Meet MOVMENT: Ireland's Unapologetically Raw Alternative Post-Punk Force

Hailing from Ireland, MOVMENT isn't just a band; they are an experience. With two albums under their belt, Broken Down and Transformation, and an EP titled Red Death Sessions, this alternative post-punk powerhouse is gearing up to unleash their third sonic opus, Reinvention, on November 24, 2023. Brace yourself for a musical revelation that cuts through the noise, as exemplified by their upcoming single, "I Believe in Noise," set to drop on September 15, 2023.

MOVMENT's music is a straightforward narrative, told with drums, bass, guitars, synths, and an arsenal of tools that fuels their creative fire. Uncompromisingly atmospheric, turbulent, and brutally honest, their sonic offerings, such as "Reinvention," not only reflect their dark and immediate energy but also invite listeners to a face-to-face encounter with the unfiltered reality that MOVMENT embodies. Get ready to immerse yourself in a musical journey where authenticity reigns supreme, as MOVMENT reshapes the post-punk landscape with their raw and unapologetic approach.

1. Can you share the inspiration behind the title 'REINVENTION' for your third  album, and how does it reflect the thematic exploration of life and self discovery within the music? 

Kevin: We were considering different titles for the album, and the theme of  reinventing ourselves, starting afresh, seemed to resonate with us. It summed up  where we were in our lives, and the collection songs and music we had created, with  their deep, dark themes, was a perfect fit. A lot of what we write about is examining  aspects of our lives that are difficult and heavy, so there is an aspect of reinvention,  creating something new. We are always exploring life in our songs, and we look at  our existence, taking hold of our surroundings, looking at what controls there are in  our lives, and we write about those themes. We discover more about ourselves all  the time, and we express our vague opinions on this. Listeners can determine their  own outlook on our music and lyrics. That is what we do when we listen to music. 

Martin: Reinvention just suits the songs we have written. It is where we are now. We  are examining where we stand on issues that have arisen in our lives. As music is a  powerful influence on us, our songs are an expression of our feelings on different  issues. One lyric in the song Take Hold is a perfect example of this. “Become what  you can be” This is a powerful sentence. It is something that can drive me on.  Perhaps, listeners can be driven in their lives too. It is something to aim for. 

2. The album was recorded in End of Light Studios, Mullingar, and Grouse  Lodge, Westmeath, Ireland. How did these locations contribute to the overall  atmosphere and sound of the album, and were there any specific experiences  or challenges encountered during the recording process? 

Kevin: We have our own writing and recording space. We are at ease in End of  Light Studios, our home studio. We have it setup now in a way that it is a creative  space for us, and we are able to write music and lyrics there, effortlessly. We have a  process that works for us. So, all of our songs are written in our home studio, and a  certain amount of recording is completed there too. Writing songs is always  challenging, but that is what we do. If something is not working, a full song, a guitar  piece, a lyric, we try and make it better, but we are not likely to dwell too long on it.  Our modus operandi is to write lots of songs, and the best ones tend to float to the  top, and these are what we usually refine and work on. We have a lot of songs,  some half written, and this is narrowed down to a manageable amount, which we  then focus on. This is how Reinvention was created. But there are remnants of  songs left behind which we may revisit at a later date. Grouse Lodge is a special place, so we recorded a lot of vocals there. It is a good idea to try other spaces when  recording. 

Martin: A lot of hard work goes in to writing songs. We enjoy the song writing  sessions, and out of those, we work on the demos and finalise songs. By songs I  mean song structures, and sounds, and guitar/synth pieces. Our jamming phase is at  the start of the process, with the end goal being a completed song. Once the songs  are complete, we enter the recording phase. Songs can change at this stage, but the  general sounds and structures and lyrics are normally complete. So, a lot of the  sound of the album is created in End of Light Studios. The Grouse Lodge experience  adds an extra feel to the album, which made it more complete. All writing and  recording experiences include learning, and we always get something new from  both. What we have learned from the REINVENTION sessions will be used in our  next writing and recording sessions. 

3. With the album's focus on life's journey and the inevitability of change,  could you elaborate on how the artistic choices, such as the use of sinister  guitar tones and darkwave hypnotic synths, were made to convey the  emotions and themes explored in 'REINVENTION'? 

Martin: We like dark sounds, and sinister synths, so we use them in our songs. I feel  they add to the atmosphere of our songs. I suppose when you are writing music  there are many ways to do this, and we usually start with a jam. However, at a very  early stage we are looking for the atmosphere of the song, and synths and noisy  guitars are part of this. Drums keep everything together, the bass growls, and all the  other parts form the atmosphere of the song. I think dark sounds are a good fit for  the topics we write about. And also, we just like them. 

Kevin: I have been using Maschine for a few years now, and the sounds and synths  I find on it are really helpful when creating an atmosphere for a song. However, once  a song is written, using Maschine, I experiment with lots of other synths and sounds  in the recording of the song, and the final recorded version is usually different. I have  

Maschine demos of all the songs we write. And while writing songs I am drawn to  dark, sombre, obscure sounds. There can be a sinister element to what we do, it is  not always negative. Although it is dark, I would say it is more intense, and real, even  passionate. But the atmosphere of our songs plays a big part in our completed work.    

4. The artwork for the album was done by UVRay. How does the visual  representation complement the sonic experience of 'REINVENTION,' and how  important is the synergy between visual elements and the music in conveying  the album's deeper purpose? 

Martin: We are very involved in our own artwork, and UVRay is our agent for  artwork. I think the imagery we use is very important, so at this point in time, we are  immersed in producing the artwork we use. I think if we are involved in the artwork  process, then it belongs to us. We feel the artwork for REINVENTION ties in with the 

album’s themes, and the darkness and obscurity and hidden features are part of us.  We like to live in the shadows. 

Kevin: Although there is a dark side to us, we like blackness, that does not mean  we, or our songs, are necessarily gloomy or pessimistic. In fact there is a lot of  positive messages in our songs. The anonymous nature of what we do should be a  catalyst for those that want to discover more and look deeper into our work. Our  imagery and songs won’t appeal to everyone, but there are people who are attracted  to the images, and the music too. 

I think our imagery and music should be in harmony, and that is why we are involved  in both. I know someone else can create a visual element to our music, but we feel  the visuals and music go together and we want to be deeply involved in both.  Regardless of whether our visuals are good are bad, it is more important that it is our  work. We have felt this way since the very start of our journey in music. 

5. Movment is described as a post-punk alternative indie rock band. In what  ways does 'REINVENTION' push the boundaries or evolve the signature sound  of Movment, and how do you see this album contributing to the broader  landscape of post-punk and indie rock music? 

Kevin: I have to explain what we mean by those terms. By post-punk, I mean what comes  after punk, but was influenced by punk. So, it is not necessarily punk music we are creating,  but punk has been an influence. That is what it means to me. I think post punk uses new  ideas, but still retains punk energy and power. Indie just means independent, and the music  we create has always been independent. We have our own record label and have released  our own music from the beginning. We are developing relationships with other labels now, so  we are evolving, but I would consider Movment indie. And rock, well that is just music that  predated punk. There are 1000s of definitions of this, but I always found rock music to be  rebellious and confrontational, so there are lots of bands who are considered rock, but not to  me. It is just my opinion. Our sound is influenced by punk, but ultimately, we will use any  sounds and instruments that energise us. We are not wildly experimental, but that could  change. Who knows what our next album will be like. We definitely don’t want to be  categorised, but it is a way of making it easier for people to decide whether to listen to us or  not. Do we have a signature sound? I’m sure aspects of it are, but it is evolving. 

Martin: We were once labelled Heavy Metals answer to The Smiths. But labels are not  something we put on our music. That is for someone else to do. Our main focus is writing  songs that are inspirational to us, that have a deep meaning, and that have an impact on us  and listeners, but fundamentally our music is for us. Whether it fits in a genre, or not, it is  unique to us. I would not consider this album experimental, but it is indie, it is rock, and it  could be considered post punk. But like all music, you can only judge it when you listen to it,  so that is what I do. If I haven’t heard a band before, I will listen and make my own mind up  on what they sound like and if their songs appeal to me. That is all we ask, listen and  decide. That is what we do with music. And music can be inspiring. So listen often and take  note of the bands you like. I think with the amount of music available now, it is difficult for  anyone to check out new bands. But I think you should as it is very rewarding.