moa moa

South London band moa moa are returning with a new single, the kaleidoscopic paradise of ‘Drive’, the first release following their Speedy Wunderground single ‘Coltan Candy’ which came out earlier this year. ‘Drive’ is another brilliant example of the modern psychedelic pop that moa moa are making their own; even more impressive when you consider this is only their fourth single. From the glitchy synths that begin the track to the pulsing drums that push the song along, moa moa are boldly embracing catchy choruses and managing to become weirder and poppier in perfect tandem.

Singer James Ratcliffe explains ‘Drive’ is “a playful take on my apathy towards the idea that the world was suddenly going to be flipped on its head because we'd all sat around in our houses for a year.”

Keyboardist and guitarist Connor James notes, “I think Drive is our best work to date. Since we've had the chance to tour and play live properly, we've all really enjoyed the immediacy of the tune, and how fun and brash it is. We're all incredibly weird when we're together and Drive is a great manifestation of that!”

United by their love of wonky, chonky pop, friends Dan Byrne, Connor James, Sophie Parkes, and Matt Taylor assembled alongside songwriter and producer James Ratcliffe in 2019 to form moa moa. A mission statement emerged - to create unpredictable, ambitious, and hook-laden songs that take all the best bits from their diverse musical backgrounds. 

Their singles ‘Yellow Jacket’ and ‘Spinning’ were released in 2020 to critical acclaim, with widespread support from BBC Radio 6 Music and Radio 1. 2021 saw the release of ‘Coltan Candy’, a languid alt-bop released in Speedy Wunderground’s illustrious 7” single series, produced by Dan Carey. Alongside the 7” vinyl, which sold out in just one day, the single has been backed heavily by 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, Don Letts, and Shaun Keaveny, and publications including NME, DIY, Paste Magazine, and Brooklyn Vegan. 

The band have also been building a reputation as an exciting and eccentric new live act, with shows offering everything from lush slide guitar solos to bright pink boiler suits. In the space of 5 months, moa moa have sold out two headline shows at the legendary 100 Club, played a number of city festivals including Dot to Dot, Live at Leeds, and Liverpool Sound City, and embarked on a UK-wide support tour.  

They are now speeding in on their metronomic motorway to present their new single, ‘Drive’, their anthem for the apathetic; the perfect psychedelic soundtrack to the comfortable tedium of life.