Mood Child on Rinse FM (Interview)

Noodle invited Manda Moor and Sirus Hood to talk about Mood Child on Rinse FM London, UK, followed by a guest mix recorded at Strafwerk, ADE 2023.

 

Noodle (Host): So here we are on Rinse FM. You're tuned into myself, Noodle, and today, to kick off my official residency, I have two guests who I'm really excited to talk to you about and who I've also been following since attending their appearance at Hï in Ibiza, supporting the Martinez Brothers. Last summer, Manda Moor performed for Jamie Jones at Paradise and Sirus Hood released on Cuttin Headz. The talented DJ and producer duo have come together to release their label, Mood Child. So thank you so much for being on the show today and taking time out of your busy schedule.

Noodle (Host): Where did this idea develop for both of you to come together and begin Mood Child? And what I've also found so unique about the label is that it combines music with art and NFTs. Maybe just give a little bit of background on how you got to this point.

Manda Moor (Guest): It all started during the pandemic. We began making edits for fun—edits of disco, edits of R&B, and other genres, just fitting them into our own genre, and it was really successful. We created a community on Bandcamp. People were very responsive, so then we started doing live streams every week, and our community grew from there. Then we decided to release originals and work on that. We had our first party at Hï Ibiza, and it all escalated from there. Roughly, that's how it started.

Noodle (Host): Yeah, it really was definitely a record for me. Combining both of your amazing talents and success, it's no wonder that Mood Child parties in Ibiza are known for their bouncy and groovy vibes. Can you talk us through your regular appearances at Hï and what we can expect from those appearances in the future? How did you come about them? And could you give any hints on how you might prepare for those sets?

Manda Moor (Guest): Mood Child is about showcasing different moods because we don't have just one mood. This is also one of the reasons it's called Mood Child, not only because of the contraction of Moor and Hood, but also because of moods. And Child is about embracing your inner child. During the whole night, we try to navigate different styles, energies, speeds, and keep things very uplifting and interesting.

Sirus Hood (Guest): Sometimes downlifting too. We can go super happy, then dark, then discordant, then ghetto. We play with contrasts to keep everyone interested and excited. We're like kids in that sense. We want to show all the palettes of colors that we have within us and be united in all these vibes we share together on this journey.

Noodle (Host): Yeah, and I love that because it goes back to the original days of DJing, where it wasn't just about sticking to one box. You played tracks that you wanted because you wanted the crowd to have a good time. I love that you've emulated that into what we now have as Mood Child. It's like going back to its roots.

Sirus Hood (Guest): We go digging everywhere you can imagine. Maybe 10% Beatport, 10% Bandcamp, 10% vinyl shops, and then there are many other sources. We get promos, demos, and now with Mood Child, we get a lot of demos. We dig in all genres, not just house music, so we do many edits and have a very unique sound. Hï Ibiza just posted about the last night we did for the closing of the Martinez Brothers.

Noodle (Host): How do you find time to look for music when you're traveling and busy with your sets?

Sirus Hood (Guest): As DJs, it has to be a priority. Finding music is a priority, and when we have a gig, especially a Mood Child one, it becomes an urgency. We also have processes to save time. For example, we use an app called Trackstack, where we receive promos and demos from artists all on one page. We can listen to them quickly, give feedback, and even preload these at home or at the airport. When we're on the plane, even offline, we can download them, make feedback, and when we go back online, it sends the feedback to the DJs. We've worked on the development of this to save time and be efficient.

Noodle (Host): That's amazing, especially for utilizing time on a plane, which is usually the only time you're offline.

Noodle (Host): Well, that's pretty amazing because obviously, when you're spending time on a plane, you want to utilize your time effectively, especially since that's likely the only time you're offline. That's pretty cool that you guys have contributed to the development of that app.

Now, talking about tracks, I want to discuss your most recent release. I know artists like Jamie Jones have been playing "Just a Feeling" by Nick Curley, which is from your latest release called "Groovy Moods." Could you share a bit about where the inspiration for this various artists compilation came from and how you navigated collecting these tracks from such a diverse group of artists? Does this process also apply to the Moodedits volumes?

Manda Moor (Guest): Yes, we decided to do something different with the label. Instead of just releasing EPs with one artist or singles, which is the classic format, we thought about starting a series of themed compilations. We wanted it to reflect what we do in our DJ sets, showcasing different moods and styles. We started with "Groovy Moods," a collection of seven tracks, each with a unique but groovy feel. We're also preparing more compilations like "Trippy Moods," "Dark Moods," and "Wild Moods," each grouping together tracks with similar vibes but different moods.

Noodle (Host): That's cool because it ties in with how you both DJ, not sticking to one genre. That is the foundation of Mood Child, and I'm looking forward to hearing all these other moods you guys will bring. Big things are coming, for sure.

Sirus Hood (Guest): Absolutely. It connects us, especially those of us who don't want to be confined to a certain vibe or mood. As DJs or producers, we often struggle to find our style because we're told to find a specific sound. But I love so many things. One day I might be into Ghetto House, playing tracks at 140 BPM, and another day I might prefer deep house at 120 BPM. Why should I deny a part of myself to fit a standard? I refuse that, and I believe the entire Mood Child community feels the same.

Noodle (Host): I agree. It's a very human emotion to have ups and downs, so it's great to have a record label that can put out different moods. It gives people the option to listen to various artist compilations that suit their mood, rather than a compilation with a mix of different sounds. It's nice to be able to choose based on what you feel like listening to, like "Groovy Moods" for today. It's a really cool concept. Speaking of moods, depending on your ideal mood, what would you say is your go-to plugin for producing a Mood Child track?

Manda Moor (Guest): There are so many, but I'd say Roland Cloud is a top choice. It includes new Roland machines and the legendary ones like the 303, 808, 909, and the Juno, which sound really great.

Sirus Hood (Guest): Exactly. I own the classic Roland machines, including the 808, 909, 303, and others. But they're not practical for travel, and sometimes they're time-consuming to use in the studio. That's why we found Roland Cloud, and it's an incredible tool.

Noodle (Host): I've used it before, and even just the 303 plugin makes life easier. You can record straight into your DAW. I'm a big fan of Roland Cloud as well.

Manda Moor (Guest): Of course, if you have the original hardware at home, you can start a project on the road and then work on the classic hardware when you return.

Noodle (Host): Do you notice a sound difference at all?

Manda Moor (Guest): You can't beat the analog sound, of course.

Sirus Hood (Guest): The main difference with analog machines like the original 808 or 909 is that every kick drum or clap sounds slightly different. It's a unique signal. If you look at the waveform in Ableton, you'll see each kick drum has a different shape, which is interesting for your ears and reduces ear fatigue, even with the same loop.

Noodle (Host): That's true. You're not hearing the exact same sound every time, which makes it more interesting with each hit.

Manda Moor (Guest): Your ear may not pick it up, but your subconscious will.

Noodle (Host): That's really fascinating. I'll have to test this out and examine the kick drum waveform. I'm intrigued now.

Sirus Hood (Guest): Another plugin we use is Izotope, like Nectar, which is amazing for mixing vocals quickly. They have incredible and useful tools. We also use Maschine VST with the hardware a lot. It's great for creating amazing loops quickly.

Noodle (Host): Do you guys mix most of your tracks yourselves, or do you send them off to an engineer?

Sirus Hood (Guest): We do it all ourselves.

Noodle (Host): Well, the tracks have great quality and are punchy, so that's awesome to hear.

Sirus Hood (Guest): Thank you. It's taken decades of hard work to achieve this sound.

Noodle (Host): You can definitely hear that it's not something achieved overnight. Your hard work is evident in your tracks. It's impressive that you handle everything from producing to the final product. The fact that you have vinyl-only releases creates a lot of excitement. I remember trying to download some of your Mood Edits and learning they were available only on vinyl. It's nice to have that physical aspect in your releases.

Now, I want to talk about your upcoming event in New York on December 2nd for Mood Child. How are you feeling about it, especially since it's overseas? Could you also tell our listeners about any more Mood Child parties you have coming up this year and what we can expect from Mood Child next year and beyond?

Manda Moor (Guest): Yes, it's our first event in the US, and we're super excited. New York holds a special place in my heart; it's where I started DJing and where my dreams as an artist began. The event will be part of Elrow's series at Avant Gardner, and they're giving us their second stage to host. We'll have Cuartero and Second City with us. We're really excited, and a big thanks to the Gray Area crew for organizing it. As for future events, we can't discuss details yet, but you can be sure they'll be fantastic, just like our previous ones.

Noodle (Host): I'm sure they will be. Regarding your New York event, how did you create the lineup? Were these artists you've been interested in for a while?

Sirus Hood (Guest): We collaborated with Elrow and Gray Area on the artist selection. We chose artists aligned with our moods and styles who could add something special to the lineup. We're very happy with the result.

Manda Moor (Guest): The lineup is quite diverse.

Noodle (Host): I'm excited to see the videos from the event, expecting lots of energy. Do you have any tips for emerging artists on how to get their tracks signed to a label like Mood Child or to DJ at renowned music venues?

Manda Moor (Guest): It's hard to describe, but there's definitely some magic involved.

Sirus Hood (Guest): If you're looking at the top 10 on Beatport or Traxsource for inspiration, Mood Child might not be the right fit. We're looking for something different, unique, and vibe-centric. We sign tracks that evoke feelings, not just bangers or big names. Our advice to young artists is to explore beyond their preferred genre. Listen to jazz, soul, rare disco tracks, and find inspiration in colors, architecture, stories—anything that brings a unique element to your music.

Noodle (Host): That's great advice. Starting from a place of true inspiration and not pretending to be someone else will translate through your music as a unique experience and sound.

Sirus Hood (Guest): That's what we aim to share with the world.

Noodle (Host): That answer is quite moving. It reminds us of the raw love of being inspired by the world and how that translates into music. Thank you both for your time today. It's been truly inspiring to hear from you both, and I'm excited to hear the mix you've prepared.

Sirus Hood (Guest): For artists wanting to send a demo, they can visit Moodchild.art, click on demos, and drop their music. We listen to 100% of the submissions and give feedback to all of them.

Noodle (Host): That's brilliant. For all the listeners and budding producers, now you know where to go, and you'll definitely get feedback, which is quite rare to hear directly from label owners. Much love and respect to you both for everything you've done so far. I'm also excited to see what Mood Child brings next year and beyond. Could you introduce your mix for our Rinse FM listeners?

Manda Moor (Guest): Yes, it's a b2b set we did during ADE at Strafwerk. It's a really cool set with a lot of mood sounds and tracks that are coming out soon.