Suzi Moon – The restless, boundlessly creative Moon next co-founded unique garage/punk/stoner female power trio L.A. Machina
Interview conducted April 2, 2021
By Dan Locke
The unstoppable Suzi Moon comes roaring back with a debut solo EP Call the Shots, a powerful clutch of high-impact songs which reaffirm her status as one of punk rock’s most vibrant performers! With a stellar rock & roll pedigree reaching back to when the then 15-year-old Moon joined her sister’s famed punk band, Civet, the singer-songwriter has followed through with songs that show her incredible growth. Recording two albums for Hellcat Records and touring with the likes of Social Distortion, Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly (all before she turned 21) Moon established herself as a ferocious punk truth-teller with both a distinctive personal style and a fiercely untamed stage presence. After Civet went on hiatus, Moon formed Turbulent Hearts, a high-intensity trio that quickly gained popularity in their hometown Los Angeles scene and earned followings in the US and Europe, playing such high stakes settings as the Rebellion Festival and Punk Rock Bowling.
What is your upbringing?
– I grew up in Long Beach, CA with my older sister, younger brother, mom, & stepdad. We were raised on Tom Petty, Nirvana, The Offspring, WAR, The Beatles, classic cars, food stamps, and a do-it-yourself attitude. I spent a lot of time at the beach, surfing and riding longboards down PCH with my friends. I had a great childhood speckled with some horribly traumatic experiences. The scales were balanced.
You have been in the punk scene for over 15 years. And have played in bands like CIVET, and Turbulent Hearts. How did you discover music?
– My older sister Liza started Civet when she was in high school. We are 5 years apart in age, and when I turned 15 she handed me a guitar and said it was time to join her band! That seemed a lot cooler to me than doing cheerleading and softball, so I took a special test and graduated early. My first tour was with Civet, Duane Peters Gunfight, & River City Rebels when I was 16! All these years later and Patti Bo, the guitar player for River City Rebels, is now playing bass in my solo project.. It’s crazy how things come full circle in life.
What was your first performance like?
– My first performance was on Halloween, it must have been 2004. Civet was playing at an all-ages club called The Allen Theater in Lynwood, CA. Man, I loved that venue. The owners had a daughter, Sarah, who was the same age as me, and we always hung out when my sister would drag me to shows before I was in the band. I learned how to mosh at the Allen! Anyway, I wore my cheerleading uniform and went as a dead cheerleader. I was so nervous I couldn’t stop shaking!!
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
-Being lefthanded means very limited options at the music store. There was only one available style and color in the entire shop when my mom took me to buy my first guitar. A black Fender Stratocaster. I still have her today! I love that guitar.
What is your guitar of choice now? Year, make and model? And does it have a name?
-I am a Fender girl all the way. I love the look, feel, and tone of them. My two main guitars are a custom blue/green Telecaster and a custom pale pink Strat w/ gold hardware. Both have Seymour Duncan pickups. They don’t have very original names… “Baby Blue & Pinky’ haha!
How did you start to write music?
-Usually a melody will just pop into my head at random. Sometimes I will be jamming and a riff will appear that needs a bit more attention, so I will record a voice memo on my phone and kind of stew on that for a while. Some songs kinda “write themselves” in 20 minutes or less, others take 2 years or more. I don’t think there is any right way to do it…
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
-Ha, the first song I wrote (that I can clearly remember) was about a skater boy in middle school who I was “in love” with. It was called “Sex Pistol”, I must have been about 12 years old. It never got recorded, but I can still remember how it goes!
“Sex pistol, sex pistol, Shootin’ all over the place Hey mister sex pistol, Epitome of a poker face”
Why did you decide to start your own solo project?
-I’ve always known it would come to this, haha! Turbulent Hearts was basically a solo project but under a band name… I have counted 8 drummers, 6 bass players, and 4 guitar players who have played with me in Turbs over the years. Although Mark Johnson & Jay Skowronek were my most consistent bandmates, I would play with anyone who was available for a show. In 2019 I started to feel really disconnected from the project. We were supposedly a “band” but here I was playing with new people again and I felt really lonely. It’s hard to feel like a real band when you’re playing with folks who have no emotional investment in it. And no fault of theirs, these are all wonderful people & amazing players, it just felt like Turbs was kinda over for me, I was ready for something new. L.A. Machina came along and filled that void for a while but when things started to crack I had this feeling of, “Ok fuck it, I am just going to handle my own shit from here on out…” It’s much easier this way.
Describe your music.
-My music is raw, heartfelt, honest, sassy, and fun.
Royalties never appear like magic. Royalties are only sent to you through work undertaken by a PRO to ensure that their members are getting paid. If you’re not yet signed up to a Performing Right Organization like ASCAP, BMI or SESAC, you may not be receiving all the royalties you deserve.
Do you belong to any songwriters’ organizations like the International singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP ?
-I have been a member of ASCAP since 2009, and SoundExchange since 2018. They do a really good job of protecting artists and getting us paid!
What makes a good songwriter?
-I think it always goes back to honesty. Be unapologetically you, and keep writing. Never stop. The passages need to stay open so you can keep receiving new information. Don’t worry about what people think, but do worry about how they feel. Relatability is important.
What is the process of writing your music?
-Some songs take years, some take 20 minutes. Melody usually comes first, and I take lyric writing very seriously. I find that simplicity is effective.
Tell me about your single “Special Place is Hell”, which comes out on April 2nd?
-It is a love song about a girl from LA who meets a guy who wants to move there for his career. They are having fun, flirting, and she begins to warn him about the dangers of living in an entertainment city. In the end, she says “there is a special place in Hell… and it’s with me…” which is a kind of sweet fucked up romantic bow to wrap it all up in.
Anything you could tell me about your EP “Call The Shots”?
-It’s a 3 song EP I started writing in 2019. I finally had the money and time to record in the summer of 2020. I have Rikki Styxx on drums, Drew Champion on lead guitars, I played rhythm guitar and bass on these songs, and they were recorded at Paul Roessler’s Kitten Robot Studios in LA. Additional recording by Davey Warsop at Strong Studios in Long Beach.
Mastered by Mass Giorgini from Screeching Weasel. I couldn’t ask for a more badass team to have worked with!
What are you feeling about streaming music?
-I think it’s fine, there are always going to be fans that want to purchase the physical product, though… Streaming makes it easy for people to take their favorite artists with them wherever they go. Can you blame ‘em!?
Digital vs. vinyl?
-Vinyl for me, thanks!
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
-I always go back to Blank Generation by Richard Hell. It was so ahead of its time. So fucking catchy and wild and weird. Just a perfect rock n’ roll tune that pulls me back when I am feeling off track.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
-Not at all! I know we are in a weird place right now, but I want to believe that live shows are going to be bigger and so much better when it returns. There has been this shift to online stuff which I think has shown artists that they are capable of so much more than maybe they thought they were before. When we can safely get back out there, I predict that people are gunna really let it rip. Nothing compares to live shows.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
It-Mostly the same stuff. It’s given me a lot of quiet focus time. Getting prepared for the “Call The Shots” release, working out, cooking – it’s all stuff I do anyway. I haven’t felt bored, thankfully. I did perfect my focaccia bread recipe, which was pretty awesome!
Are you going to continue Rockin’ Closets? And what happened to the first episode?
-Hell yeah! Rockin’ Closets has been a blast, and the positive feedback from fans and other artists has been really cool. It’s kind of taken on a life of its own… I didn’t know what I was getting into at first, but now I have my format dialed in & better lights, editing tools. The first episode was my guinea pig, and unfortunately, the footage was lost due to a shitty wifi connection with the guests Instagram, so we have plans to reshoot it and get it up in a few weeks because it was a really interesting convo!
Are you still taking photos?
Not currently, no. I love photography but so does my little brother! He has a great eye for it, and he couldn’t afford a camera so I gave him mine last March when the pandemic hit. I’ll buy myself a new camera at some point, but it’s always been more of a hobby for me and right now I don’t have much time for it.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
-I do a lot of cardio and yoga! I have always been an active person, it’s really good for my mental health to work out and get those endorphins goin’. I’ll go for runs or do Youtube yoga in the living room. When it’s safe, I’ll be back at the gym doing cycling and group classes. I like to try new things and keep it interesting.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
-I honestly haven’t had time for hobbies… Around Christmas I did some cool crafts for my family, which was fun. I made an ashtray out of clay for my mom, ha! She loves it. I do sew things from time to time but that’s mostly out of necessity. I guess my real hobby is thrifting. I like to go to the thrift store and spend a few hours going through all the racks, it’s very relaxing for me to be out of the house and in “hunt” mode for cool new outfits.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on live streamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses.
The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only. How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
-Well that’s just dumb but honestly, we had our year of online quarantine concerts, do we really need more? Bands could up their game, do better Livestream shows with better production, and take it to Patreon or another site where they could actually get paid for performance!
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
-Oh man, I am no guru. I think it depends on what kind of artist you are. TikTok is super popular, but I don’t feel comfortable with that platform. You gotta find what is right for you. Keep writing songs and releasing them, everybody loves a “new single”! Hopefully the music sticks with them, cuz that’s what it is really all about, right!?
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means things like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
-Ok, so pay to play sucks and I don’t like it one bit. That being said, I have done it ONCE, and it was an investment, and it paid off. I definitely don’t think bands should depend on this kind of bullshit to get seen and heard, but you have to be smart about it. Now,, do not ever give some booker money to do a tour, book your own fucking tour. You’ll learn a lot more and gain respect for yourself!!! Plus, it is fun and rewarding. You’ll still lose money but way less, haha.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
-Sure, why not. I’d like a James Brown concert, please…
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues?
-Maybe…
Did you know that the Grammys MusicCares can help artists? The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief has helped thousands of music industry artists and professionals during these difficult days.
This is the most recipients helped, for any single event, in MusiCares’ history. The need remains great, and these unique times remain critical for music people. It has taken a community uplifting one another to get through this pandemic, and MusiCares has pulled together a list of additional organizations and resources to further support you. https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/relief-resources. Have you applied for it yet?
-I love MusicCares and yes, I received help from them before & during the pandemic and I am sure I will utilize them in the future.
In the past if a musician stops doing music they find a new career. For example David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants.. If you can’t do music what would you like to be doing?
As for a gig outside of music, fashion has always been a big part of my life… Maybe open my own funky resale shop or something.
What is your happy place?
-Sleeping, performing, being in the studio. But mostly sleeping.
A Lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artists based on sales, airplay, and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late ’80s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate
planning. Do you think you would be willing to sell your back catalog if someone like Universal is willing to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs? Another factor is mortality.
-Sure, I would do that. Seems a lot easier than dedicating some family members to do it.
There’s a lot of work involved with that shit and I’d rather leave it to the pros.
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on Monday (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds.
The figure, announced by Spotify’s co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90
million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time.
But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from
independent artists. What do you think that could mean to an independent artist?
-That is insane. I dunno what to tell you. Makes it very hard for people to rise above and get
noticed…. Hopefully they are only deleting tracks from inactive pages?
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video
app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with
Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record
companies, will you start using TikTok more?
-I will most likely never become active on TikTok, I just don’t like the short format stuff. But props
to people who make it work for themselves!!!
Danny Wimmer Presents just announced their 2021 Festival Calendar: Which includes the
following live shows:
DWP Partners With Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival For July 23-25 Event In Mansfield,OH
Louder Than Life Set For September 23-26 With Newly Added Thursday Night Celebration In Louisville, KY
Welcome To Rockville Expands To 4 Days And Shifts From Spring To November 11-14 In
Daytona Beach, FL
Aftershock Set For October 7-10 In Sacramento, CA, Almost Sold Out
Would you be willing to play these shows and what precautions would you like to have in place?
-I would play all of those shows, hell yeah! I think it is important that we get more people
vaccinated first – A festival in July does seem a bit too soon, but these events could be pulled off
if there are sanitizing stations, face masks, etc. At some point we have to try and see what
works, right?
Why do you call yourself The Princess of Punk?
-Because The Queen of Rock N’ Roll was already taken….
Anything you would like to say in closing.
-Thank you for taking the time to check out my music! This is an exciting new chapter for me
and I am just super excited to play live shows when the time comes. If you come and see me,
please say hi! I love meeting new people and talking about music. Also, get my new EP! Xoxo
