Berlin-based sonic chameleon Mote emerges from the murky depths with his latest single, Vampires, a tantalizing descent into emotional decadence and seductive ruin, released via Duchess Box Records.
Originally from the sun-bleached streets of Nashville, Mote grew up ingesting an eclectic cocktail of influences, from the grimy guitars of Nirvana and Garbage to the eclectic pop swagger of No Doubt and Snoop Dogg, rounded out by lush classical compositions. His music defies tidy categorization, refusing to be constrained by genre expectations. The upcoming EP, aptly titled Vampires, blurs the edges between electronic, rock, and alt music to thrilling effect.
The genesis of this bold shift in direction lies in personal trauma and reinvention. Stricken by a debilitating illness in 2017, Mote confronted his darkest hour:
“In a low moment, I told myself, if I get out of this, I’m going to move to a new city and take Mote to the next level.” His destination? Berlin, a city soaked in innovation and shadowy allure, whose history became an irresistible magnet.
“Berlin has completely changed my life for the better, and now it is home,” Mote explains, having embraced the city’s magnetic pulse despite landing amidst the pandemic’s peak in 2020. Drawing inspiration from Berlin’s spectral musical ghosts, from the feral glam of Bowie and Iggy Pop to Kraftwerk’s futuristic heartbeat, Mote forged a renewed identity.
Vampires channels a darkly cinematic atmosphere, fueled by snarling guitars and rhythmically hypnotic seduction, effortlessly conjuring the spirit of 90s alt-rock titans like Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage and Nine Inch Nails, with echoes of Tears For Fears adding depth. It’s a passionate exploration of love’s destructive allure, radiating equal parts charm and menace. As Mote himself frames it, “The song plays with the idea of romance as a beautiful kind of mutual destruction…playful, powerful, and a little dangerous.”
In the accompanying self-directed video, shady figures languidly sip from crystal goblets amidst a twilight garden, evoking the decadent eroticism of Tony Scott’s The Hunger. Mysterious, seductive, and elegantly unsettling, the visuals capture perfectly the intoxicating danger at the heart of Vampires. This is Mote at his most alluring, his artistry resonating with those who crave music that dances gracefully on the knife’s edge.
Watch the video for “Vampires” below:
Vampires is the title track from Mote’s forthcoming debut EP set for release on July 11th. The new EP also features a special cover version of Prince’s “When Doves Cry.”
Mote will be showcasing live at 8MM Bar in Berlin, supported by Blake Harley, on July 31st. Grab tickets here
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