One really amazing aspect of getting to know so many new musicians is discovering the really experimental ones. I find it fascinating how someone can conjure up something that can reach a wide range of people while still being completely eclectic and different. Don’t get me wrong, listening to an artist with a classic sound is anything but basic; however, I always find myself reaching a certain point where I just think “Damn. I need to hear something new for a change…”
I was recently introduced to Isaiah Thompson also known as Münechild about a month ago. He’s an artist from the Sacramento community where he founded his own label “Native Cruiser Records” and considers his musical style as “alien surfer music” which even though sounds a bit hard to comprehend, once you listen to his releases it instantly makes sense. I think that is incredibly accurate as this is the type of music is something I could listen to on the way to the beach, or sitting in my room just feeling the vibes coming out of each track. I can’t help but feel relaxed from the melody but aside from that, Thompson’s lyricism is quite strong too. He’s an incredibly well-rounded artist that has been infatuated with music since a young age “For as long as I can remember I’ve always been interested in making music. It wasn’t until I was around 12 when I really started to become obsessive with finding new music and writing my own material.”
Because of Münechild’s very individualistic musical style, I was incredibly curious as to who he considered his musical influences to be and they range from MGMT to Tyler, the Creator, Jimi Hendrix, and many more in between. It should be no surprise to anyone the influence Jimi had and continues to have on Thompson “I was shown Jimi by a friend of mine when I was in the 4th grade after I asked him why there weren’t any famous ‘black rockstars’. He started to show me his music and my entire life changed from there. I started reading up on him and his legacy, and was super stoked to find out that he was one of the most influential musicians of all time”. This really struck a chord with me as I’ve always seen Jimi as a monumental musician in general, but being a person of color adds a whole new and groundbreaking element to his journey throughout 1960s music and life in general. It’s always a tremendous moment when you are able to connect to a musician as a person and not just as a rockstar. I also truly believe when you find those artists, they become a part of you are and who you will become. Yes, that sounds cliché but all of these influencers can be found in Münechild’s musicianship.
I listened to as much of Münechild’s music as I could and I instantly picked up on a Jim Morrison vibe on his EP Casino. The way he used his voice is so original but is heavily influence by The Doors. I was honestly surprised to learn I was spot on “During the recording of my first album and Casino, I was heavily influenced by The Doors and how cryptic their sound was. In the back of my mind, I was kind of trying to emulate Jim Morrison’s voice” . Thompson does a fantastic job of conveying this as he’s produced it in a way to make the vocals soft and melodic yet really strong and easy to pin point.
I really respect Isaiah Thompson’s ability to warp and manipulate how music can sound. Each of his EP’s definitely shows his creativity in recording, especially in his EP Rolex 24 “One of my goals with that record was trying to expand my sound a bit more, and experiment with different recording techniques [and] sound effects”. I am a huge fan of when artists play with texture and different effects in the recording process. It can help you literally feel the music on your skin or in your heart. It adds dimension and can make a record incredibly well-rounded which is exactly what Rolex 24 is. Of course making your own music can bring numerous uphill battles which Münechild has experienced in his time with recording his own music. He explains “The most challenging part for me is trying to make the best use out of my setup and finding out which equipment will help my sound the most”. I feel as though a lot of people don’t really understand the full extent of making a record (stay tuned for a post about that). It’s truly respectable and downright awe inspiring to know there are artists like Münechild who take the time to research how to record and produce their own content ON THEIR OWN. Münechild’s records sound so professional and substantial, and he has no plan of stopping “…the most fun side of making music is watching how your sound can change and evolve. I haven’t really found my voice yet, so it’s really exciting for me knowing that there’s so much more I can do”.
I was truly curious how Sacramento has reacted to such an artist like Münechild. I’ve been receiving mixed messages from all the artists I’ve interviewed as to how Sacramento compares to larger music capitals like Los Angeles or Chicago. Münechild firmly believes there’s a yin and a yang to this beautiful city we call home “I think it depends on who you are, who you know, and what kind of art you’re making. Sacramento has a ton of culture, but for some reason we just don’t reach that far unless there’s an act that’s super original”. I really want to look back on this statement he’s made because Münechild’s artistry is incredibly original and makes me wonder what’s to come for him. Who knows, it may just come full circle for him.
All in all, I think Isaiah Thompson is very intriguing. His music is a joy to listen to and is a great reminder to expand your musical tastes and try something new. He has a fairly massive following in Sacramento and he went on to say he has some of the best fans he could ever have. Playing live sets allows him to meet and get to know the people who listen to his music and helps him create new content. “I’ve been a fan of all kinds of music since I was really little, and always wanted to get really good at it.” Münechild is smart, edgy, and extremely professional. I am really glad I was able to connect with him, and I can’t wait to hear more and see him live.
You can find more of Münechild's music on his Bandcamp: https://munechild.bandcamp.com/
To keep up to date on new releases or to contact Münechild, you can find him on Instagram @munechild777 and his Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themunechild/
I do not own or did not create any of the images or videos in this post.