Jos Kelly from Moxie
Since forming in 2011, Neo-irish group Moxie have been giving trad music a make-over, creating a unique sound of their own.
The five-piece from Sligo and Limerick are gearing up for a busy 2018 and are set to play a gig in Paris tomorrow for St Patrick’s Day with Sharon Shannon.
We caught up with the ensemble, who provided the musical landscape for the dance show: ‘Prodijig, The Revolution,’ ahead of their live shows.
The Beat: What’s new?
We’ve just released afterlife, the first video of a new Moxie music video series called MOXTAPE.
We’re absolutely buzzing to show you all our new material in video form.
We believe seeing our music and energy is almost as important as hearing it, and it really helps to engage the audience.
The Beat: When is the next gig?
Our next gig is tonight, Friday, March 16 at Kilkenny Trad Fest in the Set Theatre. We fly off to Paris for a string of gigs for Paddy’s Weekend. Find us on Facebook (MOXIE) to check in about latest news and gigs.
The Beat: What has been your best gig so far?
Our best gig, undoubtedly, was over in the Hanoi Opera House in Vietnam. Michael D Higgins invited us out to represent Irish music and play for the Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.
The Beat: Describe you music in one sentence.
Five young lads with traditional backbones deliver a new brand of Irish music heavily influeced by electro, jazz, house, and rock, bringing an energetic, wild and unique live show.
The Beat: What are you listening to at the moment?
Vulfpeck, Little Dragon, Moonchild Jacob Collier, August Greene, Anderson Paak, Bon Iver, Nils Frahm, Snarky Puppy... The list could go on and on. We’re influenced by all sorts of genres.
The Beat: What Irish acts do you rate?
Old Hannah are about to release a brand new album with an otherworldly electronic folk sound which I’ve heard a bit of. It sounds great. Other great Irish artists for us include; Ye Vagabonds, Talos, Shunya, Oddsocks, Orchid Collective, Wyvern Lingo, aside from the more famous obvious bands like the Gloaming.
The Beat: What has been your favourite moment as a musician?
Favorite moment as a musician was probably when we gigged in Ortigueira, in Galicia,
North west Spain.
Some mad man in the crowd lit up a red flare in the middle of one of our tunes. There’s a video online of it called Moxie – Spike Island Lassies, and you’ll see the sheer delight on my face when I see how much the crowd are enjoying it.
The Beat: What’s in store for you for the rest of 2018?
We’re going to be doing a lot of shows around the Irish festival scene this summer. We’re also gigging in Barcelona, Shetland, Oulu, and many more to be announced. Check out our website www. moxiemuso.com.