Perhaps as expected from a song titled as such, there’s a real hypnotic quality to “MOTH,” the gritty new desert groove alt-rock single from MIHI NIHIL. The Los Angeles band — whose moniker is pronounced “Mee-Kee Nee-Keel” for those needing to verbally shout it out — released the stirring single today (July 23) via their own label and Flora Toro Records. And it arrives a few days ahead of a Sunday (July 28) appearance at Brighton Music Hall in Allston alongside Nico Vega and Finish Ticket, whose new single “Let You Go” we hyped in May.
“‘MOTH’ was written live in one take while in our Culver City rehearsal space during the winter,” says vocalist Mihi Vox. “The music really designates the lyrics for the most part with all our songs. That word [‘MOTH’] steered the story in the song, which is about transformation.”
Helping lure us in close to the light is Nick Steinberg’s rumbling bassline. “I remember thinking that I wanted to play something higher up on the neck, something similar to the Buzzcocks,” he says, “but what ended up coming out was more angular and stark like Gang of Four.”
“MOTH” is MIHI NIHIL’s first new music since last year’s soulful blues yearner “So Please,” and both should sound pretty good this weekend when the band brings its all-capital-letter brand of rock and roll to town. Draw in closer below.