By Keith Walsh
Britney Spear’s 2008 track “If U Seek Amy” is already a powerful electronic pop tune, and now Nahja Mora has intensified the song with a badass new version. “If U Seek Amy” is originally from Spear’s album Circus, and the cover is an even darker take on the dynamics of friendships turned toxic.
Band leader Josef Saint brings the vocals into a more primal range, along with high powered electronics and drums. While Nahja Mora’s music usually leans towards a deconstructed industrial sound, “If U Seek Amy” has a lot more rhythmic and melodic structure than their recent album AHFHAOTA.
I asked Saint about his approach to “If U Seek Amy.”
Synthbeat: This is a much poppier mainstream work than your recent music. What inspired you to take this approach?
Josef Saint: “We are releasing three singles from a variety of genres to communicate universal issues that must be resolved. This song and its context in popular culture are emblematic for one bullying another and controlling a narrative about them.”
Synthbeat: Are you a fan of Britney or is this a sarcastic take?
Josef Saint: “I am a fan and supporter of Britney Spears. There is no sarcastic intention, I only wished to express my own aggression in the tone. I hope that Ms. Spears lives a healthy and happy life and is able to do whatever she wants, freely, forever.”
Synthbeat: Is this a new direction for you, that we can expect more of?
Josef Saint: “No? We do what we want to express an idea, there is no particular direction—we just have a sound.”
Synthbeat: Any new tools here?
Josef Saint: “Not really, no. More the display of my voice in this register. I guess I want to say, If you want to sing, I can’t suggest hard enough that it’s good to work with somebody. it’s an instrument like any other. And if you are serious about music, lessons are a keen investment to maintain and expand one’s abilities. It’s no different than hiring a personal trainer (but typically a hell of a lot less expensive), we all need coaches. Teaching one another also is quite a great way to grow our collective musical intelligence.”
Saint tells me that the other two songs Nahja Mora are working on are covers of a Black Sabbath tune and a Nine Inch Nails tune “that each represent a different issue in our world that needs to be resolved.”
Nahja Mora is located in Baltimore, Maryland.
‘Inside Out’ Nahja Mora Review At Popular Culture Beat dot com
Interview With Josef Saint on Synthbeat.com
Nahja Mora Gets Cathartic With ‘AHFHAOTA’ On Punk Rock Beat dot com
Nahja Mora dot com
Nahja Mora on Bandcamp
Nahja Mora on Facebook
Nahja Mora on Instagram
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