How I let Go and Made Music Work Again For Me
The story behind Mighty Jupiter & The Mooncake Band's new direction
In late Autumn of 2025, I decided that it was time for a sudden turn in Mighty Jupiter & Mooncake Band’s direction. Not exactly in terms of genre, though this implication was inevitable. I realized that I miss the vibe of several people crammed into a practice room, trying to grasp the sound. Let me elaborate.
The solo years, and what they cost
After I catapulted from my previous band 11 years ago, I was devastated. With time, I came to the conclusion that being on your own was the best choice. No more collective thinking. No more quarrels. I control everything and never let go of control. I was hopping between sound design gigs and personal music projects, like short-lived bands and collabs.
As a result of this pace, by 2023, I realized how exhausted I had become. Maybe even more exhausted compared to the time I was leaving my previous band in 2015. However, I still could not figure where I was and what was the reason for everything that I created literally coming together as a half-assed and/or overthought attempt.
How Mighty Jupiter & Mooncake Band started taking shape
So I started digging and experimenting. That is how Mighty Jupiter & Mooncake Band came to life. First, as an attempt to revisit my instrumental music past.
I released two instrumental albums, recorded and produced by me alone, purging half of the hobgoblins from the depths of my consciousness and subconsciousness. Still, the result was exhaustion due to the simple understanding that replicating the good old days out of emotional baggage is not something that does wonders and enables progress.
I kept the band’s name. And blew off the dust of a bunch of songs that I had written over the years. And, drum roll, I decided to go to an actual studio. That was the first time in years that I realized I needed like-minded people to create and shape music.
Finding Sol Recording Studio was the ignition point. From there, it slowly progressed. I was still playing most of the instruments, except for the drums, with several great drummers helping me out during the recording of Forced Fun For The Just OK Life. I then flew to London to master the album with the amazing Natalie Bibby, who also happened to come up with a name for that whimsical potpourri of songs I recorded – shoehaze.
The first gig with the album’s presentation went smoothly. However, something was still missing. I still could not figure what.
I went on with recording a single and playing a tiny duo gig in Liverpool in an acoustic setup with Maria, our vocalist. Still could not grasp the spark. At the time, I was starting to think I was delusional with the whole endeavor. And in the autumn of 2025, it hit me: I should repurpose the recipe from the good old days, minus nostalgia and interpersonal toxicity. I realized I was mature enough to actually make it work as a collective of complex, creative, and bold personalities. And so I went on looking.
Finding the right people
In February 2026, it all came to life. Maria, Kirill (the drummer), and I were joined by several incredible, highly professional, and creative musicians. I also ditched the playback track with piano and keyboards since my goal was to revamp the whole thing into a raw and living thing, without automation and robotization, with each member of the band filling it all up.
The session that confirmed everything
The defining moment happened on March 3, 2026. At the time, we had rehearsed roughly five times. We went into the studio almost raw, but ignited. I already knew the spark I was looking for had been there. I just needed the confirmation. And the studio recording gave me that confirmation. This was something I had been missing all along: a creative, expressive bunch shaping something celestial together.
So here’s the first single out of those sessions. Some songs were recorded in two versions, by the way: in English and Latvian. We will be releasing all the songs gradually.
I don’t know where this goes from here. But for the first time in a long while, I’m not asking that question out of dread.
By the way, the child of that session, Hroma Zirgs, is out. Go and listen now!
