New Music: MUANH – already know

The opening track on MUANH’s hush EP is an impressive sonic and emotional statement for the Hamburg-based artist.

Equally impressive is the fact that the launch party for her debut EP sold out. With already know – which was a single this May – that reason for that level of interest becomes clear. Singer, songwriter and producer MUANH has revealed that she had been told of the spent years being told to sing louder, more ‘powerfully,’ or to silence her artistic voice altogether, take the safe path and become a teacher.

Instead, she stayed true to her voice and also became a teacher, and we should be grateful for both decisions. We’re taught a lot here: about love, how being true to yourself is important, and that a song doesn’t have to make a lot of noise to have a powerful impact.

MUANH has cited Men I Trust as an influence on her vocal style, which matches, as her vocal presence is one of singing softly with passion and conviction. That is reflected in the lyrics too, as seemingly minor things like taking off a shirt carry symbolic meaning. It’s in the music that you hear that to its greatest effect: already know could initially be taken as soft rock with an 80s or 90s mindset. It soon unveils a role for shoegaze and dream pop, a narrative twist as powerful and the vocals and lyrics gentle but direct, as it lets us lose ourselves in the depth under the tracks’ surface.

“[already know is] about that stage where nobody has really said anything yet, but both people already know,” discloses MUANH. “It’s actually the beginning of the journey. It’s the feeling of “I love you” before you’ve actually said it. Everything still feels possible, and you’re living more in the feeling than in reality.”

“I wanted the song to feel warm and suspended in time, like it’s holding onto that moment for just a little longer. It’s the escape and procrastination of staying in possibility before reality catches up. Sometimes those early feelings are so beautiful that you don’t want to move forward because saying things out loud means risking that something could change.”

MUANH released hush on the 23rd of October, and it can be picked up in CD and digital formats on Bandcamp. The EP is also streaming on Spotify – head to MUANH’s Instagram account for details of other streaming options.