Metal rockers MOON MACHINE have two single's out along with their debut album coming up soon enough! The band talks about this release and what they have planned next.
1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.
Moon Machine is a prog band based in Somerville, MA made up of singer and multi-instrumentalist Eric Hochwald, keyboardist Jonathan Sirota, and drummer Angel Castillo. They bonded at Tufts University in the Boston area where they discovered their kinship for expressing themselves through music as well as immature humor.
2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?
Thinking of an original band name these days is nearly impossible. I just wanted to think of something memorable and that people could easily spell. I also liked the idea of combining natural, cosmic imagery with something mechanical and man-made. It felt indicative of the music and the themes of the album.
3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?
We are from the Boston area. We haven’t come across many bands who are similar to our style, but there is a strong alt and indie rock scene here. There is also a prog scene, but it is mostly centered around Berklee college of music where you find some of the most technical and learned musicians doing more of the modern djent/technical instrumental prog thing which is a bit different than our sound. Bands that we are friends with are the alt rock band Luxury Deathtrap, the indie band Old Fox, and psych rock band We Are Space Horses.
4. How would you describe your style?
Our style is classic prog metal/rock with influences of post rock and alternative rock. Our influences mostly pre-date the whole 2010s djent scene. We focus on melody, ambience and emotion over technicality compared to what is normally associated with prog these days. However, we are certainly going for a grandiose sound without any limits on genre or style. This is what I like about prog music. Some of our main influences are Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Devin Townsend, Alcest, and Tool.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
We’ve released two singles “Reckoning” and “Left to Wander” from our upcoming debut album. Check those songs out to get a feel of what you’ll hear on the album. The album drops June 25th! Spacey production, head banging riffs, epic choruses, and acoustic sound palettes all find a home in this project, along with detailed pianos and keyboards, layered vocals, and progressive drumming.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
We have our album coming out June 25th! Afterwards I want to experiment recording some acoustic songs. Also my psych rock band We Are Space Horses which I play drums in should be releasing an album later this year.
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
No shows or tours due to COVID-19. My band is also spread out across multiple states, and we all have day jobs. We will see in the future.
8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?
Moon Machine will always be my recording project for ambitious and spacious rock and metal. Although this album was written in a room together with my two bandmates, I recorded and mixed everything myself, except the keyboards which my bandmate Jon did. In the future I envision Moon Machine having a revolving door or collaborators to make ambitious and awesome rock and metal. I hope our second album will be even more ambitious and professional sounding.
9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?
We have a pre-order live on our bandcamp. Go to moonmachinemusic.bandcamp.com and order a digital copy of the album, or a CD if you’re still into those.
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
Well, I hope they don’t remember our music because they think it sucks! My hope is for listeners to be able to emotionally connect to the music - I want them to feel something. In terms of specifics though, what other people get out of my music isn’t up to me. If they like it that’s great, and if they don’t that’s okay too. It’s always interesting getting feedback on your music. One person will say they really like one aspect, and another person will say that the same aspect is the reason why they can’t get into it. To me, releasing music is like releasing an animal back into the wild. You don’t have control over it anymore. If I wanted control over how people perceived my music, I wouldn’t release it and would just listen to it myself. My only goal is for a few people that aren't my mom to hear my music and remember it positively.
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