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WR
IGHT.F
FOUR YEARS AGO, KATIE GAVIN,
Naomi McPherson and Josette
Maskin were college seniors at the
University of Southern California,
plotting their post-graduation moves.
One priority: Make MUNA, the band
they started in 2013, last. “We knew
we needed to find a way to make
money from music if we wanted to
continue living in Los Angeles and
not have to go home and live with our
parents,” says Gavin.
After posting its debut EP, More
Perfect, on SoundCloud, the group
was soon fielding offers from several
labels. But it was RCA Records vp
A&R Dan Chertoff who ultimately
won the members over — they
signed within a month. He had
discovered MUNA’s “Loudspeaker”
on SoundCloud and in September
2015 called the band to make a
deal. He offered resources rather
than advice on an artistic direction,
which was a selling point for MUNA
considering the trio’s DIY approach
to songwriting, recording and even
merchandise, which McPherson
designs. “We have a lot of ownership,”
says Gavin.
MUNA has since become one
of the most politically outspoken
and inclusive major-label alt-pop
groups: In 2016 the trio performed
at Lollapalooza in Chicago, Gavin’s
home city, wearing homemade
T-shirts that read “Fuck Trump.” And
when it comes to MUNA’s lyrics, the
band doesn’t use gendered pronouns.
Much of MUNA’s draw comes
from the juxtaposition of its
sobering storytelling against a
backdrop of uplifting production,
especially on “Loudspeaker” and
“I Know a Place,” both on MUNA’s
acclaimed 2017 debut, About U. Six
months prior to the latter’s release
as lead single in December 2016,
a shooter killed 49 people at Pulse
Nightclub in Orlando, Fla., in the
deadliest act of violence against the
LGBTQ community in U.S. history.
Although it was written long before
the shooting, “I Know a Place”
became an anthem with lyrics like,
“You think being yourself means
being unworthy/And it’s hard to
the road to self-acceptance. “My
responsibility as the main lyricist of
the band is to write what I feel like I
need to hear,” says Gavin. “And that,
in some majestic way, goes on to be
what other people need to hear.”
“I Know a Place” positioned
Gavin and McPherson, both 26, and
Maskin, 25, as luminaries, which
they are leaning into now more than
ever, as evidenced by the title of its
upcoming album. But McPherson is
quick to say that the band’s queer-
positive, feminist identity is nothing
revolutionary. She cites riot grrrl
bands like Bikini Kill, as well as
Le Tigre and Tegan & Sara. “We are
definitely standing on the shoulders
of tons of people,” she says. “People
have been working for decades as
self-produced queer or female artists
and bands, and they haven’t had the
warm welcome that we had.” Adds
Maskin: “The people who like our
music are all seekers, to some extent.
They’re looking for something to fill
the void that we all have.”
Back in 2017, the trio opened for
Harry Styles on his world tour. Now,
ahead of MUNA’s headlining outing,
McPherson is particularly excited
about touring with the band’s first
custom lighting rig. Meanwhile, Gavin
is anxious to let the songs take on new
life. “I can’t fucking wait to be in a
room with 6,000 people and to have
everybody let loose,” she says. “I want
to see people fucking crying.”
At the same time, Gavin is well
aware that nothing lasts forever.
“We’ve been able to do this for
as long as we’ve done it, but we
don’t have the type of [success] to
know that we’re going to be set for
however long,” she says. “[We’re] a
story that’s still unfolding.”
love with a heart that’s hurting,” and
its eerily spot-on chorus: “I know
a place we can go/Where everyone
gonna lay down their weapon.”
Says Gavin, “It was shocking
and unexpected, [but it made us
realize] we are able to contribute to
something bigger than ourselves.
That’s incredibly affirming.”
That sentiment drives much of
MUNA’s second album, Saves the
Wo rl d, out Sept. 6 on RCA. But instead
of going wide and speaking on larger
political and societal issues, MUNA
looked inward. Lead single “Number
One Fan” is a mantra-like confidence
boost. Poignant closer “It’s Gonna
Be Okay” sarcastically chronicles
BADASSES BEHIND THE BOARD
Age: 25
Hometown: Sydney
Hope started
producing six
years ago, working
with artists like
Troye Sivan,
Marina and David
Guetta. Her latest
work, on Tegan &
Sara’s forthcoming
ninth album, Hey,
I’m Just Like You,
has MUNA hitting
replay. “That whole
record is made by
women,” says Gavin,
“which is sick.”
ALEX HOPE
Age: 22
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Model Cydney
Christine made
her producing
debut this year — and
it was a big break.
After meeting Drake
at a post-Grammys
party, the rapper
asked if she could
send him beats. She
ended up producing
this year’s “Money in
the Grave,” his top 10
Billboard Hot 100 hit
featuring Rick Ross.
LIL CC
Age: 25
Hometown:
Catalonia, Spain
Many know Rosalía as
one of Latin music’s
most prominent
stars, but MUNA
makes clear that the
singer also wrote and
produced her 2018
debut, El Mal Querer,
with co-producer
El Guincho. “She’s
making the most next-
level shit in the world,”
says McPherson.
“That album was my
favorite of the year.”
ROSALÍA
Age: 32
Hometown: Glasgow
The surrealist pop
auteur has written
and produced for
Madonna and
Charli XCX, and
in 2018 released
her self-produced
debut, Oil of Every
Pearl’s Un-Insides.
“[She’s] pushing the
boundaries of what
music can sound
like,” says McPherson,
citing all of PC Music,
the label SOPHIE
came up under.
SOPHIE
Age: 25
Hometown:
Flushing, Queens
Thanks to a
few key covers,
especially Drake’s
“Passionfruit,” and
her now-famous
Brooklyn dance
parties, Yaeji has
been dubbed the
next big thing
in house music.
Gavin’s younger
sister turned her on
to the DJ-producer,
who just played
Lollapalooza.
YAEJI
McPherson (left) and Gavin
onstage at Lollapalooza in 2016.
MUNA’s five favorite producers who are changing the game
34 BILLBOARD | AUGUST 10 , 2 019