Interview with The Moss

Answered by frontman Tyke James

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today? 

• Our parents were super supportive of us playing music, when we were in high school our parents arranged for us to try to learn songs together. After a while we decided to move on from "Hey there Delilah" with some acoustic guitars to add some drums and electric guitars and things got more fun.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• We like anything outdoors, snowboarding, biking, surfing, anything like that. A lot of our songs are figured out after long ski sessions where we’re all exhausted and lay around and play our instruments. It helps us play naturally and force it less I think.

How long has your band been around? Also, please tell me about the dynamic of the band of what brought you all together.

• The Moss was started in 2018, but we’ve been playing music together since 2015. The band is really collaborative, Tyke writes the lyrics and the basic structure of the song, Addison tries to come up with a riff or two, and Willie throws in some reggae. Caiden adds wonderful bass lines that tie the song together. 

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

• We're based in Salt Lake City. I would say the standard for music here is high. If you go to any house show, chances are the band is going to be very talented and creative. It really pushes us to stand out somehow in a sea of great bands.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

• Moss grows on rocks and we like to rock and roll. - Elvis Presley 

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

• We’ve had so many fun shows, some that stand out are a show we played in a garage in Bozeman Montana. We had no expectations and there ended up being some super sick support bands and a great crowd. We got some of the people from the show to jump in a river with us after, it was in April and it was freezing.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• We love Kilby Court, the energy there is always amazing. We really want to play at Red Rocks. Love those outdoor spots.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

• if we could play a show with Olivia Rodrigo that would be awesome. 

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

• Play lots of shows when you start. It will help you develop your songs and your live shows. It will also keep you motivated cuz they’re always a good time. 

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why? 

• "Blink" is probably the song that stands out lyrically to me the most. It’s vulnerable and relatable. 

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

• We love to play "Dog Valley" because we really let loose. It’s a crazy one and seems to catch the crowd by surprise. "Insomnia" gets requested the most and it’s always so much fun to play at shows too.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

• We like to let people know that they’re not alone in their struggles, and although life is hard, we can come together and make it easier. 

Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about? 

• We’re working on new music, nothing is recorded but we’re messing around with new songs at shows, so likely you’ll hear something unreleased. 

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• We have a ton of shows coming up, keep an eye on our instagram to be up to date. Hopefully going international soon! 

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

• Our Instagram is where we post about shows and music most, so follow us there @themossband.