own pace.
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
Definitely through some sort of technology. The lockdown has forced everything online and live streamed gigs are here to stay. Venues have invested in camera equipment that means I can buy a ticket to a show in America and watch it from my living room which is insane really. I think this is just the start of unlocking music and online streaming so it will be exciting to see what platforms and channels facilitate more of this in an artist friendly way.
