Experimental death metal band MOGA has a debut album out, with all new music already thought out. The band takes some time to discuss with us, their music, plans ahead, and how they came to be who they are today.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
MoGa is an experimental death metal band formed in 2023. Tony, the lead guitarist, main composer and sound architect and Milko, harsh vocals, had another band some years ago which was called ITSI. That band was unable to continue due to various reasons but there were already lots of cool ideas looming around - so they went on with their work. Some time later they were joined by Borislava, clean vocals. The three of them formed the musical core of the band. Ivan Shopov (Cooh) was the one to sculpt the electronic elements on all of the tracks and thus give them the final polish and make them stand out. Once the production was finished the band took its final form as guitarist Hristo, bassist Petar and drummer Nedi joined the band to make it complete and ready for live action.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
Initially, there was another name idea. However, the name we originally had in mind turned out to be copyrighted in some countries, so we were back to square one. And then it just hit us - we stumbled upon a very interesting book by Bulgarian philosopher Petar Danov dedicated to the word “Moga”. The word means “I can” in Bulgarian. We immediately knew this would be our name. Everyone liked it immediately so we didn't hesitate to go for it. Consequently, we also chose the same name for our band mascot - the little red alien which is featured on our album art and is also the main character in the story our album is telling.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
Our home town is Sofia, Bulgaria. We have an interesting metal underground scene which is constantly growing in popularity. There are some really cool bands and even though I could name a few, I’d refrain from doing so out of respect for everyone else. However, just to avoid leaving the impression that I am dodging the question, I’d suggest you check out ITSI - the above-mentioned former band of guitarist Tony and vocalist Milko.
4. How would you describe your style?
Everyone who takes the time to listen to our whole album will be surprised to find both extremes in it: Brutal technical riffs, torpedo-like blast beats and extreme drumming, jaw dropping harsh vocals but also beautiful clean vocals, calm atmospheric sounds and acoustic guitar parts. The tracks vary all the way from technical death metal songs which literally lift you up and send you to the circle pit to relaxing ballads. So it is hard to constrain ourselves to one specific subgenre. The whole album is experimental and has its own unique sound. This has been the very idea since day one.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
MoGa has so far released its debut album which appeared in the end of 2003. Since the release, we have focused on performing live. Our listeners can expect our original characteristic sound and immerse themselves in the different musical elements we have incorporated in this album. All tracks are interconnected and tell the story of MoGa, the little alien who comes from a distant galaxy and ventures to our planet, meets us humans and gathers a plethora of different impressions. Each track depicts a scene from this journey.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
We sure do. We have already gathered new music ideas which will subsequently form the core of the next album. So yes, the story of MoGa will continue in the future.
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
Playing live is a vital part of any band and we are no different. Playing our music live in front of people gives us energy and lets us go on. Going up on stage, seeing people having a good time - this is the moment when we realise it was all worth it. We have played a few shows since the release of the album and intend to continue doing so.
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
More live shows and at some point, maybe an animation with scenes featuring our main character’s journey. Ultimately we are striving for a second album and a continuation of the story.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
You can listen to us on all platforms - just check out our band links. There is also plenty of stuff you could buy if you enjoy our music and want to support us: Our album, which has a very interesting physical shape because it is not a CD but a USB flash drive depicting MoGa - our band’s mascot. For now, every single album is hand-painted and thus unique. Not only is this approach different, but it is also very practical for the listeners - I mean, some people don’t even have CD players anymore, so a USB drive makes it easier for everyone. We also have band t-shirts, stickers, custom signature guitar picks and more. If you consider supporting us by buying our official merch, you can do so by getting in touch via DM on Instagram or Facebook, or by visiting Rebelstore - a cool Bulgarian online shop for original band merch: https://rebelstore.net/?s=Moga. It is in Bulgarian language though, so if you are an international customer it’s best to just DM us.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
The musical diversity, the sounds which are different and yet united in one continuous flow of music and ultimately the fact that we have done a record which comes directly from the soul and intends to explore uncharted musical territory.
Post a Comment