10 Questions: MOAN
Fresh off the back of supporting KRS One in Sheffield and the release of their latest music video Mumble Rappers, we sat down with the boys from MOAN (Message Of A Nation) for a round of our legendary 10 Questions interview format!
Contestants, what’s your name, chosen craft and where are you based?
MOAN aka ‘Message Of A Nation,’ made up of emcees Lucid Behaviour, Sean Dee and Producer Ben Woodward. Based Up North in Yorkshire's Sheffield city.
How would you describe your sound?
Straight up northern grit accompanied by soulful vibes, no mumbles just stories of being caught up in the world as young adults in the UK. The good, bad and the ugly from real life perspectives.
Who / what do you consider to be the biggest influence on your music?
Lucid: The gigs are a lot of inspiration! It’s all about the real human interactions and love at shows and shoots.
Ben: Damu The Fudgemunk or the audience and their reactions to the music.
Sean: Our day to day lives and struggles. At the time of writing the Finding Home E.P we were all going through something similar, but in our own different ways.
What’s the proudest moment to date for you as artists?
Lucid: The actual day of making the Mumble rap video, as it all felt full circle having people around us we love taking time out for our art and vision.
Ben: Finally releasing some beats!
Sean: Supporting KRS ONE at the O2 academy in Sheffield. Being able to play in front of a crowd that big was an experience I'll never forget!
Do you have any advice for our readers who maybe trying to play the mad game of music?
Just be yourself. Put as much of yourself into your art. Don’t copy people - be original and step outside the box. Build your own world. It took us a while to realise that. There are many people bringing out dope shit, so its easy to compare yourself and lose sight. I cut my circle of influence small. Also, plan/prepare as much as you can and practice, it makes a massive difference when people see you live.
Name 3 people you would love to work with and why?
Ben: Pitch 92, Illinformed or Talos, just to pick their brain about production
Lucid: Cliché, but Loyle Carner, because he’s the most humble rapper I can think of.
Sean: Marlon Craft. He is someone who has a constant work rate and the quality of his work is out of this world - from bars to beats to videos, everything him and his team have created I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to and watching.
What have you got planned for the not so distant future?
More gigs! Our first few festivals and videos, a couple of singles, solo E.P’s and potentially finishing some stuff with the TRAIN ROBBERS, as we’ve kind of been on a side by side journey together. We always have the most fun when we jam with them, dope guys to write and drink a bottle of rum and freestyle with. Keeping it fun, as the stage is where we want to mainly be.
What’s the album you’ve played more than any other?
Lucid: Over the last two weeks, Vbnd - Daughter Of The Sun. It's the sexiest thing I’ve wrapped my ears around all year!
Ben: Madvillainy, obviously.
Sean: Nas - Illmatic
What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to and where?
Lucid: I was lucky to see Loyle Carner before he was big at Green Man Gathering festival in Wales, about 6 years ago maybe. It was genuinely touching and captivating as I’ve never experienced that at another show yet.
Ben: Uhmmmm…
Name 3 things you can’t live without?
Lucid: Good potatoes, a laptop and women.
Ben: Drugs, sex and Hip-Hop. Or turntable's, beat-pad and speakers.
Sean: Hoodies and hats brruuuuvvvvv!
Any last words and shout-outs?
Shouts to anybody who’s made our journey possible so far and the people who make effort to come to gigs and our friends in the new video for Mumble Rappers. It was a dope day and a taste of how the future shall grow.
Check MOAN's latest music video for their track ‘Mumble Rappers', lifted off their debut E.P at the top of the page!