19th Moon is a Future Pop / Electronic Musical Artist currently residing in New Orleans, Her style of music is influenced by her African, European and United States roots. Born in the United States but growing up in Nigeria and vagabonding through Italy and Germany has influenced her musical style and outlook in life.
Her latest album called “We are Here” released on January 06, 2023, is a call to Empower and Unite ALL. All races, genders, ages, sexes, whatever we feel separates us. According to her, these are just illusions created to occupy and distract us from our true purpose of love and oneness with infinite divine.
The album is a call to WAKE UP as the first single of the album dictates, from all illusions. Be your own hero. It is a journey of empowerment and self-discovery, Losing yourself to the light and by the final song, choosing to run away with the light, the love whatever it is, that fills you with wonder.
FWM: You grew up in Nigeria and traveled through Italy and Germany. How did your travel influence your musical style?
Well, growing up, I was lucky enough to have parents that had various tastes in music. We had albums ranging from African Artists like Fela Kati, Dora Ifudu, Bob Marley & The Wailers to European and American artists like Abba, Dolly Parton, Stevie Wonder. I was a recluse when I was a kid and all I did was stay in my room, read and listen to these albums in and out, back and front. I knew every lyric. When I ventured out on my own, Years later, I was in New York, in an electronic band where we toured Italy and that was where I was really introduced to Electronic Dance music, a friend gave me Tricky’s album “False Idols” and that record changed my life. I shortly left that band after that 19th Moon was born.
I decided to create my vision of where I would like my music to go. I later went back to Europe on my own, did a solo tour, when I say tour, I mean sleeping on couches, logging all my equipment on trains, buses, moving every 3- 5 days, playing wherever people will have me. Making just enough money to eat and if other musicians played with me on a gig, I pay them first, pay the cost of wherever I was staying and breathe, cos that was all that was left. I was guest at dinners a lot. It was not the easiest in the world, but I was liberated as an artist, I met amazing artists that I had never heard of before and they were touring the world playing their style of music. Booked all year round. Wow, it just really opened my eyes and it taught me that there is an audience for everyone.
FWM: Tell us about your new album, “We Are Here.”
I wrote this album for the people, for everyone. I was driven internally to say something. I wanted to empower and unite everyone, you know. I still see separation; it shocks me to be honest because I don’t understand it. I always feel that we are one, as a human race. I feel like perhaps there are forces out there that benefit from our separation, keep us in conflict and I don’t know why, it doesn’t benefit us. I think to love, is the ultimate goal of us all. I also wanted people to realize their powers by connecting to the Universe, we are not alone. We have the powers of all the cosmic realm as allie, we connect by meditation. It sounds weird, I know. I can’t explain it, I just know it works.
George Kuchler Photography
FWM: Your first song on the album is “WAKE UP” Take us through your creative process for your album.
Thank you very much for asking. I have been producing my songs so far at my minimal set-up home studio and I program my drums electronically, I play my bass on keys – synth bass and I sing and play the guitars and pianos and that’s it. Well, this time around I wanted to create more of a powerful, raucous thing. I felt like it should be tribal-like, to jolt people up, you need powerful drums and some deep bass. I produced the songs, arrangement everything, and demoed the vocals. Then I put an Ad. out and I started meeting people but none of them worked.
I started asking around, here in New Orleans, I’ve been here 2 years now, I didn’t know too many people, moved here from Los Angeles and by luck I was connected to my Drummer, Rodney Webber and Bassist, Javier-Garcia Metoyer who already play together, I sent them the songs. I told them that I wanted to keep everything that was on the tracks. What I’m looking for are the empty spaces, I made the programmed drums basic on purpose for timing and feel and I wanted a real drummer to play what wasn’t there and the bass to groove with it. I didn’t even rehearse with them. I was tired of meeting people and jamming with them. I said listen, in 3 weeks we meet in the studio, and they came, and they delivered. I love them so much you have no idea.
This Mantra is present on her social Medias:
“We are here
We are guardians of these realms
We are ushering in a new world
To enrich, nourish and empower
The hearts, the minds and the spirits of everyone”
#WEAREHERE – 19th Moon
George Kuchler Photography
FWM: Who are your inspirations?
Wow, Okay wow, I am inspired by artists that walk to their own beat. Tricky inspires me, RYX, WoodKid, Just to name a few. These artists also incorporate electronic, classical instrumentations with traditional instrumentations. One of my dreams is to play my songs with a full blown out orchestra. I am in love with classical strings and cellos that’s why there are elements of these sounds in my music
FWM: What would people be surprised to know about you?
Haha, That I believe in other life forms from other planets. Hey, they are real to me.
FWM: Share your mission for your album.
My mission for this album is that I hope it helps people, it gives hope, that warm feeling of home and the empowerment needed to accomplish something
FWM: What’s next for you?
My next move is to tour this album, I am working on that as we speak, to reach more people, to bring them joy, power and encouragement.
