Today we’d like to introduce you to CJ Hoty
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Murder The Mood was formed in 2013 and started as an alt rock group out of Athens, Georgia. The music has since evolved into a sort of emo/rock/punk power trio with drums, guitar, and bass. Very riffy rock influences and vocals that can range from soulful to screamo- otherwise would it be as fun? I don’t think so.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s been rocky and full of struggles from member changes to COVID to venues shutting down. However I will say we have been luckier than most…. We are still here- actively playing and writing music. Lots of our friends bands and have lost momentum over the years and had to shut it down, which is sad to see.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Our band has an interesting way of writing songs- I think anyway. Myself as the lead singer and guitarist will come up with a lyric that gets stuck in my head, or a riff I can’t escape from. I’ll sit with that and get a verse or two down and along with some fun guitar work I’m attached to. Then I’ll call up our drummer and he and I will fumble our way through it and build an arrangement we like. Once we feel we have something there I’ll start recording in my home studio to get the guitars all down to a click, then we record with drums (either there or in an offsite professional studio. Finally, our bassist Kyle will come in for a late night session in our studio to lay down the bass parts that he has written. More often than not we do some writing together right then and there in the moment- very collaborative.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love how unique Atlanta is, I keep discovering new spots and hangouts tucked away that I’ve never been to. It’s hard to hit them more than once or twice because you’re off to find another “hidden gem”! I will say the downside to it is how breakneck the change from one street to another is. One moment you’re in a really hip townie area and the next he cross the street and you are passing condemned houses. It’s a moving and feeling organism that is always changing!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murderthemood?igsh=MXR4dHp6ZW03cWFwaA==
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@murderthemood?feature=shared
