Q&A: Youth
TAPPING INTO THE WONDERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA - YOUTH’s passion for his music and ability to connect through the Internet has allowed him sore. Darren Mulrooney, the artist behind YOUTH, has brought his dreamy music all over and has recently been making lots of waves in California - a sizeable distance from his home in Newfoundland. Read on to hear more about his creative endeavors, his plans for 2020 and more.
LUNA: For those that aren’t familiar with you, would you mind introducing yourself?
MULROONEY: First off, my name is Darren Mulrooney, I’m from Newfoundland Canada, YOUTH is the recording project I started; at first just too vent out feelings of depression and poor self image, but in a more constructive way. Releasing song by song through Bandcamp not really thinking much about it. It started to pick up speed pretty fast and eventually caught the ear of Bryan Aleman who runs his own label Moonbus Records in Los Angeles. And now also being part of Superior Music publishing who work with companies such as Netflix and Universal Studios has been quite a trip.
LUNA: The word that comes to mind to describe your music is “dreamy”, what are some key elements that make your sound yours?
MULROONEY: I think the dreamy sound probably stems from me being in such a tired state all of the time. I’m a pretty major insomniac and am usually awake for 30 hour periods.
LUNA: What artist have been on your heavy rotation lately?
MULROONEY: Artists that are on heavy rotation right now... My Bloody Valentine, DIIV, Fog Lake, I’ve been also heavy into Khruangbin.
LUNA: You have a really strong visual presence with your music, can you talk a bit more about that artistic side of you?
MULROONEY: I think the artistic sides are just not limiting yourself to one section of creating art. I think music can be very stimulating on its own but can also be just one piece. Creating something to accompany visually as well as sonically is just as rewarding. No matter how experienced you are in each field.
LUNA: How has social media played a role in your development as an artist?
MULROONEY: Social media has literally done everything for me. Without it, I don’t think it would have made it into many people’s lives. It’s also helped bring me across the world, getting the opportunity to play in festivals in California with bands such as Cherry Glazer and Banes World, allowing me to tour across Europe, I owe quite a bit to the power of social expression through Instagram and Bandcamp.
LUNA: What do you want people to take away from your music?
MULROONEY: I think if people listen and feel any sort of emotion by it than that will be enough for me. Just to know that they aren’t alone and that things get better eventually.
LUNA: Where do you see both your music and yourself going in 2020?
MULROONEY: 2020 is going to be pretty rad. Moving to England, and embarking on a US and European tour starting in February. And am very exciting to announce those venues very soon. Also recording a new album that I’m extremely excited about, that should be released in June.