{"id":159081,"date":"2020-06-23T06:49:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-22T22:49:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/?p=159081"},"modified":"2025-01-17T11:49:41","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T03:49:41","slug":"unknown-mortal-orchestra-sex-and-food-music-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehoneycombers.com\/hong-kong\/unknown-mortal-orchestra-sex-and-food-music-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"Unknown Mortal Orchestra discuss their album Sex & Food and the idea of artistic beauty"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re into visual art and music, there are a great number of Hong Kong bands<\/a>\u00a0and Hong Kong artists<\/a> that you need to know about. Further afield, New Zealand psychedelic rock band Unknown Mortal Orchestra (based in Portland, Oregon) are making waves with their signature tunes, so we sat down for a chat.<\/p>\n

Interview with Unknown Mortal Orchestra<\/h2>\n

Since their debut self-titled LP in 2011, Unknown Mortal Orchestra are most known for their spaced-out psychedelic rock\/lo-fi funk music. Their critically acclaimed third studio album Multi-Love, released in 2015, is deeply personal as it illustrates the many dialogues of a polyamorous relationship which the band leader Ruban Nielson experienced. Now the band has returned with their release Sex & Food with more bluesy grooves. We interviewed frontman Ruban Nielson about the inspiration behind the album.<\/p>\n

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Unknown Mortal Orchestra now consist of Ruban Nielson, Jake Portrait, Kody Nielson and Thomas Hoganson (Photography: @kimmika, Unknown Mortal Orchestra via Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hi, Ruban. How would you articulate the mood of your latest album Sex & Food?<\/h3>\n

Fractured and soulful. It seems to change a lot, but underneath there is really one deep mood I\u2019m trying to get across that’s only possible to explain in music.<\/p>\n

Why is it named Sex & Food? Is it what it’s about or is it a feel-good album?<\/h3>\n

It’s not about sex and food exactly. It’s just the name of the album. I felt an intuition that I should call the album something very simple and positive in a plain way. I just felt that the record should be called that. It’s not “feel good” but I hope it makes you feel good. I hope that makes sense.<\/p>\n

Can you tell us more about your single Hunnybee?<\/h3>\n

I started writing that song when I was singing my daughter to sleep one night a few years ago. After she was asleep I sang it into my phone, so I could remember it. The recording was done mostly live in New Zealand at my brother’s studio last year, and we did additional recording in Hanoi.<\/p>\n