What is the name of your band?
Moskitos
What is the genre of music that you play?
Garage/Psych/Art Rock
Can you give a brief history of the band of how it came together and where it is today?
We formed in 2021 as the South African Covid lockdown ensued, and the band had the opportunity to play one sold-out first show to a frothing home crowd before the plug was pulled on live music in SA. We utilised the following months to meticulously craft their sound and live set with a new melodic, yet high energy take on the psych rock revivalist roots that are inherent to our DIY Cape Town rock scene.
The band dropped a four-track EP, Adieu Or Die, as well as a double-single release with a music video which premiered on It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine in 2022. A few national tours and larger shows followed, including festival slots at That 70s fest, Pangea and Helter Skelter and releases were featured on local radio stations, SA Alternative Top 20 chart and playlists such as Spotify’s SA Rock.
Moskitos reopened our account in 2024 with several singles that lean into the more gritty garage rock sound and energy we cultivated at our live shows, still aiming to maintain the methodical musical and lyrical approach to piece together a sonic journey that draws the listener in from the inception.
What can people expect from your music?
The new album, Mirage, is a heady collision of sound. It’s an album for those who dare to question what they think they know. Our music shifts gears from composed emotional existentialism to unapologetic garage-rock with a good mix of wandering off into weird little pockets of soundbites before we bring everything back together.”
The band has always found a home in blending psychedelic guitar manipulations and infectious hooks, drawing inspiration from iconic acts like The Kinks and Nuggets-era bands. Still, in equal measure, we embrace the diverse musical tastes of the three members that range from Black Sabbath to the Beach Boys and more recent psych rock and art rock acts such as Thee Oh Sees, The Black Angels, and The Smile.
What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?
We are poised to drop our debut full LP, Mirage, on 1 November 2024. The album shows Moskitos at our most visceral - it’s a relentless journey where anything can happen next. The first singles including Woman and Ten Lies are out on all good streaming platforms.
Where can people find you on Social Media?
Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | YouTube