Pop duo Misty Mtn returns with “In the Deep End,” their first single off their forthcoming sophomore EP due out this fall. Mixed and co-produced by Ariel Loh (Yoke Lore, Cape Francis), “In the Deep End” is a fever dream of a track bolstered by Mo Trunzo’s full-bodied vocals and Lucas Segall’s otherworldly synths. Trunzo croons “All your fake friends / Left you in the deep end” revealing a portrait of despair while the sonic road is paved with intimacy and wistfulness. The understated yet captivating pop endeavor glides with elegance and tender conviction.
Tell us about the story of your act
We met a few years ago in Brooklyn while working at the same restaurant. At the time we both had our own projects, but loved talking about our different influences and eventually decided to start writing together and see what happened. And what happened became Misty Mtn, which is really cool to think about. Just this idea of that music can connect people and without any expectations can turn into your dream musical collaboration.
What is the message behind your art?
I think the message behind our art is honestly just connection. We write from lived experiences, and media we’ve consumed, and stories our friends have told us, but we try to make art that is open to interpretation. Lucas and I find different meanings in everything we write together, and that’s what we want for our listeners as well.
What are some sources of inspiration for your lyrics and storytelling?
Life experiences and memories from our pasts are the main thing. We also try to consume media that inspires us that we can pull from as well, or superimpose fact and fiction. And also our friends. If our friends tell us about something they’ve experienced, we’re always like “mind if pull from that?” They’ve yet to say no lol
Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?
I mean we look up to so many artists, just because so many artists are doing such unique stuff, but we really love Caroline Polachek. That was actually the last show we saw before the pandemic, and it was just so inspiring and felt so new. She also fell off the stage during “Ocean of Tears” and continued the show and that moment will go down in history as like the most epic and badass show moment I’ve ever experienced.
All time favorite record?
I think for us as a band, definitely Rumours. It was one of the first albums we really discussed our love for when starting the project and it feels really sentimental for us.
Tell us about your latest release and how it came about
The initial spark of inspiration actually came about in a pretty serendipitous way. We kept seeing our neighbor across the way in their very fancy house, sitting alone at their pool, like everyday in the exact same spot, alone. And about that same time we were talking a lot about friendship and what it means, and how friendship in this day and age can feel so surface level and having those discussions while looking at the neighbor just brought about this lightbulb moment which we eventually turned into “In the Deep End”.
You seem to be fusing several musical genres. What inspires your sound?
In general we try not to listen too much while we’re creating, so I think most of our influences come from our musical upbringings. I grew up idolizing artists like Kate Bush and Annie Lennox, and writing folk-inspired music. And Lucas grew up listening to Bjork and Philip Glass and making experimental music. So we try to really fuse our different backgrounds and see how they blend the “pop” space, which has been really rewarding.
What excites you the most about what you do?
Getting to make something that by the time we’re done means so much to us, that can ultimately mean a lot to complete strangers. It’s so special and cool.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
If you had asked me this prior to the pandemic, I would have had a really well thought out answer. But honestly if this period has taught me anything it’s just to do what you love and enjoy the journey. So I don’t really know. We see ourselves continuing to make music and playing shows, and it’s exciting to say that the rest is still sort of unknown.
Your style is very original and elaborate. How do you take care of your aesthetics?
We put a lot of importance on mood boarding as a team and doing it in an inspiring way. Not just sitting at the computer on Pinterest, but like going on a hike, sitting by the water, sitting outside at a new coffee shop that we’ve never tried… just doing something that allows our brains to think beyond music and lyrics and really committing to that being part of the process.
What was the most daunting moment in your career so far?
Definitely the pandemic. But it also kind of led us back to ourselves in a weird way. We’re driven to a fault, but I think right before the pandemic we had been so laser focused and working so hard, that I think we began striving for “perfection” vs making art. And so forcing ourselves to pivot and really think about what the pandemic meant for us, allowed us the time and space to come back to what had inspired Misty Mtn in the first place.
What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
I’ve wanted to do music ever since I was a little girl and my dad used to always say to me, “This is going to be harder than you could have imagined, and you’ll have to be stronger than you ever thought you could be.” And every time Lucas and I have doubts we just say that to each other and it comforts us. Because yeah, what we’re doing is so hard, but it’s so worth it. So we put our armor back on and keep going.
Where do you think the next game changer will be in the music industry and entertainment scene?
It’s hard to say. I think we used to spend a lot of time trying to figure that out and now we’re just like, we just wanna focus on making the best music we possibly can, the best visuals we possibly can, the best show we possibly can.
