A few weeks back, the men of progressive electro-funksters Moôn were kind enough to launch their out-of-this-world single and video I Need To Know in these pages. Today, they take one small step — or is that one giant leap? — by tackling my goofball questions. Here’s how it went:
Introduce yourself: Name, age (feel free to lie), home base, other details you’d like to share (height, weight, identifying marks, astrology sign, your choice).
Murphy: Singer – 23 – Paris – head in the clouds
Martiti: Guitarist – 24 – Paris – eternal dreamer
Bardin: Drummer – 29 – Paris – not bald
What is your musical origin story?
Murphy and Martiti met in Audio engineering school and quickly became pals. They chose to work together to prepare for an end-of-year exam, one thing led to another and they decided that creating an album would be a nice way to ace it. Two years later, and with the addition of Bardin, a lifelong friend, as the drummer, it’s finally ready. Now we’re bound by music, and yes, we aced it.
What do we need to know about your latest project?
What you need to know is that I Need To Know was released on June 5 and is available on every streaming platform in the universe. It’s the third single from our first LP Landing on Earth that was released on the same day.
We dedicated the last two years to carefully crafting this progressive electro-funk piece, blending analog and digital sounds. We hope it’s a meaningful contribution to the French touch movement, and that you’ll enjoy dancing to it as well as connect with the lyrics.
What truly sets you apart from other artists?
At a time when we sometimes feel that quantity matters more than quality in music, we commit to making music that makes you think yet feels good to just listen to.
What will I learn or how will my life improve by listening to your music?
We put so much energy and love into our music that it will automatically transfer through your ears and warm your soul with positive vibes.
Tell us about the first song you wrote and / or the first gig you played and what you got paid.
The first song we wrote was called Give Me A Joker and was featured on our first EP Welcome to the Moôn. It was also our first music video. Even though we evolved sonically and added a third member to the roster, it was a founding moment for us. The first gig was at a venue near Montmartre in Paris and the first step to qualifying to a musical springboard national final. So yeah, good times.
What is the best / worst / strangest / most memorable performance you gave?
The best was undeniably being able to step on the legendary Bataclan stage in 2019. It was bittersweet though, knowing what happened there but we enjoyed every second playing up there. Truly a special memory for us.
What is the best / worst / strangest / most memorable performance you’ve seen another artist give?
Murphy has a fond memory of his first ever concert, a ZZ Top gig in the southwest of France. Martiti was lucky enough to catch Coldplay at the Stade de France in Paris, amazing show. Bardin goes for Metallica, every time.
What do you want to be doing in 10 years?
A concert on the moon, of course.
What living or dead artists would you collaborate with if you could?
The Weeknd, Daft Punk & Parcels. MJ as well, a bit late for that unfortunately.
What artist or style of music do you love that would surprise people?
Murphy is all about Guinguette auvergnate, traditional music from central France.
What are your favourite songs / albums / artists right now?
The Weeknd’s last album is on repeat right now. (Daft Punk’s) Random Access Memories is never far, too.
How about some other favourites: Authors, movies, painters, you name it.
Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer. Huge fans. Bardin is really into the Die Hard series and Michel Audiard movies.
Who would you be starstruck to meet?
Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. These guys just have an aura about them.
What’s your favourite joke?
The Pulp Fiction one: “Three tomatoes are walking down the street: Papa tomato, Mama tomato and Baby tomato. Baby tomato starts lagging behind and Papa tomato gets really angry, goes back and squishes him and says: Ketchup.”
What do you drive and why?
Martiti drives a Triumph street triple R, loves it more than anything.
The other two can’t drive really.
What superpower do you want and how would you use it?
Murphy would like to go back in time. Just to see what was up.
Martiti wants to teleport to be on tour and at home at the same time.
Bardin wants to visit outer space, which doesn’t technically require superpowers. Just a lot of studying, which, when you think about it, is a superpower in itself.
What skills — useful or useless — do you have outside of music?
Murphy: Good cook
Martiti: Funny guy
Bardin: Actor
What do you collect?
Martiti: Guitars. Hopefully bikes soon.
If I had a potluck, what would you bring?
Dry sausage !
What current trend or popular thing do you not understand at all?
Hand spinners don’t make much sense. The state of Hollywood right now is hard to understand as well.
Tell us about your current and/or former pets.
Martiti would like to honor the memory of his cat Nella, named after a famous Lion King character, that recently passed away. Murphy has a black cat named Opium. She used to be feral but turned out pretty sweet in the end.
If you could have any other job besides music, what would it be and why?
Murphy: Open a restaurant because I used to work as a waiter and loved the experience. Love food too.
Martiti: Music teacher, just to make sure my students all listen to Moôn.
Bardin: Chef, cause I eat a lot. Probably not in Murphy’s restaurant though.
What’s the best advice and/or worst advice you were ever given?
Martiti: best: dump this chick / worst : get back together
Murphy: best : The only thing you should fear is yourself / worst : change yourself
Bardin: best : Join Moôn / worst : Join Moôn
Watch videos for I Need To Know and ILU above, listen to Landing On Earth below, and follow Moôn on Facebook and Instagram.
