PREMIERE: MOMOKO ROSE RELEASES NEW SINGLE 'HUMANS WEEP'
To celebrate the premiere we had a chat with Momoko Rose to find out all of the ins and out of ‘Humans Weep’.
Congratulations on the release of 'Humans Weep'! What's the story behind the track?
Ahh thank you!! ‘Humans Weep’ was sparked from the feeling of being overwhelmed to the point of apathy. I wrote this song in the aftermath of intense personal conflict, which really made me call the different structures of everyday life into question (family, community, society). I was simultaneously experiencing great loss and a paradigm shift in my ideals and although it was painful at the time (and this pain is expressed in the song), I think it was a positive transformation.
Who did you work with to bring 'Humans Weep' together?
I first started writing the lyrics to this song in 2018 on the breaks in between the overnight shifts I was doing. Once I had the chords down on guitar I brought the song to my band to add the bed of bass and drums. Eventually we had our violinist and extra guitarist join the band mid last year to add more layers, then I went back and finalised the keys and vocal harmony parts. Finally, we ended up recording the song with Isaac Barter (Didirri, BATTS) who helped bring the song to life!
In terms of sound and structure, there is a delicate simplicity to 'Humans Weep' which really pushes the lyrics to the forefront. Was that intentional?
Definitely, in comparison to the other songs I’ve written (both new and old) ‘Humans Weep’ stands out in it’s careful simplicity. From the beginning, I wanted to convey a sense of monotony in the song due to its themes of apathy towards life. This was a purposeful choice which was honestly pretty restraining for me as I normally try to embellish songs with chord/key/rhythm changes, so to keep it interesting was a challenge. However, this does let the lyrics shine through which I believe are the strongest part of the song. The monotony of the verse also allows the song to really open up in the chorus. Even then, the main melody in the chorus is sung in a dry, vulnerable and intimate way.
The lyrical side is quite emotionally charged with an exploration into relationships and existence. Is this something that you have been pondering more so now that we are going through a pandemic?
Honestly, I think it is less that the pandemic has put a spotlight on these issues and more that there is the time and space to reflect on them properly. I have always struggled with these subjects, and this is just a guess but I think part of the reason for this is growing up mixed race and having to come to terms with my identity and where I sit between different worlds, amongst other things like spending most of my life estranged from my extended family and some even from my immediate family. If there is anything positive we can take away from these world events, I think giving (at least some) people the opportunity to step back and look at the bigger picture would be at the top of my list.
The chorus is striking and insightful. "What if I wake up and all of my friends are gone, all I've realized is I'm not loved by anyone" - most people are afraid of being alone in life and it really does make you think about how important relationships are. Is that a fear of yours?
To an extent. As an introvert creating meaningful connections and my inner circle are very important to me although I wouldn’t say that I’m overly anxious compared to others about relationships, whether they be romantic or platonic. At the time I had experienced a great sense of loss in my dad and two brothers who I now haven’t seen for over two years, reconnecting with my mum who was diagnosed with breast cancer in our years apart and also my extended family whom I had been estranged from for most - if not all - of my life. Thinking about the years that I had lost and had yet to lose was utterly heartbreaking.
There are three iterations of the end of the chorus line:
I'm not moved by anyone - reaffirming the themes of apathy.
I'm not loved by everyone - while it may sound sad, this is me being self-deprecating and having a stab at my own ego and saying that I’m not the main character in anyone else’s story (even those close to me).
I'm not loved by anyone - exactly that.
'Humans Weep' is a taste of an upcoming EP Anticlimactic Girl. What stage of the EP are you in at the moment?
I basically have the concept, all the songs I want to record and an idea on what order I would like the songs to be in. I’ve been putting together some demos in Ableton Live to flesh out the different arrangements floating around in my head. Recording ‘Humans Weep’ was in a way a trial for how and who I wanted to record the full EP with and I plan to record the rest of the songs as soon as I am physically able!
Your previous EP When I Blossom was released in 2018. What did you learn from creating When I Blossom that you applied to writing and recording 'Humans Weep"?
Since my last release I think I’ve developed a lot and grown into myself as an artist in general in terms of my sound and vision. I recorded When I Blossom when I was a student as part of the Advanced Diploma I was doing, so you could say ‘Humans Weep’ is my first release as an artist in the ‘real world’ and I almost consider it to be my proper debut single. This time around I recorded in a home studio rather than using expensive facilities and this experience has really shown me that who you work with can be more important than the gear you’re using if they understand your vision and are willing to listen. This is the most happy I’ve been with a recording by far.
When I Blossom primarily had a piano accompaniment. Why did you move away from that for 'Humans Weep'?
My primary instrument is guitar and when I was writing the songs for When I Blossom I had just started to learn how to actually play piano, so it was really new to me and I was interested in experimenting with that. At the time I was only able to play well enough to write, so I gave the parts I had written to the pianist in my band and from there she filled the gaps and came up with parts of her own. For ‘Humans Weep’ specifically, my music tastes were changing but I was also picturing dusk/dawn landscapes on an aesthetic level while writing the song. The tension between light and dark. To me the warm yet mellow guitar and electric keys contrasting with the cold sounding violin illustrates this tension. Whether you can hear that imagery or not I can’t say, but I love the result regardless.
Will piano make an appearance on Anticlimactic Girl?
I’m definitely more comfortable playing guitar, but I find myself increasingly writing songs on keys these days. More out of necessity than anything I’ve been playing both guitar and keys for live gigs. Only one of the songs on the EP will likely have a traditional piano sound on it, I’ve been playing around with electric keys and synth sounds so I suggest expecting the unexpected from me!
What does the title Anticlimactic Girl mean to you?
Anticlimactic Girl is the title of a song I initially wrote as a joke for my friend and past keys player, which I’m picturing as the opening track of the EP. The idea for the song was prompted by my friend saying something along the lines of, ‘I feel like I was born and my parents thought, is that it?’ (I try to explain that this is meant to be funny at gigs but it’s a bit abstract). The song is an anthem for anyone (boy or girl) who has ever felt like a failure or they aren’t able to meet worldly expectations. I feel that naming the EP after this track is fitting because I want it to be a home for people like me who may feel out of place in this world.
Moving into this new EP, who would you say Momoko Rose is as an artist?
I think Momoko Rose as an artist has always been a dreamer and an idealist. With each release, I feel the music is brought closer to other people and the real world.
What are your hopes and aspirations for Momoko Rose as an artist?
Simply to keep experimenting, exploring new ideas and to be able to connect with people through that. I would be happy enough to be able to make music and get by purely doing what I love.