In mid-2013, three students from the University of Southern California decided to start a band together, releasing their first EP titled The EP speaker which would launch their dive into the alternative music scene.

The trio is now known as MUNA, with guitarists Josette Maskin and Naomi McPherson and vocalist Katie Gavin, but at the time they were unknown to most. Four years later, after releasing his first album About youthe band opened for Harry Styles on his North American and European tour.

Although it was a major turning point for all three, the road hasn’t been as smooth as expected. They dropped save the world in 2019, but were still creatively stalled, even being dropped by their label at the time.

Fortunately, 2021 was a year that honored the trio. With the help of alternative singer Phoebe Bridgers, MUNA signed with her label Saddest Factory Records, quickly releasing “Silk Chiffon ft. Phoebe Bridgers” in September.

The single was a massive hit for the band, with music listeners everywhere falling in love with the airy, light sounds reminiscent of a bittersweet summer crush. Even the music video was equally captivating, poking fun at the craziness of conversion therapy, which was new territory to tackle in their visuals, especially as queer women.

With the single, there were more opportunities. MUNA opened for Bridgers last summer and will be playing notable festivals such as Lollapalooza and Hinterland Music Festival in the coming months.

As they prepare to go on tour again, MUNA has a new album up its sleeves. Acting as their third, the band’s highly anticipated self-titled album already includes “Silk Chiffon ft. Phoebe Bridgers”, but now fans are finally getting here “Anything But Me”.

The new lead is jaw-dropping, with Gavin bluntly stating that their former lover can never crawl back again, or try to drag them down. The band are already sounding at their best, with scathing lyrics such as “You gon’ say I asked for the moon, I think it was you with your head in the sky / All I wanted was someone ‘one to be honest / Live for more than their next good time’, incorporating a new sense of confidence into their production skills and vocal harmonies.

The band says the track is “a song about leaving a partnership just because it doesn’t feel right. It’s about trusting yourself and your instincts enough to walk away from someone while you still love yourself enough and before it gets too bad.

MUNA is ready to turn over a new leaf with their self-titled work, which will be released on June 24. As the band move away from their pop-only roots and into the world of confessional rock, it seems they are comfortable and authentic in their style.

As 2022 speeds along, the trio are likely to gain more recognition and praise for their boldness, creativity, and unapologetic attitudes. It will be an exciting ride to see where their upcoming work takes listeners, as well as their creative visions.

@grace_koe

gk011320@ohio.edu