This week on the Artist Spotlight series, we’re sitting with the two powerhouse artists behind Moodswingz Muzik who are leading the charge for musicians in the Web3 space and helping to educate, collaborate, and transition the culture to the blockchain. 

Meet Moodswingz Muzik 

Led by Founder, Mitchell McCain (AKA Abyss Beats) and President, Michael Carter (AKA Mikey Mo the MC), Moodswingz Muzik is a multimedia artist collective that utilizes Web3 technology to publish, promote, and monetize their creative works. Together, they’re blazing the trail as innovators and educators in music and web3 and helping independent artists reach new levels of blockchain-powered success. 

In this article we’ll explore Mikey and Abyss’ paths to music, web3, and the upcoming Stream Token Sale on their exclusive new track, “Lost in My Own Zone”, with NEWM.*

_{*Disclaimer: The following is a written interview with musicians of Moodswingz Muzik. All answers/opinions shared by the interviewees are their own, but may include minor edits for length or clarity.}

What inspired you to pursue a career in the music industry? 

Mikey: I kind of fell into the music industry because of the crowd I was around. I used to just do it for fun but my peers motivated me to go pro. Specifically when I moved to the Bay Area in 2002. 

Abyss: I come from a musical family on both sides so I truly believe it’s in my blood. But essentially I was a teenager in the early 90s when shows like Rap City and Yo MTV Raps were popular. I was drawn to the hip hop culture and when I heard Electric Relaxation by A Tribe Called Quest for the first time, I knew I wanted to make music like that. My older cousin, who was living with us at the time, was also in a rap group, and he would let me recite his older raps. Soon after I realized that I could write my own lyrics, and the rest is history.

What kind of vibe or messages do you deliver with your music? 

Mikey: I specialize in spitting motivational bars with that classic old school Queens, NY energy infused with Bay Area linguistics. I understand the power of music so I insert messages of hope, honor, and positive progression in my songs. Basically I’m a whole vibe. 

Abyss: I’d say I like to make deep, thought provoking music. My music typically has an underlying message. Sure I like to turn up and have a good time as well, but I feel like there’s plenty of that type of music out there. I think the game lacks balance from a subject matter perspective, so I try to even the playing field. Sonically, the music should make you feel the message that I’m getting across in the lyrics, so I would say the vibe is typically intense or feel good music.

What’s the biggest hurdle or worst experience that you have had in the music industry? 

Mikey: I have always been my own biggest hurdle in my career. Opportunities I have missed were all because I lacked the knowledge and expected too much of my team. My worst experience in the music industry has been meeting artists that I looked up to just to be let down by the type of human they are.

Abyss: I would have to say it has been the industry gatekeepers and hoarding of knowledge and resources. I’ve been in negotiations to sign record deals, and have had opportunities to perform at shows that could have changed the trajectory of my life, but because of a few individuals who were in positions of power, all of those opportunities did not come to fruition. Having this happen time and time again can be extremely discouraging and make you feel like you don’t want to keep pursuing your dreams.

How did you get into the web3 music space and how do you feel web3 will impact the music industry going forward?

Mikey: I got into web3 music because I truly despised Spotify’s CEO and how they decimated revenue for artists. Then the pandemic came. Realizing that so many artists were dependent on streaming revenue I started exploring and found Audius at the time. After that I knew more types of music platforms were gonna be coming so I stayed aware. I already understood the power of blockchain technology and knew if its applied to this industry it can be a game changer. 

Abyss: I’m an idea guy, so I’m always thinking of different ways to leverage the power of the Internet to reach the masses. Mikey actually put me up on blockchain tech, and when we saw the opportunity for music NFT’s, we jumped on it!

I went down the rabbit hole of understanding, and it honestly changed the way I look at everything. Web3 music specifically changes the narrative around fandom and music appreciation because it’s no longer about an artist trying to reach as many people as possible; it’s more so around reaching your core audience, relationship building and breaking bread with them directly. That is super exciting for me because that’s never existed in the music industry before so not only am I excited about building that relationship with my fans but I want to help other artists and their fans be able to do the same. Strengthening those relationships will eventually remove all the middleman and gate keepers and build a stronger foundation for the NEWMusic industry.

How did you hear about NEWM? 

Mikey: I had been investing into Cardano since 2017 and I really believe in it. So I was looking for a music platform that was gonna be built on Cardano. When they had the Cardano summit a while ago I saw Ryan’s message and he was very welcoming. I immediately sent NEWM an email saying how much I wanted to be a part of the team. He reached back out to me within a week. Ever since then it’s been a match made in heaven for me. 

Abyss: Yep from the moment we reached out, they were super responsive, and we’ve been locked in ever since. We (Moodswingz) had been exploring music projects on various blockchains, and this one just felt right because it was on Cardano and their mission directly aligned with ours, so it was a no-brainer!

What does music co-ownership mean to you and the future of the music industry? 

Mikey: To me it means I can build a better connection with a community of people who truly believe in me and my art. It allows me as an artist to focus on a specific group of people versus putting music out and hoping it gets heard. 

Abyss: To me it means being able to grow and develop as an artist with the support of a community, knowing that we are all invested in my success and upward trajectory. It’s knowing that you have a built-in support system that truly believes in you and is willing to support you financially, which in turn gives you the utmost confidence to keep pursuing your passion and continue to give the gift of music to the world so we all win.

What are your expectations with this release with NEWM? 

Mikey: I expect to become more known and established in the web3 music space with this release.

 

Abyss: My expectation is for the music to reach new ears and wallets while showing what’s possible for other artists both in and out of the Web3 community. I really want it to be a shining example of what’s possible for the future of the music industry.

What advice would you give an artist trying to pursue a career in the music industry? 

Mikey: The best advice I can give to an artist is to stay consistent, never give up no matter what, and learn as much about the industry as possible. 

Abyss: My advice would be to study your craft first and foremost! Get good at making music before pursuing it professionally. Then I’d say don’t go the traditional route that the people around you told you about or that you grew up hearing about. There are new exciting options out here, so explore and try new things!

Interested in becoming a music owner? Join the countdown for the launch of the Stream Token Sale, and get the opportunity to earn future streaming royalties on ‘In My Own Zone’. 

In the meantime, you can check out of the more tracks by Moodswingz Muzik by heading to MoodswingzMuzik.com.