Marking their first release in two years, indie rock band MØAA are following up with “Jaywalker,” the lead single to their upcoming album of the same name. Initially beginning as a solo project by vocalist Jancy Buffington, the Seattle-based outfit soon expanded into a full-fledged band and released their debut album, Euphoric Recall, in 2021.
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Since then, they’ve been touring in Europe and the U.S., going as far as to open up for artists like Yves Tumor and indie rock group Film School. But while their debut offered a glimpse into soundscapes made up of electronic production and shoegaze, “Jaywalker” promises a new album more slicked back in style and approach.
The single shows no signs of fuzz in the production, an immediate departure compared to other shoegaze groups of past and present. If anything, “Jaywalker” is far more stripped-down, whereas MØAA’s biggest track, “X Marks,” relied heavily on an echoed bassline. Instead, a simple drum and bass pattern carries the song forward, suiting Buffington’s calm and collected vocals exuding a carefree attitude as she repeats, “those stories don’t matter much to me” in the chorus.
Staying true to the dark atmosphere established by the song, the music video shows Buffington walking out at night as members of the band surround her playing their instruments. In flashes cut between the walking scenes, all of them are seen lying on the grass and staring out into the sky, seemingly taking in the moment and the nighttime around them.
Much like the song itself, the visuals are straightforward, never drastically flipping the script or sacrificing cohesion. But in the context of MØAA’s discography thus far, it’s enough of a change to signal signs of experimentation within the gradually expanding band. Though their album isn’t out until October 13, it’s all but certain that MØAA is unafraid to try out something different while still managing to make music cleanly produced and mixed.
Words: David Sosa
“Jaywalker” by MØAA is out on all streaming services. For more on new music and live shows, follow them on Instagram, Bandcamp, and their website.
