We are Mo’ynoq, from Raleigh, North Carolina. We formed in 2016 and have released a demo and an EP. Our debut record “Dreaming in a Dead Language” coming out January 11th 2019.
We started out in the local scene playing in various bands around town. Justin and Don were in a band called Faith in Ashes that was around for a good ten years before dissolving and Logan was in another local black metal band called Heron. Both these bands finished around the same time and even shared a final show., Devin was in a band with both Justin and Don before so when it came time to form a new black metal project everything just fell into place.
2.You have your first full length coming out at the beginning of 2019, musically how does it differ from your 2 previous ep's?
Our demo was really just us trying to feel each other out and using material we each individually had. ‘Bardo’, our second release, was collaboratively written as a 7”. ‘Dreaming in a Dead Language’ was the first time we were able to write an entire record together so if anything it has a more cohesive and mature sound. That being said - while the record overall is more refined, parts of it are more raw than anything we’ve done in the past.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band has explored so far with the music?
A great majority of the lyrics are written in a stream of consciousness way. Since there are three of us doing vocals, we share and compile our ideas until we find a theme we like and then we embellish upon that. There is hardly ever a conscious thought initially going in when we are writing lyrics. It’s more how the song speaks to us as individuals. The exploration of one's self, loss, hardship, connection to nature, and the journey of how we fit in the universe are all relevant topics in the music. Existential questions of humanity as well as the individual's place in it is vastly more interesting to us at this point in our lives. Our intent is to properly portray the individual emotion to the extent it deserves.
4.Your previous ep was titled 'Bardo', do any of the band members have an interest in Tibetan culture?
Definitely. We enjoy learning about the practices of cultures from all over the world. For us, ‘Bardo’ was the perfect title to encapsulate what we wanted to express with that 7”.
5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Mo'ynoq'?
Mo’ynoq was once a large fishing city in Uzbekistan before a series of events rendered it one of the most desolate places on earth. The remains of rusted out fishing vessels and and only a handful of residents are all that’s left to weather the poisonous storms.
6.Can you tell us a little bit more about the artwork that is presented on the new album cover?
The cover art for Dreaming in a Dead Language was designed by Pierre Perichaud aka Business for Satan. He’s an incredible artist based out of Paris who we’d been fans of for a long time. We sent him the tracks and the lyrics and he used them as inspiration for the final piece.
7.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
Bölzer, Withered, Immortal Bird, Dumal, Hivelords, and our festival Medium Well In Hell are some that come to mind.
While we prefer some of the mystique and separation of the individual from the music we are still a live band and we put forth an energy and presence that matches the intensity of the music. The band never speaks on stage. We also work on our stage show to be as dynamic and interesting as we can get with our budget to help create the proper contextual atmosphere. We currently have two videos one for Carve My Name shot at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn and Celestial Rebirth compiled of tour footage that both show an accurate portrayal of our live shows.
8.Do you have any touring or show plans once the new album is released?
Absolutely. We’ll be playing regionally immediately after the release and touring in the latter half of 2019.
9.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
We have received some interest but finding the right label to work with is still a goal of ours. This is especially true when it comes to media. We have a limited number of CDs pressed but are much more interested in putting out records and tapes. Thus far we have self funded everything, but having the distribution and marketing and booking abilities of a label with similar artists is something we are actively working towards.
10.On a worldwide level how has the reaction been to your music by fans of black metal?
The support we’ve received from places like Europe South America has been actually pretty surprising. With the power of the internet, it seems just as likely that someone across the world randomly stumbles upon us as it does for someone in the US. One of our short term goals is to tour the west coast and Europe.
11.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that some of the band members are a part of?
None of us have any serious side projects but there are a growing number of fantastic black metal bands in the North Carolina scene. Bands like Arghast, Ose, Bastard Tongue, Night Quill, Paagtheaan, Novicircum, Noctomb, All Hell, Sardonic Smile, Grohg, Shadow of the Destroyer, and Satyrnacht, are just some of the awesome bands that are active around us, and outside of black metal we have bands like Confessor practicing next door to really keep us pushing our craft.
12.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
There are still plenty of things we haven't done yet. How that all plays out as far as the next record I don't think we really know. The best part of this band is everyone plays an integral part in the writing of process. Hardly anything is just brought to the table without question or alteration. Born out of that process, our different takes and ideas let the piece form naturally.
13.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Major influences are going to vary widely for all of us but collectively in the beginning it was stuff like Enslaved, Emperor, Wolves in the Throne Room, Dissection, and Mgla. Groups that we saw as part of the evolution of the genre. That kind of changed as we began to write together and we began to try and play to our strengths more than our influences.
As of right now the new releases from Bölzer, Krallice, Ulcerate, Mizmor, and Void Omnia have had a heavy rotation recently. Everyone has a pretty diverse music taste whether it be grind, old school rap, electronica, outlaw country, or somewhere in the middle. The real influence is true art in all its forms That feeling that compels you to look inward and get better or just create for yourself and expand upon your own craft.
14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Just to thank you for your interest in the project as well as anyone that has supported
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Excellent interview. Thanks.
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