MOIST Q&A: Kevin Young on the Band’s Lengthy Hiatus, the Pandemic, and New Album
Being in the rock arena today has proved difficult for new bands and older bands alike. Bands are like marriages: some are in it for the long-haul, while others aren’t. Even when trends fade, bands may seem ‘washed up’, but keep at it for the love of music. Even in this day and age, it’s hard to give it your all and become an established rock act. Is the tide slowly turning, though? Punk is starting to uproot the norm. Turnstile, PUP, and others are doing something fresh and record labels are giving them a chance.
I talked about all these points and more with the keyboardist Kevin Young from Canadian rock act, Moist, including the highs and lows of being in a rock band, and for so long as well—since 1992, to be exact. They hit the Canadian rock scene in a big way then, marking a fresh turn in music at the time, just as Turnstile and PUP are doing so now. WNYMusic’s Robert Frezza sat down with one of the most prolific exports Canada has shared with Buffalo and a band that is still going
strong through a lengthy hiatus, a pandemic, and even when rock wasn’t the in thing anymore: Moist.
Why did the band go on hiatus for over a decade and what brought you guys back for a reunion—for 2014’s Glory Under Dangerous Skies?
Kevin Young: We toured relentlessly in 90s. Everyone in the band wanted to branch out and try their hand at something different. When we started the break, there was no “let’s get back together and revisit in a certain amount of time”. During that time period, we did different things. We stayed in touch since we are close friends. David came back to the band and said he was interested in doing this again. We did a quick tour of Canada called the Resurrection tour in 2013. When you put us all in a room together, someone would play something and we all thought that was a good idea. So Glory, (the band’s fourth album), came together under that collective impulse.
What does the new studio album, End of the Ocean, mean to the band right now?
KY: When we wrote that record, we didn’t know we were gonna fall into a pandemic for a few years. I think for me personally the album has a lot do to with is seeing how people are suffering in various ways all over the world and providing awareness to it. That’s what the album really hinges on. We don’t drill down to each song’s meanings. Often with David Usher’s lyrics, they can be a little “opaque”. We like when we people put their own spin and personal meaning into our songs. Moist is considered to be one of the most prolific bands, not only in Canada, but the world.
What kept the band together for so long even through some minor lineup changes?
KY: First and foremost, when we first got together, we found a group of people who all had the same goal. We were all friends and maintained that friendship throughout all the hassles that most bands go through. When you have that foundation, we maintained very strong ties—creatively and through friendship.
Do you ever listen or read fans or critics’ comments? A user comment once said: “Another soft revue from Moist” when Glory was released.
KY: It’s nice when people say nice things about the band and hilarious when they don’t say nice things. If people are taking shots, it’s their opinion. Sometimes its fun to read poor reviews because they’re humorous—but we take all feedback into consideration.
The States are still lacking a rock scene. Only just recently we have seen a resurgence in punk with PUP and Turnstile (among others), but hip hop and pop continue to dominate. Thoughts?
KY: True. My listening habits are all over the place. There’s a lot of hip hop and pop that I really really dig. For many years, I’ve been a fan of hardcore music. It’s nice to see a blistering live band—PUP fits the bill. I love Jessie Reyez’s new song as well. The Headstones new track., It’s all across the map for me. I love consuming music.
Are there any new recording/production techniques that you are bringing to the table now versus your Silver and Creature days?
KY: We did everything to make those albums as good and honest as we possibly could. I don’t have any regrets of what we were able to do. I look back sometimes, for example, Mercedes Five and Dime, the band’s third album. We threw everything we possibly could in there, including the kitchen sink, but we could have thrown some more heavy guitars in there. It is where the band was at the time, though. It really does reflect where the band is as a collective at the time. It’s not always pristine production but putting your vibe out there, especially on tour. We were going to see Moist on the Saints and Sinners tour, but Covid happened.
How did the band recoup and will we see you back in Buffalo soon?
KY: I’d love to be back in Buffalo. We were in the studio just before the pandemic hit. Maybe it’s a month? Maybe two? Once we were getting deeper and deeper into it, it got a bit tougher. When you do what you love for a living is immediately taken away from you, it messes with your self-esteem and mental health, but it felt we were creatively engaged even though we working separately.
What do you want your fans to take away from the latest album and Moist’s music in general?
KY: I’d like them to take joy and solace or pleasure from the album for whatever reason. Back in the day people said our music helped them through a tough time or it got me through such and such. That’s the best review a band could get.
PHOTO CREDIT:
CNE Aug 29, 2018
Nicole Wolfe (Canadian Beats)
