Today we’d like to introduce you to Moth Wings.
Moth Wings is an alternative rock act out of Houston, Texas. M|W is the stage name of Spencer Fort, a singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who began composing classical pieces at age six. Now influenced by artists such as The Killers, Radiohead, Prince, and Queen, M|W brings forth a fresh sonic experience of rock driven by unique and emotionally laced vocals. Spencer’s engaging and honest lyricism is often inspired by personal struggles and present-day social issues such as mental illness, relationships, queerness, and coming of age. Moth Wings offers a message of empathy, compassion, and inspiration for anyone who may need it.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do, why, and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I have spent a lot of my life making music, and that process is sort of a lengthy one. I spend a lot of time alone in my room just writing little pieces of music. If I’m being completely honest, most of them just get thrown away if they don’t inspire me or capture my attention immediately. I’ve written hundreds of songs, and I’ve only put out about 30 or 40 in my entire career, and I took most of them down a couple of years ago. At the moment, Moth Wings only has 14 songs to its name. After I write the song, I take it to my partner Luke who drums for the project. He and I usually hash out a slightly different version of what I originally wrote before we take it to our producer to fully record it in the studio. Each song usually goes through about 3-4 versions before we finally all agree on something.
When it comes to the message of the songs I make, there isn’t a clear one because they’re all snapshot emotions that I have at any given moment in my life. The overall message of the project naturally seems to lean towards “ahh the world’s pretty fucked up; we need to have a little fun, be ourselves, and be kind to one another.” I get a lot of enjoyment out of presenting quite heavy topics in a more playful way, it’s sort of just to let people know that this whole life is confusing, and there’s no way you’re alone in that.
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
Art is so saturated that there’s really no way to be “original” anymore. I don’t really ever think that the concept of original art has ever tangibly existed, to begin with, because all art is just a projection of influence, but with the internet bringing the world’s information so much closer, it’s easier and easier to find thousands of different types of art and music. There’s just no way to stand out anymore, and you’re always going to be pushed to the side for artists with money and influence. One of the biggest challenges that I’ve had is figuring out that I have to sell my personality before I can sell enough music to pay my bills.
Another challenge I’ve come across in the streaming age of music is that a lot of platforms will give you favorable playlist automation if you sound exactly like an artist that’s bigger than you. The algorithm is designed to keep the people who are at the top there, and push artists who are copycats into a “second place spot” where they’ll get recognition but never truly influence music. People just want to hear the same thing over and over, or at least that’s how the streaming platforms treat it.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My music is super easy to find. I have it distributed through iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, and all of these other stores that sell music. I think there are close to 50 now, so it’s hard to keep track, but if it sells music, I guarantee you can find it there.
Contact Info:
- Website: mothwingsmusic.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/iammothwings
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MothWingsMusic
- Twitter: twitter.com/iammothwings
Image Credit:
Miranda Oxendine (Personal Photo)
Jonathan Mazaltov (All other Photos)
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
