MX LONELY as a Pro Exorcist on Stage
The sound of MX LONELY is a raw, infectious force, blending the intensity of heavygaze with lyrics that manage to be simultaneously fun, bleak, and politically charged. This dynamic energy is set to explode with their upcoming EP, PERFECT HOUSE, which will be released this fall on Julia’s War Recordings.
The band’s music doesn’t just demand attention; it compels a headbang. Watching them live only amplifies this reputation, as the performance feels less like a concert and more like a visceral exorcism, a feeling that singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Rae Haas describes as happening on stage.
The sonic palette of MX LONELY is built on a masterful mashup, channeling the raw energy of influences like Deftones, Pixies, and Smashing Pumpkins. They are essentially reheating the ’90s musical classics with entirely new, cutting-edge sauces.
The depth of their songcraft often dives into weighty subjects. A recent single, March 16th, encapsulates this approach. It was born from a raw voice note that became an instrumental seed, and it allowed the band to explore the feeling of tragedy—personalizing global and social injustices and asking the essential question: “We’ve been here before; why do we keep coming back for more?”
This creative process is fueled by a desire to weave complex emotions and large concepts into music. The creation of their sound is often likened to solving a Rubik’s Cube, only for a sudden, brilliant flash of insight to put all the pieces into place. It’s a process of understanding and externalizing the weight of the world.
The live stage provides an incredible platform for this intensity. When taking the music to a larger venue, the opportunity to challenge dogma grows exponentially. For the band, performing on a bigger stage is an honor, allowing them to operate on an increasingly larger scale as professional exorcists of sound.
The relationship between the band and the technical side of music is equally profound. The importance of sound engineering cannot be overstated; the sound guys are viewed as true heroes, capable of transforming the entire listening experience. They recognize that a skilled engineer can introduce a sonic challenge that pushes the chaos into territory reminiscent of Fifth Beatle, fundamentally altering how the audience perceives the music.
Despite the intensity of the touring life, the band maintains a fiercely committed and slightly psychotic ethos. They prioritize the road above all else, often operating without downtime, driven by the relentless pursuit of music. This nomadic intensity shapes their approach to songcraft, lending a ferocity and speed to every note they play.
Beyond the stage, the band’s reality is grounded in deeply personal reflections. Rae Haas finds strength in the experience of the journey, musing that the microplastics in the body act like army men protecting them from illness. This blend of visceral musical exploration and grounded, philosophical thought defines the uniquely compelling world of MX LONELY.
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