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Mo Etc. - Deep Down

From the 2023 E.P ‘Buoys’ comes Mo Etc.’s short film music video 'Deep Down'.

An art curator and her partner meet at their shophouse nestled inside a fork in the road splitting Riddiford St and Adelaide Rd, Newtown Pōneke.

Nearing the end of their relationship, the couple do their best to part ways amicably when there is an unexpected arrival at the gallery door… Starring Maaka Pohatu and introducing Te Ani Solomon, writer/director Moana Ete tells a gripping tale of woe as family, arrested in thought, feel unable to express what they feel deep down.

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Te-Whanganui-a-Tara-based artist and producer Mo Etc. has released her incredible alt-soul four-track EP BUOYS, which includes powerful new single ‘Deep Down’.
 
Recently featured in a Rolling Stone article about Kiwi artists tipped to take over, BUOYS is yet another stunning example of why this is. Described by Mo Etc. (Moana Ete - Ngāti Hāmoa, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Wheke) as a ‘height growth marker’ on her creative doorframe.
 
Following on from her single ‘Underwater’ and album ‘OCEANBED’, this EP takes listeners on a moving journey with its many layers - including lo-fi guitar, trap beats, and both gritty and ethereal vocals.

“As the title suggests, BUOYS is about keeping knots tight and staying afloat,” says Mo Etc. “It includes haunting songs of woe like that in [new single] ‘Deep Down’ and stays tied to the water's surface with ballad ‘Romantic’ and sends ripples with vibey lo-fi beats in ‘Before the Light Breaks’.”

 
“It was shot at Drive-Thru Art Gallery and is about the end of a relationship/partnership,” explains Moana. “The characters in the video live in the art world which is symbolic of the music artist life. The man is packing down one exhibition to allow another in.

As someone who avoids pain and suffering and confrontation as much as possible, there are situations that I just need to face up to. It's about understanding the situation and being willing to be the villain in the narrative.

What I’m singing about is never pretty, it’s raw and painful but it’s the truth of who I am and how I showed up that day. I think it’s about continuing to put myself forward as an authentic storyteller.”

Moana is set to travel to the United Kingdom soon, taking her new music with her.

“I really want to play some live shows as a solo artist, and while production on the EP is busy and layered, I want them to work with just me on guitar. So I’m looking at creating live shows that are stripped back and intimate.” 

Mo Etc’s unique alternative-soul sound is rooted in Neo-soul and flowers indie-alternative sensibilities, allowing it to reach epic proportions while maintaining a quality of intimacy as she indulges in her gift for shaping narrative as a multidisciplinary storyteller. As an artist tipped to take over, be sure you’re following Mo Etc.