Exposed Vocals · Interview
Mourning Coffee
“Pain awakening — coming to deeper parts of ourselves by embracing the darkness.”
Some artists write about death from a safe distance. Mourning Coffee writes from inside it. The Morristown, NJ goth-folk artist — whose name doubles as a meditation on pain and awakening — has built his sound around the questions most people avoid asking: Who are we without the people that define us? What would we do differently if we knew when we’d die? His new single “One Last Time” was written in the quiet of a cemetery in Warwick, NY, and it carries that setting in every note — a haunting piano melody over an upbeat rhythm, cinematic in scope and deeply personal in origin. Influenced by the likes of The Cure, Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Howard, and New Order, Mourning Coffee is carving out a lane that is entirely his own. We sat down with him to talk loss, limerence, Memento Mori, and why there’s no way out but through.
Exposed Vocals
“One Last Time” is steeped in themes of mortality and impermanence. What inspired you to write this particular song, and why now?
Mourning Coffee
I’ve experienced a lot of loss throughout the years and it’s only inspired me to change my perspective on life. 2024 was a particularly difficult year which forced me to let go of not just a person but a whole way of seeing myself. The ideology of romanticism — which is not just simply being a romantic but much closer to limerence (falling in love with an ideal rather than a reality). It’s not healthy to devalue ourselves for the sake of being with someone; it’s an unhealthy obsession rather than an actual love story. And so I wrote “One Last Time” almost to mock the hopeless romantic who’s so ready to give themselves away just for a chance.
Exposed Vocals
You mentioned writing the song in a cemetery. What drew you to that space creatively, and how did it influence the songwriting process?
Mourning Coffee
The calm and the quiet is always welcomed while writing, but given the setting being the final resting place of so many it really helped me feel what I was writing.
Exposed Vocals
There’s a strong cinematic quality in the track — both sonically and emotionally. Were you envisioning any imagery or scenes while composing it?
Mourning Coffee
Since I wrote the song in a quiet moody cemetery, I kept that imagery in mind while composing. Given the pace of the rhythm section I also envisioned a darker, more stormy setting. Something akin to a romantic tragedy.
Exposed Vocals
The lyric “Because we do not know when we will die” is repeated with a kind of urgency. Can you speak to the message you hope listeners take from that line?
Mourning Coffee
Not to take life for granted. It’s easy when we’re bored or going through a tough time, but how would a perspective change if we knew when we would die? What would we do differently? Memento Mori essentially means to remember death as often as possible, therefore we take more advantage of the short time we have. Perhaps even feel more gratitude for what we have now while we still have it.
Exposed Vocals
You worked closely with Sam Stauff in your home studio to bring this song to life. What was that collaborative dynamic like, and how did it shape the final product?
Mourning Coffee
Sam is an incredibly experienced professional, and considering we both have similar music tastes it was very easy to create the vibe I had in mind with this track particularly. Even when I’m solely recording at home, he’s the first person I’d ask a mixing question if I’m having trouble.
Exposed Vocals
Your music blends goth-folk aesthetics with raw emotional storytelling. Who are some of your biggest influences, musically or philosophically?
Mourning Coffee
I have many but some of the obvious ones are The Cure, Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Howard and New Order. I’m also a big Alex G and Kurt Vile fan, so I’m sure fans of them could hear a bit of their influence too.
Exposed Vocals
The name “Mourning Coffee” is intriguing and evocative. What does it mean to you, and how does it reflect your identity as an artist?
Mourning Coffee
So “Mourning Coffee” aside from being a fun play on words also has a bit of a double meaning. The “Mourning” part could also stand for “pain” while the “Coffee” part could also stand for “awakening”. And “pain awakening” to me stands for awakening to deeper and truer parts of ourselves by embracing and alchemizing our pain. There’s no way out than through the darkness.
Exposed Vocals
In a world that often avoids talking about death, your music leans into those spaces. Why do you think it’s important to create from that place?
Mourning Coffee
Incredibly important, especially for the reason you gave. It’s taboo to talk about death — it can be a downer. But pain and loss are a part of the human experience, and I feel the most important part of the healing process is the mourning process. There’s no true growth without pain, meaning we can’t just ignore the things we’ve been through.
Exposed Vocals
What role does vulnerability play in your writing process — and how do you protect your own mental space while channeling such heavy themes?
Mourning Coffee
A lot of what I write about I’ve experienced personally, and because I allow myself to feel the pain it doesn’t rule me. It’s actually healthy if you’re writing about something heavy and you need to take a break to cry. If I didn’t live the message of my music I’d probably find it quite exhausting to write.
Exposed Vocals
Looking ahead, what do you want your listeners to feel or remember after hearing “One Last Time” and exploring your body of work?
Mourning Coffee
I honestly rather the listener take away whatever message they feel from listening to this and any other song of mine. I’ve spoken quite a lot about what the song and my music means to me here, but everybody’s different and I’d rather they have their own experience while listening to my music.
