MOSCOW NOIR
A CONVERSATION WITH LESTHER GUTIERREZ
Following the release of their self-titled EP, you’ll soon be able to hear one of Moscow Noir’s surreal new wave songs remixed by Toronto producers Alberto Jossue, Night Vision and Talal and Zoi + more. The band’s single, “Stars,” released in 2016, got credible traction, landing a number one spot as iTunes North American Electronic Album and #2 for Billboard’s electronic album charts.
On Friday June 23, 2017, Moscow Noir play a live set at Revival club on College Street in Toronto. Here they will test out some new material from their forthcoming full-length album (launching this fall). Opening for them at Revival is talented Late Night Conversations, a band that have been on the scene since Moscow Noir started, as well as DJs Lost Boy and Alberto Jossue, two Toronto producers who have remixed Moscow Noir tracks.
“I’m deeply inspired by Radiohead, The Cure, Depeche Mode and Joy Division,” Lesther Gutierrez, the writer, composer, producer and frontman/guitarist of Moscow Noir explains. “I’ve always been drawn to these types of sounds that make me think about things. I find that the emotion is more palpable when it’s darker. It’s a hidden layer of complexity.”
Moscow Noir is Gutierrez’ brainchild. After self-study in production and recording, Gutierrez fiddled around with Abelton Live and created some of the foundation of Moscow Noir’s EP which was recorded in his home studio and self-released in 2016. The live band features brother Sylvain Gutierrez (bass guitar/backing vocals), Richard Gillespie (keyboards) and Mike Formusa (guitars).
“The EP is about spatial self-reflection. It’s a moody album,” Gutierrez says. “I wanted to introduce to a cool-temperature place where you can be contemplative or bombastic within it. I wanted some of the track sot be about self-reflection and then breaking out of it.”
Gutierrez is also the talented graphic designer behind Moscow Noir artwork, branding design and animation, as seen in the stunning “Odiesa” video. “I wanted to visualize our interior world and the outer world – the cosmos,” says Gutierrez. “I really wanted to experiment with human, the cosmos, harsh sci-fi and nature and bring in mysticism and human’s belief in anything spiritual.”
Although Gutierrez was born in El Salvador, Moscow Noir was inspired from an article of the same name about new wave design in Moscow. “I was trying to find a name to reflect our sound. I remember after a month of searching I came across a design article about a new wave of design that came to life at night in Moscow. During the day, a room was simplistic and at night the beauty of the room is revealed, with lines falling into one another. This is similar to my vision for the sound.”
When asked if Gutierrez has a favourite song, he selects “Night Rider.” “It vibes me with right away,” he says.
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