Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Licking the Moose
The Norwegian americana-band Licking the Moose is back with their fifth album. “Songs from the valley of the nearly dead” follows “Broken songs of loneliness” (2007), Barleywine blues (2009), “The death of Henry Miller and many others” (2018), and Hangover gospel (2023).
Songs and song sketches were presented in the winters of 2023/2024 and chewed gradually through the “Licking the moose” grinder. The result was once again the start of a musical road trip through the states, for better or for worse, which is now presented on the album. This also involves an inner road trip through exorcism, anxiety, daytime driving, lost love, parting, longing, escape, loneliness, doomsday prophecy and death.
In terms of genre, we are still on a musical journey through gospel, rockabilly, hillbilly, crooning, southern rock, rock’n roll, outlaw and western swing. Feel free to call it Americana. But unlike the previous albums, which has a more of a ”band” live approach, this album is more a studio album.
The producer, Dag Erik, wanted to do something else this time, and did all he could to get us as far from the comfort zone as possible. Witch he managed to do. As a live band this method was more of a struggle and took more time in studio. Anyway, we ́re proud of the result.
As usual, we have shamelessly drawn inspiration from Hank Williams, Elvis, The Louvin Brothers, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, Georg Jones and others, and we have not spared the clichés this time either…
The record carries a mixture of gloomy and light-hearted melodies held together by the realization that things will not go well in the end.
To be released on vinyl and on all digital media autumn 2025.
What is your earliest memory connected to music?
I think it must have been when I was a little boy lying in bed and hearing my parents play Elvis when there was a party at home. That music immediately made a big impression on me.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
I think it was in the mid-90s that the interest in creating something of our own began. Earlier that decade we had a band that only played cover songs. We were in our late teens and it’s kind of cool to think back to when we were covering artists like the Velvet Underground, Bowie, Van Morrison, Dylan and The Doors at such a young age. Gradually we started thinking, what if we try writing our own songs.
What’s the story behind your current music project?
Licking The Moose was established in the early 2000s. We had been doing more progressive rock for several years and thought why not try our hand at a genre we had zero clue about. Country music! So then the process of writing dark Americana began. Inspired by Hank Williams, Elvis, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Johnny Cash we then began writing our own form of country music. As of now there have been 5 albums with quite different expressions.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Music that carries a mixture of gloomy, dark lyrics with light-hearted melodies held together by the realization that things will not go well in the end.
What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?
For me personally as a vocalist, that was probably when I realized how important timing was. So I’ve tried to pick up some of this from greats like Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, who are all masters at it.
What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?
If we have access to a guitar, double bass, piano and a microphone, we pretty much have what we need.
Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?
No one in particular. Everyone in the band, for better or worse, listens mostly to very old music for inspiration. For me, I’m currently listening to a lot of old crooner stuff from the 30s and 40s.
How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?
Quite a lot. I’ve found that the lyrics come out easier if I write during a period when I’m in a dark mood. And if it’s also winter and depressing weather, it also makes the writing process better.
What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?
No particular message really. But if we manage to give the listener some kind of feeling then we have succeeded. Even though the music is quite dark at times, we also hope there is room for a smile here and there.
What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?
That I can’t live without. Is an invaluable part of my identity and who I am.
What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?
Glastonbury would been cool! Grand Ole Opry and Ryman could also do.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Elvis. Cause he´s the king. It would also have been cool to have been a backing vocalist during David Bowie’s Thin White Duke tour in the 70s.
Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)
All of our releases are available on vinyl or CD. But you can also find all our music on all streaming services.
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6DN0PqEuFV20nwVObghsfR?si=SKHjAiGnRa6D-zklAMRedg
Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?
We have never aimed to be particularly popular. We are more focused on the process of creating and releasing new uncompromising music and playing concerts. It is probably the process of writing and recording music that is most important to us.
What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?
That we bring something different to the table
