5 Quick Questions for Toronto's Moulann

Written by Philippa Scowcroft
Wednesday, 25 October 2006

Moulann officially released her sophomore album, Spirals and Mazes, October 4th at the Revival Music Lounge in Toronto. Recently, she took a few minutes to answer Lucid Forge's 5 Quick Questions about her new album, clean living, art imitating life, and more.

Could you tell us a bit about your choice for the title of the album, Spirals and Mazes? Obviously it's the title of the twelfth track, but do these words/ideas hold any other special meaning for you?

"Spirals & Mazes" was the last song of the twelve to be written, and I actually wrote it during the final stages of recording the album. There is a line in the lyric: "Emptiness breeds spirals and mazes". I realized that the entire album was created by a desire to fill an internal void at various points in the past few years, whether that emptiness was caused by relationship matters or not being able to find a good pair of jeans.

"Certified Organic, that's the way I like it!" is the title on your MySpace page. You also abstain from animal products and alcohol, and you don't smoke. Do you think these lifestyle choices have influenced your music at all? Or vice versa?

I never thought of my lifestyle choices as being related to the music I do. However, I strive for integrity in as many aspects of my life as I can. It takes effort and I try not to be a hypocrite.

Again, on your MySpace page, you list your influences as being "everything from the ridiculously mainstream to the surprisingly obscure". Tell us a bit about the most ridiculously mainstream and the most obscure.

Hmm.. well, my first contact with pop music was in high school when I often went to Karaoke bars and subconsciously picked up the pop songwriting form from Taiwanese and North American radio hits. More obscure influences would include a list too long to name of things I hear in passing, such as local indie artists and snippets of "new-music".

I always wonder how much, say, music artists have in terms of how their work is marketed--the visual aspect, the packaging I guess. I love your album art as well as your website and Space. Did you have much say? Do you feel the filigree, dark colours, and black and white photography accurately reflect what you're doing musically? (sorry, that wasn't such a "quick question")

I'm so glad you like the album art. I did have a lot of say, but I'd probably pick brighter colours and a sans-serif font if I had a chance to do it again. That being said, I still like the cover photo and filigree. There was actually a really nice straight-on face shot, but I decided on the profile because it reflects the mood and style of this album more accurately. Spirals & Mazes is a contemplative, down-tempo album that may sound somewhat "tame" at first if one is expecting "bam-bam-in-your-face" tracks. It takes a trained ear or a few listens to fully appreciate the subtle intricacies.

And lastly, if you weren't making music, what might you be doing?

If I wasn't making music, I would be teaching it. I love teaching children; it is so fulfilling! However, if I wasn't doing something music-related, I would put my efforts toward some kind of environmental work. There are so many causes I'd like to be involved in, but I believe that taking care of the planet will create an avalanche of positive effects. It's all a matter of cooperation!

Thanks very much Moulann -- and best of luck.

Thank you so much!


SOURCE: http://www.lucidforge.com