Interview with Muva

Interview answered by Chatrán González, composer, producer and percussion player of MUVA

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today? 

Well, in a way, I’m a bit like bees—at least in theory, or according to the person who gave me my admission exam at the conservatory—I was never supposed to, nor could I ever become a musician. An accident when I was very young took away part of the control and sensitivity in my left hand.

So, what led me to music was, at least in my case, a necessity just as vital to me as breathing. But what kept me in it? I don’t know… I guess it was dreaming that I could.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I don’t really have a hobby per se. For many years, I practiced martial arts, but I hardly have time for that anymore. What I usually do is light my pipe (with tobacco), pour myself a whisky or an espresso, and listen to music. And sometimes, when my soul calls for it, I enjoy writing poetry—mostly free verse poetic prose.

And how does it help me? It usually centers and calms me, and on many occasions, hand in hand with a text, a melody suddenly comes to me.

How long has your band been around? 

The first time I wrote something for MUVA, before I even knew what it would be called, I was 17 years old. I wrote it on a napkin while witnessing a ritual at the top of a mountain, in a temple dedicated to the goddess Malinalxochitl, the dark goddess of the Mexica people.

But the first time I actually produced something and it saw public light—at first only among close friends, to whom I originally just gave my music as a gift—was in 2017.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Well, I live in the neighborhood of Santa María la Ribera in Mexico City, the oldest districts in the city. And as you can probably imagine, living in a city with 20 million people means that what reaches your ears is a mix of a thousand cultures.

Here, my surroundings bombard me with reggaeton and even worse things. Does it affect me? I try not to let it, but still, my music will always carry elements of our proud pre-Hispanic past, blended with everything I encounter along the way.

 How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

Originally it was a pseudonym that I used to produce music that filled my soul more than my pockets, but since the first album was called MUVA, it became the name of the project. 

MUVA refers to the saxon slang allusive to movement, in fact, at some point that name came to me by a dj of a famous Hip Hop band who told me, “My friend you are tha MUVA” and I liked it, because I feel that it quotes cadences and cycles.

 Tell me about your most memorable shows.

We have played in front of thousands of people at various festivals. But from a strict personal point of view, I hold a special memory of a small four-song concert we played for a child with leukemia, Emilio. I used to teach him how to play the bongo, and he asked his mother to take him to a concert. Since he couldn’t go, I brought the concert to his room.

Yes, it’s beautiful to see and hear the applause of thousands, but the memory of Emilio’s grateful smile, with his soul so pure (which – by the way – was the last time I saw him), makes that concert far more memorable to me than many others with bright spotlights.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Not with MUVA, but I once played with another band at the foot of the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, and wow, pure magic. And I don’t know, I guess the best stage is wherever your music is truly appreciated. We’re hoping to connect with some venues in Europe.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

For the sake of empathy with the style that MUVA proposes, I’d like to share the stage with bands that also create fusions. I’d love to play alongside The Hu, Alamaailan Vasarat, Albaluna or maybe even Beats Antique.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

I don't know if for better or worse, but I've seen that something someone told me when I was starting my career was very true. The road to success in self-managed and independent music, just like in any other venture, is achieved through resilience, not through quality or quantity.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Drop out of the conservatory! All the time spent there will hardly be useful to you. Instead, study alongside a short music program or something alternative to music, like marketing or computer programming, or something along those lines.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why? 

I have a little song that I wrote for my baby when they left this world, but I haven’t had the courage to include it in any album. I hope I can give myself the chance to do so in the next one.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

When we perform shows with the Aztec tribal dancers, I love playing Mandala because we create a ritual to honor the four elements, incorporating fragments of some tribal dances. And even though it’s technically a simple song, it still gives me chills.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Since MUVA began, I have always been the sole composer. I like to think of myself as the captain of a ship named MUVA, with my crewmates being those who chose to believe that this little boat could take them to places where they would find nourishment for the soul.

What inspires me? Everything and nothing, at least for me, I don't have a recipe for composing. It inspires me from something that caught my attention while walking down the street, to something that, in my opinion, is worth talking about and expressing an opinion. As a hobby, and although I have already published some, I write poetic prose, and many images that come from texts, end up becoming songs.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

The connection I seek in MUVA’s language is more about offering the audience a way to perceive emotions rather than delivering a message. MUVA’s lyrics are usually rooted in poetry I’ve written, where I explore themes that, from my perspective, carry a deeper sense of reflection.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

As in any environment where there is such close interaction, there will always be friction. We try, as much as possible, to resolve conflicts through dialogue—especially when someone breaks one of our golden rules. When that happens, they do so knowing that their action is their ticket out. One of the most important golden rules is that respect is non-negotiable. If someone, for any reason, resorts to verbal aggression during a discussion or disagreement, their presence is no longer welcome. 

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Right now, we’re collaborating with a renowned techno producer from Mexico, who is creating a remix of a track from our first album. We also have another collaboration in the mixing stage with an incredible artist from Armenia. Hopefully, by mid-year, we’ll be releasing our next album.

As for plans, we have several concerts lined up in Mexico, and we’re hoping to start setting foot in Europe as soon as the opportunity arises.