“Loki Moon is the trickster who dances in light and bathes in the dark—a polarity dressed in butterflies:” this is the tagline for electro-acoustic alt-pop duo Loki Moon, composed of artists Ashley Edwards and David Jones, who have been making music for Loki Moon together since 2018 after finding a connection via their ideological, philosophical beliefs, as well as their shared taste in esoterism.

The band’s music emphasizes mystery, subconscious exploration, and immersion into a soundscape that is uniquely theirs. Loki Moon combines genres and musical aesthetics from the world over, including Japanese Minimalism, Ethiopian jazz, and tunes/sounds from the Sahara. This ethereal unity of tones makes for a listening experience unlike any other, a feeling which is likewise encapsulated in the duo’s newest single, “UFO,” which speaks to the wanderers of the world in an effort to maintain their sound’s agelessness in a time of impermanence.

To quote vocalist Ashley Edwards, “‘UFO’ is an offering to the great mystery, the sound and space between the material and etheric world.” As Edwards suggests, the single promises to explore spirituality and the human experience, finding the links and divisions between them to lend shape to the indefinable.

As the world finds itself further buried in uncertainty and questioning truth and reality, “UFO” interacts with this sorrowful inquisition to uplift listeners into a mental region of peaceful searching, offering the opportunity to find what you’re looking for without the weight of the world threatening to crush you in the process of doing so. The song investigates the fabric of duality, asking whether love is “delicate or twisted,” finding that it can be both.

Duality, which often thrives on the chaos of indecision, can also represent the human experience through the separation of mind and body. This division of parts can leave people feeling unwhole; “UFO,” however, acts as a beacon amidst the chaos to light the way toward serenity and enlightenment.

Stemming from reflection and at times aimless introspection following a personal conflict, the first verse of the track seeks spiritual guidance in search of an illuminated path. The second verse, meanwhile, asks the listener to keep hold of the light they find and keep from falling deeper into consciousness.

“UFO’s” atmospheric and yet elusive sound pays homage to artists like Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, and James Blake, soothing listeners while keeping them engaged with the enigmatic lyrics and etheric voice. As Loki Moon’s new album approaches and anticipation continues to build, “UFO” prepares the audience for what is certain to be a journey unlike any other, furthering Edwards and Jones’ path toward exploring profundity wherever possible through their highly personal yet immersive sound.

Categories: Music