by emma schoors
photo by madison mcconnell
“I think I’m always writing about things that I’ve yet to fully conceptualize or come to terms with,” Moon Walker’s Harry Springer says. “Oftentimes, the first time I’ll actually start processing something is when I’ll write a song about it. It’s either like a superpower, or a detrimental flaw in my development.”
With an entire discography written, produced, and performed in Springer’s bedroom, DIY is the name of the game for Brooklyn-based Moon Walker, a project formed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic after The Midnight Club’s unofficial ending. Speaking “Truth To Power” is of the utmost importance lyrically — his 2021 debut record bears the same name, and digs through the gnarly aftereffects of consumerism, hive mentalities, dystopian governmental policies and more.
His most recent offering, “Give The People What They Want,” packs all the garagey fuzz of a Jack White record, but Springer has most notably been compared to T. Rex’s Marc Bolan. “That was a weird thing to deal with in The Midnight Club, because I would either force myself to write Bolan-esque love songs with cosmic, other-worldly lyricism, or I would let myself write political songs. Those two things don’t necessarily fit together that well,” he says. “Marc Bolan is one of my favorite lyricists, but I can’t do what he does. I’m glad I stopped trying to copy him.” More than anything, Springer hopes “the lyrics make people think,” a goal that has been met continually through his use of pointed imagery and blunt yet necessary callouts.
Moon Walker’s third LP, “Apocalypticism,” is due for release Oct. 20. In the meantime, we caught up with the rising performer to speak about translating thoughts into product, taking his material on tour, and more.
You’re in the midst of your US tour. What element of tour life has surprised you the most so far?
Moon Walker: “Considering how much driving and sitting around there is, I’m surprised at how little downtime I have. Maybe I’m just lucky to be touring with such fun crews, but I had a big stack of comic books that I was going to get through on tour and I’ve hardly had time to read any of them.”
Before forming Moon Walker, you were part of The Midnight Club, a band with a considerably different sound and artistic approach. What lessons did you take with you from that group, and in what ways did it fuel your understanding of musicianship?
Moon Walker: “The transition from The Midnight Club to Moon Walker was very smooth. I essentially developed all the skills that I use in Moon Walker while I was in The Midnight Club. There wasn’t much of a formal disbanding. I always liked making music alone, so as soon as I was able to produce and sing my own music, it made sense to make it a solo project. However, I learned a lot about what types of deals, partnerships, etc. to avoid. I learned a lot about what does and doesn’t work when it comes to making a career out of music.”
Can you take us through the genesis of your single, “American Dream Come True?” How did the concept for this one come about?
Moon Walker: “The song started with that vocal sample that you hear throughout the song. I got a decent chunk of the instrumental worked out before even thinking about the lyrical concept. The first vocals I wrote were the first verse, which set the tone for where the rest of the song had to go.”
How does this new single differ, either conceptually or musically, from past releases?
Moon Walker: “Conceptually, it’s pretty much the same as my other music. Maybe a bit more focused and direct, but it’s a theme I’ve explored on a good chunk of my discography. Sonically, it’s a pretty big departure. As I previously mentioned, I started the song with a gospel vocal sample. It was my first time using samples of any kind. The first thing that I was inspired to write was the bassline. Under normal circumstances, I think that bassline would’ve felt too much like AC/DC or something to me, and I would’ve scrapped it, but I was just so excited by how it juxtaposed the vocal sample. So right off the bat, I was going off in directions I would’ve never considered because of the sample.”
You’ve made a name for yourself across social media by writing songs in response to political extremism and late-stage capitalism, among other topics. Why did you choose this route lyrically, and what response do you hope it inspires in listeners?
Moon Walker: “This sounds so corny, but I really didn’t choose it. When I sit down to write a song with no agenda or intention whatsoever, it ends up being political. If I start writing with an agenda or an intention I can write other types of songs, but when I just let music pour out of me in a very authentic, unforced way, this is the lyrical content I end up with. That was a weird thing to deal with in The Midnight Club, because I would either force myself to write Bolan-esque love songs with cosmic, other-worldly lyricism, or I would let myself write political songs. Those two things don’t necessarily fit together that well. Marc Bolan is one of my favorite lyricists, but I can’t do what he does. I’m glad I stopped trying to copy him [laughs]. I just hope the lyrics make people think.”
Out of your entire discography, which song has been the most emotionally difficult to write?
Moon Walker: “Easily ‘Nothing Can Save Me (From Myself).’ It’s still hard for me to listen to, especially when I’m down on myself or feel like giving up. But it’s also my favorite song I’ve ever made.”
Having formed this project during COVID, your ability to tour and promote your music in-person was halted. How has it felt to finally share these songs with live audiences, and see their reactions in real time?
Moon Walker: “It feels surreal. When I wrote this music, the last thing on my mind was performing it. I had no idea when I’d be able to perform live again, so for my own sanity, I had to force myself to get comfortable just making records, not knowing if they’d ever be played live. Getting to hear people singing with me and talk to them after the show about what the music means to them is truly the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced. It reminded me that THAT is the point of music — to connect with people.”
You shared in a recent Instagram caption that you’re better at making music than you are at articulating yourself. At the risk of making you articulate yourself, why music? Why is this the medium you’ve stuck with time and time again?
Moon Walker: “Good question! Probably because it was the first one I was good at [laughs]. Whenever I go to draw, paint, etc. I get so frustrated because I have so many ideas that I want to get out and so many emotions that I want to express, but I simply don’t have the skills to know how to do it. Literally the only medium that I am skilled enough at to translate my thoughts into an actual product is music. I’ve been writing music since I was like 10, so I kind’ve trained myself to express myself through music. Throughout my life, the first way in which I process my emotions is through music. I think I’m always writing about things that I’ve yet to fully conceptualize or come to terms with. Oftentimes, the first time I’ll actually start processing something is when I’ll write a song about it. It’s either like a superpower or a detrimental flaw in my development. Time will tell!”