maq 22 is an experimental musical mastermind who blends hip hop with electronic, hyper-pop and more for a listening experience unlike any other. His new EP is called MUNINN, and is a six song enthralling journey into relatable existential themes. MUNINN is avant-garde but highly infectious, making for a timeless yet invigoratingly fresh listen.
We chat with maq 22 all about his fresh new EP, upcoming tour in China, mythology, and more! The result is a deeply enthralling read, just like his music.
You describe MUNINN as a “dystopian and visceral exploration” of your inner world. Can you expand on what that means and how it influenced the music?
The project feels like the soundtrack to a cyberpunk or dystopian movie to me. It’s a glimpse into my years of being a musician. I try to be as real and honest in my music as possible without oversharing. Metaphors sometimes help conceal the message or story just enough so that only people who really focus on the lyrics and their meaning will understand them.
The tape fuses electronic rap and hyper-pop. What draws you to blending genres, and how do you approach balancing them in your music?
I grew up listening to both electronic music and rap, so the combination feels natural to me. As a kid, I listened to Kesha’s album Animal a lot, and it definitely inspired many of my flows and vocals. She uses a lot of pitched vocal layers behind her main vocals, which I love and also used on quite a few tracks for this project.
The title MUNINN references Norse mythology, specifically Odin’s raven of mind and memory. How does this symbolism connect to your creative process or personal experiences?
For every project I release, I like to draw from my interests to create a theme. As a Dutch Frisian, I started exploring the history and old religion of my region, which led me to the Prose Edda. It’s one of the most important sources of Norse mythology and explains how people once believed the universe came to be and how everything worked. As an artist, I want to build my own world, and that idea really connected with me. That’s what inspired me to make this mythology the backbone of the project.
I know some of its symbols have been misappropriated by groups that I do not want to be associated with. When I started learning about Norse mythology, I researched which symbols had been misappropriated and avoided them. Even though I have a far-left political stance, I don’t want to send the wrong signals to people who don’t know me yet. I despise xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, or any ideology that excludes or oppresses people.
You mention that the project explores existentialism, love, and mental battles. Was there a specific moment or experience that inspired these themes?
I don’t know, to be honest. At this point in my life, these emotions are just very present. I often feel like I’m racing against the clock and need to release more music, even though nobody is forcing me to. Leaving my mark on earth and having music that people enjoyed be my legacy is what keeps me going.
Your collaboration with Tiresss produced five of the six tracks on the tape. How did that partnership shape the sound and direction of MUNINN?
I discovered him online and immediately found what I had been looking for in terms of production. His beats hit hard but still carry a sentimental layer, which gave me space to express myself the way I wanted.
The lead single, “Europa,” uses Jupiter’s moon as a metaphor. Can you talk about how you translate cosmic or abstract ideas into lyrics and sound?
I’ve always found comfort in the idea that we’re almost certainly not the only life in the universe. I get excited whenever scientists find planets that could host life. Europa, with its icy shell and possible ocean beneath, is one of the best candidates in our solar system. One night I fell down a YouTube rabbit hole about it, wrote it down in my notes, and later, when I got the beat for “Europa,” I remembered it. The lyrics parallel Europa’s icy layer with my own subconscious barriers, how I keep people out, but the right person managed to melt that layer and bring me joy and meaning.
“Burn The Sigil” opens the tape with a ritualistic tone. How important is symbolism and metaphor in your music, and what role do rituals play in your life?
I think we all have our own little rituals we do day to day. They don’t have to be religious, but they’re part of what makes us human. Little routines help us get things done. I for example always light candles and turn off all the lights in my room when I record at night, and I start smoking when I’m picking a beat I want to record on. Burning a sigil is a symbolic practice in paganism. It’s believed to release the energy and intent that went into creating it, sending it out into the universe or into the subconscious to manifest the outcome. For me, starting the project with that concept felt like beginning with a good omen. The beat was originally much longer, but I cut it right after the build-up to create a launch feeling into the project.
The project deals with heavy themes like existential fear and mental struggle. Do you see music as a form of personal therapy or as a way to connect with listeners going through similar challenges?
Yes, most definitely. When I work on music, I can shut out everything going on around me. I never really sit down and think, I need to make a song about this or that subject. I guess it just happens subconsciously. I end up incorporating these kinds of themes into my music even when I’m not actively dealing with them.
You’re taking MUNINN to stages across China this October. How do you translate such an immersive and introspective project into a live experience?
I really don’t know what to expect. I’ve never been anywhere in Asia, but I’ve always been fascinated by Chinese culture, so being able to go and perform there is a dream come true. I know electronic and dance music really resonate in China. I’ve seen live performances by other artists, and the crowds are super hyped. I think I need to focus on matching their energy, letting myself go, and letting the music do the rest. I’m really excited to go on tour with my close friend and fellow musician Pastelfuneral, shout out to him.
What’s next for maq 22?
I’ve gotten into making beats for myself, and I’m looking forward to releasing songs that are fully DIY. I want to be able to make music with just my microphone and laptop, even if I were off the grid. By next year, I want to produce the majority of the beats I record on. I’m really enjoying this new quest.
Connect with maq 22: INSTAGRAM
