Homegrown Artist Moebius's New LP Is A Reflective, Melodic Thought Experiment
The past two years might have been out of the ordinary with all of us trying to make sense of it in whatever way we can, but it also inspired many creatives to create. As German playwright, Bertolt Brecht said, “In the dark times will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing. About the dark times.”
Feeling nostalgic for a time before the pandemic-induced lockdowns was music producer, animator, illustrator and VJ, Nikunj Patel aka Moebius whose latest LP Memento was born as a direct result of the lockdowns.
“Memento is a collection of tracks that all draw inspiration from nostalgic memories. That’s the overarching theme of the album,” says Moebius. “It’s a keepsake and I’ve tried to explore a diverse set of sounds through it, hoping that there’s something for every type of listener out there to give it a space in their own memory. While it’s driven by club-inspired beats, Memento is still a reflective record”
In our conversation, he tells me, “The entire LP was created during the lockdown when there were no events or gigs happening. That did shape the sound of the album in a way. It was a reflective period in everyone’s lives and as I found myself taking a walk down memory lane, ghost images of gigs past definitely left an impression on the sound of this release. I took the chance to explore working remotely with other very talented musicians and producers (Hedrun, Yuhina and Indus) and I think it really paid off.”
Wanting to explore the spectrum between visual art and music to create work that lies at varying intersections between the two fields, the sonic vision of this LP is to introduce a lighter, melodic touch to the eclectic mix of sounds that are being explored in this country.
He says, “Not too many people are experimenting with swingy UKG driven beats. While the style is making a global comeback and I thought to do my own take on it while coupling it up with a memory-driven thought experiment. I wanted it to act as a kind of a sampler, reflecting my varying tastes and inspirations as a producer. I also intended for this record to offer a contrast to the ‘heavy’ music that is often played in clubs, to offer a sweeter and softer refrain.”
“In a sense, I was trying to find a balance between headphone music and club music. I want people to feel each track very personally and intimately as opposed to positioning them as compositions that are created for arenas and stadiums.”
In the coming year, he wishes to focus on refining his sound further and apply the learnings from the release of Memento to newer musical projects. He also has a few tracks in the pipeline and a potential EP coming together as well. Other than that, he wishes to bring together his animation and music skills to create something that makes the best of both worlds.
You can checkout Moebius’s Instagram here.
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