Trickster Magazine

Mexico City-based Renee Mooi, embodies Mexican heritage in culture, in sound, in spirit. Her raw, grand vocals hit you in the moment, hold you gently, and then pull you into a thrilling ancestral story immersed in electronic soundscapes. She takes pride in over centuries' worth of deep Mexican roots, passed down through her Ranchera singer mother, carrying the messages and notes within her and translating them all into her naturally genreless music. You can hear a mix of Afro-Mexican Folk and Latin with hints of North African and pre-Hispanic Mexican sounds and rituals in her craft. For Renee Mooi it’s all fluid, in motion. She is open to being continuously shaped by the world, by life, as she goes.

Catch Renee in Baltachill on August 14th and prepare for the experience with the help of Liisi Voolaid, who interviewed the singer for us!

Hi, Renee! Where are you at the moment? What's up?
Hello! I’m on my way to Madrid. Enjoying breakfast with friends in a small town outside the city. Still recovering from a crazy week in France, where I had five shows at Les Escales festival. Happy.

Is this your first time performing in Europe? How is the experience so far, is it matching your expectations, any surprises..?
It is! I didn’t know what to expect. Different culture, different audience, different reactions… A bit scary in the beginning, but it turns out I feel more understood here. Appreciated in a different way. I think Europe is more open to experimentation in general and more diverse. I’ve loved the fact that I see all ages enjoying and dancing with me. I love that.

Tell us a little bit about your... becoming-an-artist story, what's your background like?
I grew up surrounded by music. I have a family of musicians on my mom’s side. My mom is a Ranchera singer and she taught me to sing and speak at the same time. I remember perfectly. The first time I was on a professional stage I was 7 years old and I knew in that moment I wanted to do that for the rest of my life. Since then, I’ve had many crazy experiences.. Dedicating your life to music is a roller coaster in the most challenging and exciting way. I’ve been a pop star in a foreign country, I've been an underground jazz singer, I’ve been in a movie with David Beckham and Harvey Keitel, and probably performed on most of the important stages and festivals in my country. I feel incredibly grateful to be able to live doing what I love, with absolute freedom to explore and reinvent myself as I go. No rules.

Have you always known what your musical genre is, or is it more of a fluid thing?

Very fluid. There are conflicting voices in my life and in my head. Influences, opinions, and inspirations are very varied. I started with dream pop, then I did an industrial, progressive trip-hop album, then urban electronic latin, and now afromexican folklore with a twist. My live shows are a mix of all that is in the universe of pop music, electronic, and Mexican sounds. I think my voice is the only common ground.

Any specific life experiences that have shaped you? 

I continue to be shaped every day. I love change, twists and turns… I feel like every single artist, person, or place I meet has the potential to transform me deeply. I’m very open, curious, and a serious risk taker. Personally, my father (a very dark figure in my life) has been a strong detonator of rebellion, anger, and self-confirmation. My journey is starting to feel more peaceful in recent years, as I find myself a bit more. My biggest influence when I started to have the need to explore was Björk. She was always a big star in my eyes and a reminder of bravery, freedom and creativity.  Fiona Apple was the second. She’s so raw… I love that. And of course, Mexican traditional music was there every day, so..

Oh, yes, this! Your approach to and appreciation of Mexican cultural heritage in your music is fascinating. What aspects of it inspire you most in your creation?

The richness and complexity of Mexican culture are fascinating. Incredibly diverse. I have always been attracted to melancholy and darkness in the arts, and that is very easy to find in Mexican roots. It’s interesting because it's incredibly colorful and joyful, but the roots of it are truly profound and intense. Mexicans have no fear of feeling everything and embracing all. You need to be brave to be so open and vulnerable, even celebrating death as we do. It’s magical, mystical… it makes you feel more alive.

Do we hear any specific parts of traditional Mexican music, its edits, and remakes in your songs?

Absolutely! I’m releasing singles of an acoustic EP I’ve been working on with the amazing Last Jerónimo, a truly virtuous master of the Jarana (Mexican Indigenous Guitar from Veracruz) we’ve been going deep in finding a way to reinterpret that sound in to what I believe is a universe of its own. It’s kind of regional like Rancheras with the afromexican folk roots, North African with the andalucí spanish harmonies with some Latin salsa influences, and pre-Hispanic Mexican sounds and rituals. I don’t know if that makes sense, but it works… I think, haha!

Who are the Mexican artists that have been your role models?
Chavela Vargas, Lila Downs, Toña la Negra, Agustin Lara, Luis Miguel, José José, to mention a few.

Your current favourite artists?
Ufff, this is always hard to answer, but Glass Beams are with me almost every day.
Hermanos Gutierrez are a good part of my life in the jungle (where I live half the time in Mexico), and Chavela Vargas is a must.

How is Mexican music doing in the world right now?
Mexican music, specifically regional music, is taking the world by storm. It’s one of the most heard genres in the world. The Mexican identity is very recognizable… I think it is important to open the perspective on what that identity is and nurture the storytelling of Mexican culture today. I feel good about it because other artists and I are doing our part on that.

What is going on in Mexico City that makes you want to live there?
There’s a market for everything. Many people and options. You can live doing what you love and enjoy an immense variety of cultural happenings. Also… Tacos. 

Mm.. tacos! So what else are your favourite Mexican dishes that everyone should try before dying?
I’m an almost daily taco consumer… available 24/7, you know? But in Mexico, you never really finish discovering Mexican cuisine. Every state (32) has its own universe and background and fusions, also prehispanic food is incredible. Flowers, insects, unique seeds, fruits & veggies you can only find there. If you are a foodie like me, Mexico should be your number one place to travel to.

As I am a devoted Mezcal worshipper after surfing (and apparently drinking Mezcal) in Mexico for the past four years, I have to ask, do you like the drink? Could you describe the essence of Mezcal in your culture? 

Love this. Haha… drinking Mezcal is like tasting the soul and heart of Mexico.
It’s strong and it will make you trip a little bit, in the best way.

What does a regular day for Renee look like at home?
I’m at the studio a lot, and I work a lot from home. As an independent artist, I spend a lot of time planning and creating content to share and connect with my fans and community.
I do some yoga and walk my two dogs (adopted from the coast) two or three times a day. My husband Scott is an amazing cook, so we like drinking wine or mezcal while cooking and sharing. We love to go out to see our friends perform or do their ar,t and hang out in parks or restaurants. It’s impossible to get bored in Mexico City.

What about a dream of a perfect day?

Nature. Barefoot. Jungle. Water to swim in. Fresh fruit from the garden and locally grown goods. Easy and off-grid.

Back to the roots, the music. Would you like to share with us a story of one of the most honest and vulnerable songs you have ever made? What's the song called, and what is it about?

“Sal” (Salt). I made that song during the pandemic. I went through a very difficult time regarding my mental health. I was honestly not sure if I wanted to continue living. It was hard. I had a lot of conversations about it with my family and my husband. It was a real dilemma, and I had to ask for professional help and medication. I just couldn’t find a good reason to wake up anymore. I was confused and sad all the time. I felt like I could no longer trust myself. It felt terrifying. So one day I decided to give this life one more chance in full trust and surrender. No expectations. I needed to test my intuition again, and I was ready to accept the consequences and make mistakes. Something that also terrified me. I started making music again and committed to getting in the ocean every day, no matter what. That was my little mission. I also started standing up for myself and saying “no” to my family and people close to me who were a little too comfortable with my confusion and weakness, taking advantage of it. All this saved my life.

Do you always write about your personal life, or is it more fiction - bits and pieces of thoughts ending up as lyrics?

Everything is real. From my life or from what I see that moves me in any way. Political, sensual, social, fun… anything.

Is there any song from another artist that has the most beautiful/meaningful message and lyrics for you? Could you share a line or two from it?

“No soy de aqui ni soy de allá” de Chavela Vargas - I’m not from here or there.
It's a song about everything you love from everywhere, so much that it’s so hard to choose where you are from.

I’m not from here, or there
I have no age or future
Being happy is my color and my identity

The hot topic: AI use in the arts, in music. What's your stance?

Regulation is key, I guess… I like music with soul.. I like knowing that someone is writing from experience, that they have felt and understood my pain, joy, and fear. But at the same time, I think all information is coming from the same source: collective knowledge and experience, and I find that quite interesting.

You have expressive aesthetics in your creations, visuals, and on stage. How would you describe your self-expression in style, clothes, and stage outfits?

I don't particularly enjoy thinking about fashion and aesthetics… It stresses me out because it doesn’t come naturally to me. I wish someone could tell me exactly what to do, and I could trust it. The thing is, I’m difficult in that way… or maybe I haven't found the right people. I always end up directing, editing and designing everything. hahaha

What are three wishes you have for this year?
I want to travel more this year and perform to diverse audiences. I’m hoping this moment of my career helps me find more stability for the future so I can continue making music for the rest of my life without struggles. 

What do you think of when you hear Estonia? Anything specific you look forward to experiencing coming here?
Two of my favorite people are from there. So I can only be excited about it. I’ve seen photos and it looks incredibly beautiful. Looking forward to experiencing it. Hope you enjoy the show!