How the pandemic and a DIY ethos shaped the sound of their latest release on Overdrive Records.

Transmission 261: Interview with Moja

Moja is a Japanese drum and bass duo. In their music, the Tokyo-based act prioritizes raw sonic energy over lyrical storytelling, creating a wall of sound that is both abrasive and hypnotic. Their new album, ‘I’m Hungry !!’, drops September 26 on Overdrive Records.

Title: I’m Hungry !!
Artist: Moja
Release Date: 2025-09-26
Genres: Alternative Rock, Experimental Music, Noise Rock
Label: Overdrive Records

Bassist and vocalist Haru engineered the album himself, ensuring total sonic control. This self-sufficiency is a standard of the Japanese noise-rock scene. The duo tours Europe in October. In a previous conversation, the band discussed the economic difficulties of the Japanese music industry.

The title “I’m Hungry!!” is very direct and visceral. What does this “hunger” represent for you as a band and as artists?

During the pandemic, both we and the rest of the world were forced into drastic change. We feel inconvenienced by the fact that what used to be taken for granted is no longer so. I feel that this has manifested as a kind of “hunger” in our lives, in our musical expression, and in the changes in our values.

Haru, you recorded the album yourself. How did having complete control over the recording process influence your creative approach?

I have a vision of creating a recording studio within the activities of moja. Being able to take full control of the self-recording this time had a major influence on that vision, it gave me the chance to experience the latest technology for translating our creativity directly and straightforwardly into the music, to experiment with various stages of the production process, and to develop more concrete ideas toward making that vision a reality.

You sometimes start writing songs during the recording process itself. Can you tell us about a song that was born spontaneously in the studio during the “I’m Hungry!!” sessions?

That actually happened with “Oh my god !!”, which became the first single from the album. After finishing the recording of the other tracks, we went straight into a spontaneous session. It started with a unique drum part, which inspired us to add the bass and lock in a groove. From that groove, the next one naturally emerged, and as the full track began to take shape, the lyrics came to us as sounds. The whole song came together in one burst of energy.

The European tour in October comes right after the album release. How are you preparing to bring these new songs to the stage?

This European tour will take us to many places moja will be performing in for the first time.

We’d like to deliver a set that blends our signature songs from past performances with tracks from the new album, and share them with audiences across Europe.

Do you still remember those early shows where you set up drums and amps in the middle of the audience? Do you ever think about bringing back this kind of intimate performance?

We still occasionally perform shows with that kind of setup. It creates a really exciting atmosphere, but under the various conditions of live houses in Japan, it’s difficult to achieve the sound we ideally want. That’s why it’s not something we can do at every show. It would be great if we get the chance to do that at some of the shows on this tour.

You mentioned the influence of Japanese noise-rock culture and DIY spirit. How are these elements reflected in “I’m Hungry!!”?

Our new album I’m Hungry was created with the belief that, in the end, only we know the sound we truly want to make. That’s why we approached it almost entirely in a DIY way. It isn’t shaped by current trends or by anyone else’s direction — it’s a work that directly reflects who moja is right now.

You’re releasing with Overdrive Records after making “Super Ultra Gold 79” completely independently. What drew you toward a label this time?

They embraced our idea of wanting to record with complete creative freedom, without constraints. On top of that, Overdrive Records had brilliant ideas that we could never have come up with on our own, and they offered incredible support. We believed those things would help bring moja‘s music to many people who hadn’t heard us before, and that’s why we decided to complete the new album together with them.

How do you see the evolution of Tokyo’s underground scene from the 2000s to today? Does “I’m Hungry!!” reflect these changes?

In the past, Tokyo had a solid underground scene. There were many indie events, and they drew large audiences. But that scene has been in decline, and the pandemic seems to have accelerated the trend.

As for whether this is directly reflected in the new album, I wouldn’t say it’s about that specific issue. Rather, as I mentioned earlier, what is reflected is the sense of lament and hunger that comes from living a life that has been so different since the pandemic.

In our previous interview, you talked about the economic difficulties of the Japanese music industry. Has anything changed since then?

The major scene — the part of the industry that requires large amounts of money — seems to have become even more difficult. We’ve even seen major artists struggling to sell tickets, sometimes going so far as to plead directly with fans to buy them. At the same time, more and more major artists are leaving big record companies and starting their own independent labels. This is partly because there are now more tools to share their music without relying on the majors, but it also reflects the decline of the major labels’ influence. As for the indie scene, I don’t feel there has been such a dramatic shift, but since the pandemic, it does seem like fewer people are coming out to live houses.

You’ve already hinted at the next EP. Will it be a continuation of “I’m Hungry!!” or will you explore completely new territories?

The process of making the album, along with the technical aspects behind it, will likely be a continuation. But musically, we’d like to try something different this time.

Photos courtesy of Moja

Matteo Damiani

Matteo Damiani is an Italian photographer and author. Curator of the sites Retrofuturista.com; weirditaly.com; china-underground.com and others