Beyond the Beat with the Mows: An Exclusive Journey Into Their Art
By. Alicia Zamora
In an exclusive sit-down with Alicia’s Studio, we caught up with The Mows, a band out of South Korea that somehow manages to sound both laid-back and carefully put together at the same time. Their music never really stays in one place — one second it’s pure energy, the next it’s sharp and deliberate, almost stylish in the way it lands. You get the sense that they care about every little detail, but they’re also just having fun with it, and that balance is part of what makes the songs stick.
As they put it themselves: “We’re not serious enough to make fully earnest music, but we’re also too into style to sound completely unpolished.” And you can hear exactly what they mean. Each track feels like it’s walking a tightrope — messy enough to feel alive, but still grounded so it never falls apart. They’re not chasing perfection, but in their own way, they kind of get there anyway.
Listening to The Mows feels less like just putting on a record and more like walking into a room you’ve never been in before, but somehow already know. There’s humor tucked into the corners, sudden turns in mood, tension that sneaks up on you, and little textures that hit harder the more you notice them. They don’t just write songs — they build spaces you actually want to be in. And even after the music stops, those spaces stay with you.
In this interview, The Mows opened up about how they write, what inspires them, and why they’d rather keep moving than settle into one lane. It’s honest, a little messy, and completely their own. If you haven’t heard them yet, this is a good place to start — because once you do, you won’t forget them.
Diving In
Alicia: Let’s start simple—but not really. If someone’s never heard of The Mows, how would you describe what you make and why you make it?
Tommy: The Mows’ music sits somewhere between raw and refined. We’re not serious enough to make fully earnest music, but we’re also too into style to sound completely unpolished.
Alicia: Can each of you introduce yourself—not just what you play, but something that makes you essential to the band?
Tommy: Hello, I’m Tommy. I’m the singer of the band, and I’m kind of like a mother to them.
Gamyeong: My name is Gamyeong and I play the keyboard for The Mows. I add different sounds, and I’m also the youngest member.
Jinha: My name is Jinha and I play the drums for The Mows.
Junseo: Hello, I’m Junseo and I play the guitar in The Mows!
Minseok: Hello, I’m Minseok Choi. I’m the bassist for The Mows, and I’m happy to be doing this interview. I’d say I’m a very positive person!
Alicia: If someone heard your music for the first time and said, “this sounds like ____,” what answer would make you feel weirdly proud?
The Mows: If someone said we sound like Weezer, we’d be proud. As I mentioned earlier, we’re chasing something that lives between raw and refined, and Weezer has always nailed that balance.
Alicia: What would you say defines The Mows—not just the music, but the mindset? What do you all collectively believe in?
The Mows: I think our mindset is more “You Only Live Twice” than YOLO. We’re not brave enough to fully live the YOLO lifestyle. We’re pretty cautious, but at the same time, we don’t overthink things so much that we miss out. We tend to pause just once more before we act, and that puts us in a “You Only Live Twice” mindset.
Alicia: When you're making a song, how do you know when it’s “done”? Or is it more like, “we just let it go before we ruin it”?
The Mows: We believe that a song’s identity and message are defined mostly by the lyrics. So when the lyrics finally click, that’s when we know the song is finished.
Alicia: What was the moment that made Mowing feel real—not just as an idea, but as something alive and worth sharing?
The Mows: From the start, we thought it was worth sharing just because it was cool—a refreshing album that could kill the summer heat. But also, the lyrics reflect what a lot of people in their 20s are going through. I think that kind of emotional connection will still hold decades from now.
Alicia: Is there a song you’ve made that still confuses you in the best way?
The Mows: Honestly, not really. Whether good or bad, we only release music we’re completely sure about. If there’s even a single part we’re unsure of, it doesn’t go up.
Alicia: How do you balance being experimental with being intentional? Do you let accidents guide you?
The Mows: I would say our work is 99% happy accidents and 1% intention. We’re not the type to obsess over every tiny sound for hours. We just filter through the accidents and pick the best ones. That’s all.
Alicia: I was curious—I saw the music video for Open Your Mouth and I wanted to ask: Did you actually drink them, or was it just a cut and done?
The Mows: He actually drank like half of the eggs when we were filming.
Alicia: That’s crazy! I was so curious because when I saw the music video, I was like, there’s no way. Raw eggs are so nasty. Was it done in one take?
The Mows: Thankfully, it was just one take.
Alicia: That’s good then. Has there ever been a moment in rehearsal or recording where something completely fell apart—but that collapse led to something better?
The Mows: Not yet, because we were just born like ten minutes ago. But I’m sure that something like that will happen the deeper we work together. I’m kind of excited to see what it’ll be.
Alicia: If each member had full creative control, what kind of songs would we hear?
The Mows: Unlike other bands, we actually try to limit too much creativity.
Alicia: Can I know why you guys try to limit creativity? Is it because you have too many ideas?
The Mows: It’s more like when we put too many opinions and creative ideas together, it just gets worse.
Alicia: Oh okay, yeah. I understand what you mean—sometimes it gets overwhelming or just too much. When you look back at the songs you’ve written, which one feels like it holds the most unspoken or hidden part of yourselves?
The Mows: Probably the second track on our album. I’m Gen Z, but I kind of hate them. That’s our critique—the way our generation always tries to act fast and only pays attention to short, short things.
Alicia: Has being in this band changed how you understand your own fears or doubts? How so?
Tommy: It’s just my mind. When we first planned our album release and shows, I felt a weird kind of fear. Not because it was bad, but because it felt like a dream turning into reality—which almost felt like a nightmare. But over time, I realized how incredible and grateful it is to actually live out your dreams. I’m still a little scared sometimes, but I try to ignore that fear.
Alicia: Were you the one who started the band? Like, were you all friends before this, or did the band lead you to getting closer?
Tommy: It’s kind of complicated. We were at the same college, but three of us were friends before, and some of us went to high school together. Right now, though, we’re all in the same college.
Alicia: What’s one misconception people might have about your music or about you as a band?
The Mows: People might assume we’re super loud and outgoing, but honestly, we’re all pretty shy.
Alicia: I kind of get that, though. Based on your Instagram page and your music videos, I would’ve thought you were really outgoing too.
The Mows: Yeah, we get that a lot, but we’re actually not that outgoing.
Alicia: Is there a lesson you’ve learned recently about what it means to keep growing as artists?
Tommy: Just staying in the studio and making music without any meaning doesn’t really lead to great music. The best songs come from real experiences and emotions. For example, if I get an idea while I’m out having fun, I’ll keep repeating it to myself or record a quick Voice Memo so I don’t lose it. Then I’ll head back to the studio and turn it into something real. That’s when things flow.
Alicia: How long does it usually take you guys in the studio? Like, would you say you’re there half the day? Or is it more hourly-based for you?
The Mows: We’re in the studio about two days a week. We’ll have lunch together, make music, and then usually drink at the end of the day.
Alicia: What part of your journey so far surprised you the most?
Tommy: We had a show about a month ago. Before performing, I used to wonder if the crowd would really vibe with our songs. But when we finally played live, the reaction was amazing. They were going crazy—and that blew me away.
Alicia: Outside the band, what’s one passion or habit that feeds into your creativity?
Tommy: I’d say 100% movies. I think of film as its own, all-encompassing art form. Honestly, most of my songwriting ideas come from movies. As for the other members—they like playing Clash Royale, smoking cigarettes, scrolling through cool artist photos for inspiration, and love.
Alicia: When life gets hectic, what do you each do to reconnect with yourselves?
Tommy: Usually, I just go to the studio and sit at my desk. Whatever I do, just sitting down there helps ground me. As for the other members, they think about why we started all this, imagine future success, and focus on handling their own to-do lists.
Alicia: How do you support each other when things get tough, on or off stage?
Tommy: When things get tough, we usually just leave the studio and go do something fun together—for example, drinking. I think that helps.
Alicia: What’s a song of yours that you think would surprise people if they heard the story behind it?
Tommy: It would have to be Open Your Mouth, track three. The concept came out of nowhere while our bassist Minseok was having coffee at a café in Korea. He just randomly said, “Open your mouth”—“입 벌려 (ip beollyeo)” in Korean. I got so inspired that right after coffee, I went to my studio and completed the song in about four hours. Then we developed it together, and that became track three.
Alicia: What’s something about making music that still feels like a discovery every time?
The Mows: Realizing that the ideas we think are totally new already exist somewhere out there. The music industry has been around for over 60 years—it’s hard to be 100% original. What matters is how much of yourself you put into that final layer.
Alicia: What’s the one question you wish more interviewers asked you?
The Mows: We wish more interviewers asked which artists we love or are influenced by.
Alicia: Okay then—Which artists do you guys love, and which inspire you?
The Mows: I think we all have similar answers: The Beatles, The Strokes, and Childish Gambino.
Tommy: For The Beatles—I’m a really big fan, so I kind of spread The Beatles’ influence to the others.
Alicia: How do you want your music—and The Mows as a whole—to be remembered?
Tommy: I hope we’re seen as a cool band, but not the kind that feels distant like a psychedelic or shoegaze group. I’d rather we be more like a friendly neighbor band.
Alicia: Okay, I can actually kind of see that. Compared to other bands, I feel like you guys are different—but in a good way. You have a really fun vibe to your music. That’s actually how I got into you guys—because of the music video for Open Your Mouth. It was catchy, but also something you could just vibe to.
The Mows: Thank you!
Alicia: What’s a hope or goal you have for the band in the next few years, beyond just “success”?
The Mows: We just want to bring people joy and make them laugh a lot. Yeah, that’s our goal.
Alicia: Before we wrap up, is there anything else you want to share—whether it’s upcoming projects, personal goals, or something important you feel hasn’t come up yet?
The Mows: We’ve got a new single coming out in a few months, maybe in October. It’s a totally different style from what we’ve done so far, so I hope people look forward to it.
