MUNA (band)
| MUNA | |
|---|---|
 MUNA | |
| Background information | |
| Genres | pop |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Labels | RCA Records |
| Associated acts | |
| Website |
www |
| Members |
|
MUNA is an American band consisting of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson. Their music is typically described as "dark pop" or "dark girl pop." The band's name is properly spelled in all capital letters.
History
Based in Los Angeles, the trio met in college at the University of Southern California and began working together in 2013 after discovering their musical chemistry at a party, when Maskin and McPherson began playing together on guitars and Gavin added vocals. Gavin and Maskin were music majors, while McPherson double-majored in Narrative Studies and American Studies & Ethnicity. [1] The two guitarists, Maskin and McPherson, had been used to playing ska and progressive rock, but when their initial collaboration with singer Gavin resulted in a pop song, their bond was sealed. [2]
Beginning their collaboration in an experimental mode, they evolved towards hooky electronic pop. In the summer of 2014, they self-released their debut EP, More Perfect, on Bandcamp and Soundcloud. Its success led to their signing by RCA Records in the U.S. and Columbia Records in the UK. RCA released their self-produced debut major label EP, Loudspeaker, in May 2016. Their debut album, About U, is scheduled for release in February 2017.
All three members identify as queer.[2] Initially wary of being pigeonholed as a "queer girl band," they later came to embrace the opportunity to use their musical notoriety to help inspire younger people to be comfortable with their identities. Their songs frequently address issues of sexuality and gender. They describe one early song, "So Special," as "an anthem for the slut-shamed girls of the world who have to assert their own value."[2] According to McPherson, "It would have meant a lot to me when I was, say, 12, to know of someone in a band and think they were cool and know they were out."[1] McPherson added, "I am out and I feel safe being out because the three of us are a little army for one another. I don't feel afraid to be myself. That makes me proud to be queer. That's the whole point of why we do this. We want a safe haven."[3]
The band members have chosen to keep all gender-based pronouns out of their lyrics,[4] which has helped earn them a devoted queer following.
Dutch DJ/producer Tiësto remixed "Winterbreak" in May 2016.[5] MUNA played Lollapalooza 2016 in Chicago in July 2016,[6] toured the U.S. with Grouplove in the fall of 2016, and made their late-night network television debut on Nov. 7, 2016 on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.[7]
Works
2014
More Perfect EP
2016
Loudspeaker, EP released May 6
May: "Winterbreak" remix by Tiësto, released May
2017
About U, release scheduled for Feb. 3
References
- 1 2 Avery Stone, "MUNA On Their Own Terms: "If We're Lucky Enough to Have a Platform, We Should Use That to Help People"," Noisey, May 10, 2016
- 1 2 3 Mark Savage, "Muna interview: Defiant pop from LA rising stars," BBC, September 28, 2016
- ↑ Ian David Monroe, "MUNA Are Pioneering a New Identity in Pop Music," V Magazine, November 4, 2016
- ↑ Lilian Min, "Dark pop girl band MUNA is ready to graduate into adulthood," Fusion, July 29, 2016
- ↑ "Muna – Winterbreak (Tiësto's Deep House Mix)," Tiëstosblog, retrieved November 18, 2016
- ↑ "retrieved November 21, 2016
- ↑ "Watch MUNA Make Their Late-Night TV Debut With "Loudspeaker" On Jimmy Fallon," Stereogum, November 8, 2016 (retrieved November 21, 2016)