Despite making music together for over a decade, Indie pop band, MUNA, has really been making a splash the past few years. With their hit single, “Silk Chiffon” dominating the charts, it’s no wonder they’ve caught the music industry’s eye. But beyond their popular songs, there is so much more to uncover about MUNA. Amid their performance at Madison Square Garden last night, let’s look at their journey thus far, and where they stand now.
Muna’s Origins
Based in Los Angeles, Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson met at the University of Southern California. Almost immediately after meeting in 2013, they began to workshop. Maskin and McPherson were on the guitar, while Gavin added synth bass and vocals. During this experimental period, they released their debut EP, More Perfect on Soundcloud. The EP’s success led to them signing with RCA Records in the US and Columbia Records in the UK.
From here, they skyrocketed. RCA released their self-produced debut label EP, Loudspeaker, in May 2016. They debuted on The Tonight Show in the same year. Their debut full-length album, About U, was released on February 3, 2017. MUNA opened for Harry Styles on his North American and European tour dates.
In 2019, they released their second studio album, Saves the World. The album features its lead single, “Number One Fan,” followed by other great hits like “Stayaway,” and “Who.” MUNA was making large strides in their music career, gaining traction with every new song released.
It was in 2020, when the pandemic hit, that MUNA was given some devastating news. They had been dropped from RCA due to “not making enough money.” For a year, they were left without a label and a leg to stand on. Although incredibly talented, MUNA was still stuck in a hard place.
What they didn’t know at the time, however, was that this drop would lead to even bigger and better strides than they’d imagined.
Their Comeback
In 2021, MUNA signed with singer Phoebe Bridgers’ record label, Saddest Factory. From here, they released an upbeat single “Silk Chiffon”, featuring Phoebe Bridgers herself. It quickly reached popularity and topped the charts. Reviews loved the upbeat track, with the iconic Rolling Stone magazine writing that “Silk Chiffon”:
“ignites a blast of bubblegum indie pop in your brain with no intention of burning out.”
“Silk Chiffon” quickly became a gay indie pop anthem. Its lyrics describe the relationship between two women, invoking a sense of love and adventure. This bright declaration of queer love had fans in a chokehold, ready to hear more.
MUNA continued to release music in 2022, appearing once more on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, as well as Ellen. MUNA was chosen as the opening act for select shows for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. This was a huge step in their rise to popularity, providing an outlet for new fans to watch them live.
In March of this year, MUNA performed at WorldPride, in Sydney, to a crowd of 15,000 people. An international high-level event was just another steppingstone in the right direction. Their most current release is the single “One That Got Away”, with a mesmerizing music video to accompany the track.
What’s Next For Muna?
There is no doubt that MUNA has been through the wringer, but the band has still come out on top. Their three studio albums provide fans with everything they could want and more. Other than being a strong band with catchy songs, MUNA is also a representation of equality, acceptance, and love for all.
MUNA is currently touring with supergroup boygenius! You can try to snag a ticket for their last leg. Keep an eye out for this fun, fresh, and inclusive band. Their music just might grab your attention.
