In a world marked by the pressures of social connection, where the media makes us addicted to notifications as a fake symbol of human contact, Moonwater gives a fresh look to loneliness. The band has recently presented their single “I’ve Got No Friends Here,” where they explore isolation in an energetic and innovative way. Moonwater has accomplished to dive deep into the complexities of such a potentially somber theme through an upbeat hit.
“I’ve Got No Friends Here” is a reflection on the challenges of growing up, the importance of setting healthy boundaries, and the power that solitude can offer. Moonwater’s music treats their human experience and complexity in a universal way but in its unique style.
Mike and Chris, members of the band, have discussed in depth the inspiration behind his latest track, their journey into adulthood. They also share information about their upcoming debut album that receives the same name as the promotional single, details of their particular writing process, and the images their lyricism evokes.
I’ve just listened to “I’ve Got No Friends Here,” and I enjoyed it a lot. The song feels like an explosion of energy, and it gives great vibes despite the title, and its lyrics about isolation. Can you tell us about this juxtaposition of the song’s title with the overall vibe?
Mike – I think that when someone hears “I’ve Got No Friends Here” the knee-jerk reaction is to receive that phrase in a negative context. There is a good vibe around “being where your feet are”, even in a strange place where you might not know a single face. Some of my favorite experiences have been in moments where I felt like a stranger in a given place.
Chris – The phrase is such a decisive statement, it’s almost impossible to not react to the sentiment of it. And the initial response is probably a feeling of being sorry or sad because of that statement. We loved the premise of it being such a bold thing to say and backing it up with one of our most up-tempo, upbeat songs and creating that juxtaposition.
The song talks about setting boundaries and prioritizing true friends. How do the lyrics explore this theme?
Chris – I studied songwriting in college, and we were taught to keep a list of ideas, titles, phrases, and any sort of inspiration really, and call it “seeds”. Which leads to looking for stories and fantasies in normal life. I moved to an entirely new city for college and I think the idea came to me as the acknowledgment that I am now always surrounded by people, nearby, who I know nothing about. Throughout college and then post-college life, moving again to a different place than college, you feel a pressure to socialize as much as possible, while you’re young. I think I often found myself in situations where I wasn’t necessarily enjoying the company I was keeping but convinced myself to stick it out because it was part of the process. You force yourself to say yes to things you want to say no to. And this song is a sort of coming of age in saying “Hey thanks for thinking of me, but I think I’m going to stay home tonight” and not feeling guilty about it or second guessing yourself that you might be missing out. You should want to be friends with yourself and the person you are. And I feel like some people aren’t comfortable being alone in that way.
Mike – “At the corner store looking for answers”- there have been plenty of times when I’ve felt like a stranger in my own hometown. That feeling can be totally reclusive. Or “Crowded streets and a sea of dancers”- that feeling of being a stranger can also be one of awe and intrigue.
Accepting where, and where you don’t, have friends— but never allowing that to limit where you are/where you are comfortable. Having real friends is a privilege in any place. Fake friends in unfamiliar places only help to mask the feeling of being uncomfortable.
The bridge introduces a more existential subject with the lines “We can live, vibe, procreate / Just to get a taste and feel something good.” How does this section connect to the journey of self-discovery in your 20s?
Mike- Like anyone else in their 20s, I often find myself wondering what the point of it all is. I try to index on a lighthearted-wonderment version of that vs an existential crisis. The bridge is an exploration of that feeling in a “glass half full” context.
Chris – When we were first brainstorming ideas, Mike sang “live, die, procreate” and I misunderstood him as saying “live, vibe, procreate”. I thought the idea was just a funny, satirical way of looking at the dating and relationships scene in your 20s. We decided to roll with it in this way – we’ve had a few song ideas that touched on the idea of “living to die”, and this felt like a more lighthearted stab at that. We’re all just looking to do things that make us happy in the time we’ve got here.
“I’ve Got No Friends Here” is a powerful title for a single, but it is also the name for your debut album. Was it always intended like that, and how does it encapsulate the album’s themes?
Chris – As we finished recording the album, it became clear that that title made sense for the name because it felt like an original thought and it felt so bold. Through the nine songs on the album, each song sort of touches on different socio-relational themes that are very present in this stage of life – the internet/social media, yourself/mental health, your friends, relationships – both positive and negative- situationships, friendships, and even as a disgruntled and frightened citizen of this country. Somebody told us they love “the variety of moods” and that’s kind of really what it is – mood swings induced by our relation to all these aforementioned things.
Mike – I think that the album thematically explores the whole “figuring out your 20s” thing in a series of peaks and valleys as the songs progress. The good, the bad, and the ugly. “I’ve Got No Friends Here” was an accurate depiction of all those emotions, consolidated down into a chorus.
Taking this single as a reference, what can we expect from the rest of the album in terms of topics, sound, and style?
Mike – We want the album to feel like a stream of consciousness. Or even a chaotically designed social media timeline feeding you a non-synchronized series of content. We abruptly explore a lot of different emotions, some of which are disguised behind conflicting musical vibes. Camouflage discusses a thousand ways to die and then immediately a thousand ways to dye your hair— two things that don’t immediately feel chronological, yet a satisfying depiction of the frustrations being projected lyrically.
I’m proud of the sonic diversity we displayed from song to song. The album is an unapologetic blend of our musical influences— and lyrically, an emotionally vulnerable effort.
Chris – We pull from a lot of different stylistic influences as a band musically, and even from a lyric writing perspective between Mike and I, the two songwriters. The first song of the album, Camouflage, ends with massive drums and Mike screaming about being sick of living a life for social media till his voice is practically strained, and is then immediately followed by Make It Up, a dreamy, synth-laden pop song that makes you want to dance the worries we just created a song before away. Riot is a song about questioning organized religion and this country’s belief that it is the answer to all the problems that exist here in a loud, guitar and bass-driven rock track before giving in to Trapeze, a piano ballad about a loved one fighting through depression. Despite different moods, styles, and sounds, we always strive to let the emotion we are trying to portray be at the forefront of the song.
The song feels like it could be a powerful live performance piece. Can you tell us about your plans to translate the energy of the song to the stage?
Chris – The tempo of the song, first and foremost, is the fastest of any song we have. That really drives so much energy through us, and the crowd. We ended our album release show with this song and the people were jumping, dancing, singing and chanting with us. We try to give off a lot of energy, which makes the crowd give energy, which then gives us even more energy, and the cycle goes on and on!
Mike – It’s funny, in the past we’ve always produced songs— then took them to the studio. For this track, we produced the track in the studio. We are fortunate to have such an accurate blueprint for how to give the song energy in a live setting!
Is there a message you hope listeners take away from this song?
Mike – Be comfortable where your feet are, wherever you are. There is so much pressure to keep up with appearances and strain your own well-being to do so. All of that is so nominal. Don’t get distracted by a solipsistic social media timeline. Be you, whoever you are, and wherever you are!
Chris – The coolest part of writing a song is hearing how people resonate with a song in a way that we hadn’t thought of. I think this song is open to interpretation in a few different ways, but to me, it is about being proud of being happy with yourself enough to be independent, without being entirely closed off. It’s okay to set boundaries, it’s okay to not always be a yes man or a people pleaser, and it doesn’t make you a bad person. The world doesn’t end. True friends persist.
Finally, considering that the song is ultimately about finding your place and your people. What advice would Moonwater give to someone who might be struggling with feelings of isolation or not fitting in?
Mike – Isolation can be amazing-it can be peaceful solitude, it can be experiencing a new city or culture, and it can be so productive. It can also be extremely painful. My best advice is to be open to all of those things being true simultaneously. Sometimes we resist isolation in fear of the negative feelings that can be associated with that. Lean into the beauty of it, too.
Chris – I think we all fear the timeline in life, with thresholds for having accomplished certain things and fitting in with our peers. There’s no right or wrong time to figure it out. Do whatever puts you most at peace. And don’t deal with people or things that steal that peace from you. The people who like you for who you are will stick with you. And if you haven’t found your people yet, think of the people you want to be around and how you can find those people. Be gentle with yourself and be patient.
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