Exposed Vocals Interviews Alberto Moyano Muñoz

Born in Barcelona and raised in Sant Andreu (2nd poorest district in the city). Interested in linguistics because of a bilingual upbringing and learning English through music and music review sites starting at 12 (translating Like a Rolling Stone as a watershed moment). Studied Translation at UAB, spent a year in UC Berkeley as an exchange student and couldn’t drink, so took up smoking. Finished the degree and studied two years of Law until a XXIst century nervous breakdown had me down for 3 months and a half. Found Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly and became the happiest, most self-assured, most fearless and ambitious person ever. Working for world peace on my own. For now.

 

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

 

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: I grew up in St. Andreu neighborhood, a working-class neighborhood in Barcelona. My family is very class-conscious and always told me to do whatever I wanted, but also to assume that my responsibility was to be a good student. Music was my passion since I was about 13 and I learnt English through a huge record collection I amassed over the years, but I never dared do anything myself because I felt daunted by how good everyone else was. I did decide to become an artist, but all the music I have released so far was made as a gift to my best friends; making music as a gift prevented me from pressuring myself too hard to sound “good”.

I studied Translation and two years of Law school, but after a really intense nervous breakdown I decided to do what I had always wanted all the time. Which is why I am releasing all my music, and everything I have done so far. At this stage, I’m doing a sort of “clean slate” process in order to start releasing new music.

 

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: It is my full name. I’m using it for my old music and any music I release which is specifically dedicated to a friend or made in a more naked, sincere fashion. I have plenty of monikers I want to use, but for now I use my name so that listeners know I have nothing to hide.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: Online music sharing is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I had a record collection that I spent a fortune on, but one of my dearest possessions is a hard drive full of music. When I really like an artist (and I have money) I buy the record afterwards, but I love the idea of music-sharing either as a chance for people with no means to listen to new music or as a way to, well, share music. I give all my music for free and copyright-free for two main reasons: 1) When something is absolutely free it is more likely to be taken, used and shared; 2) When an artists gives an audience everything he or she has without asking for anything back, the audience usually ends up helping the artist get to the top. That is what Chance the Rapper did, what Drake did, what Kanye West is doing right now… I don’t expect to get anything back from what I give, but it would be great!

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: I have only played one official gig and it wasn’t even with my band but with a well-known improvisation orchestra from Barcelona called Orquesta del Caballo Ganador. My tip for start-ups is this: don’t be shy. If everybody says no to a gig (and one can always negotiate if what you want is not money but exposure), play anywhere. Record yourself in your bedroom or your practice room, go to open mics, busk if it is not illegal. Talk to other bands, be friendly, do not be afraid of them because all bands have one thing in common: everyone was a start-up once.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: Anything and everything can be a source of inspiration, but my method is largely improvisation-based. After all, “inspiration” is, to me, just a state of relaxation where I do not judge what I am doing while staying focused on what is sometimes called “state of play”. I play music like I play with toys: you make them clash, you put them in line, you try to make a tableau. Anything goes, really. The only rule is that I have to like it; and when I’m in a good mood, I like almost everything.

That said, I always start with the music. Lyrics come later and they might sound nonsensical or funny but they are always true.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: I have a personal Blogspot website with most of my links, but I also uploaded my album on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, DatPiff and TuneCore (which includes almost any other platform). I am also using Mixcloud for old mixes I’ve made. Everything except for TuneCore is for free. Why be satisfied with just one platform?

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: I dropped out of college and quit my job three months ago, so I have got the year off. The half a million would probably be spent in pampering my family, who are much more concerned about money issues than I am: I would buy a house, pay for my sister’s wedding with the best guy ever and start an actual business, not just an online platform. I would give the money to those I love.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: Any way is a good way to promote music! I use the abovementioned music platforms but I’m also active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram… They’re great ways to meet people, and if they like my music, even better! In real life, though, what I usually do is take any instrument I have on me and start jamming and having fun, and eventually I tell people I have an album, or I just play it and have a laugh.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: Oh, so many! I have a remix project for my favorite albums, another one for beats, another one for rapping (I love freestyling), another project for instrumental music, ideas for apps, books, pictures, low-budget movies… I always stay humble, but I want to put to practice every idea I have and see how it works out!

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: Any one of the above projects. And I probably wouldn’t be able to stop making music 🙂

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: My only responsibilities right now are, basically, staying alive and keeping my family informed that I am safe and sound while helping them out in any way they need or want. I have become so happy after getting out of my short bout of depression that I basically try to make everybody happy. If I can make them as happy as me by doing what I love, then it’s even better!

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Alberto Moyano Muñoz: Much, much more music up on the Internet (hopefully more hi-fi than my old album), a tour that I hope becomes worldwide, different projects with a lot of friends. Anything that my friends and me want to do to have fun!