Formula Indie Sessions : Interview with Moonhead

MOONHEAD is the brainchild of composer/multi-instrumentalist Samuel Abaijón. It started as a one-man recording project in a feverish attempt to emulate the underground, experimental, alternative music and sounds that inspired him in his youth: psychedelic rock, new wave, krautrock, noise rock, post-punk… just to mention some. Half Spanish, half Finnish Samuel Abaijón is a veteran producer and musician. His genuine handprint appears on numerous highly regarded records. His organ may be heard in surf and 60´s garage rock groups like The Mike Bell Cartel and The Atomic Blast, as well as reggae and dub acts like The Valkyrians and Dub Vallila. He also plays bass guitar in the indie rock band The Bunkers. MOONHEAD is his most intimate project – a laboratory of emotion, memory and sound.

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What is your earliest memory connected to music?

My father is a musician, so I grew up surrounded by music. I remember listening to my father’s home made cassette tapes. My favorite one had The Beatles´ Abbey Road on the A-side. My first musical crush was The Cure in the late eighties. I saw the video of “Why Can’t I Be You” in MTV and I fell in love with the band immediately.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

I started studying music in the Conservatory of Granada (Spain) at the age of 7, but it felt a bit forced on me. I didn’t really like classical music that much. I didn’t like the mainstream pop/rock music either. In a way I hated all music that I heard in the radio and tv. It was when I discovered punk and post-punk in the late eighties that I fell in love with music really. I grabbed my father’s Spanish guitar and learned how to play a few basic chords. I recorded my first demos quite soon.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

Around five years ago I played in 5 bands in Helsinki (Finland) but none of them satisfied my inner hunger. I wanted to have a band that played exactly the music I need to listen to. At the same time I moved to the country side and had a kid, so the only remedy was to play and record everything myself. I made a few demos and I selected my favorite ones to develop. In 2024 I published my first single PALE GREY EYES on the Finnish label Alakulttuuritalo. The idea is to publish one single a year, until my son is older and the “traffic years” are over.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

Some kind of Neo-psychedelia or Psychedelic Pop. Melodic, hypnotic and nostalgic pop rock with psychedelic elements. Fuzzy guitars, tight structures, vintage instruments and layers of reverb and delay.

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

It’s ok to be a perfectionist, but don’t let it get in the way. Songs are NEVER ready. There’s always something to fix. Release your music. Life is short.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process? In my home studio I have a Fender Telecaster electric guitar, a Höfner violin bass, a few vintage organs and a MIDI-organ as well. I have been using Logic since late 90´s.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

There are so many! Ghostwoman, English Teacher, Bodega, Diiv, Cola, Skinshape, Jon McKiel.… I also listen a lot of instrumental musi, artists like Sven Wunder, Favourite People, Ironsides etc…

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision? Do you mean drugs? Just kidding. Of course everything is connected and the only time is now. My music is very subjective, probably because I am the only person involved. It’s very personal and intimate, unveiled, without masks whatsoever.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work? Love. Self and cosmic awareness. I try not to analyze my lyrics too much. Whatever sounds good and resonates. I try to avoid politics but as long as we are alive we are political beings. Your personal choices and daily actions are tied to larger power structures, societal norms, and resource distribution. Love is the main message though.

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

You are not alone!

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at? There’s not a specific venue I dream about. I’ve been playing in almost all countries in Europe but I would love to play further away: Japan, Australia, Mexico…

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? Hmmm, Lou Reed is not known to be cooperative partner but it would have been an interesting experience. There are a few producers and musicians I would love to work with, like William Dorey from Skinshape or Jon McKiel… Ty Segall!!! I’m a big fan of their work.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links) I’m boycotting Spotify at the moment, although my music is still there. Sites like Bandcamp are more musician friendly.

https://moonheadrock.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/moonheadmusic

https://www.facebook.com/moonheadrock

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

I’m working on my wife’s solo dance-act´s music right now. With MOONHEAD, I will continue releasing at least one single every year until I have the time to work on an LP. If any international record labels or similar artists are reading this, don’t hesitate on contacting me for some collaboration. It’s kind of lonely in the country side 🙂 Here’s my e-mail: moonheadm@gmail.com

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? I have always felt like an outsider, an alien. Now I know I’m just human, just like you. But there’s a twist! We are all outsiders, and we are all definitely aliens. Also I’m an excellent table tennis player.

If you want here you can add a representative Youtube video to insert below the interview 🙂

MOONHEAD : Pale Grey Eyes youtube.com/watch?v=4bX-iR0RIuU