MOWZ

Vanessa Penn: Lyricist, Vocalist Thomas Limper: Guitars, Keys, Programming Robert Conley: Bass, Keys, Lap Steel, Programming Jason Stewart: Percussion The howl of a lone coyote across the midnight plain, the muffled sobs of the last drunk at an empty bar, the crack of a pistol echoing through the sky; it is images like these that provide thematic inspiration to the band. Formed in early 2009, MOWZ is a union of long time friends from the California Bay Area who set out to create a blend o...

Vanessa Penn: Lyricist, Vocalist Thomas Limper: Guitars, Keys, Programming Robert Conley: Bass, Keys, Lap Steel, Programming Jason Stewart: Percussion The howl of a lone coyote across the midnight plain, the muffled sobs of the last drunk at an empty bar, the crack of a pistol echoing through the sky; it is images like these that provide thematic inspiration to the band. Formed in early 2009, MOWZ is a union of long time friends from the California Bay Area who set out to create a blend of eerie, desolate landscapes, pulsing grooves, and vocal lines that are both haunting and meaningful. MOWZ has musically been influenced by artists from Portishead and DJ Premier to film composers such as Enio Morricone and Angelo Badalamenti to form their own brand of beat-driven music that they have come to refer to as “Cowboy Trip-Hop”. Joining tremolo-laden spaghetti western guitars to ambient textures and bass-ridden beats, the music strikes a balance between harmony and dissonance as it supports singer/lyricist Vanessa Penn's melodic vocals and intricate word play. MOWZ is currently at work writing and recording for their debut album, Lonesome Prairie Songs. In an effort to maintain a unique stage presence and a natural, organic sound, MOWZ does not use any laptops during performances, instead utilizing the AKAI MPC1000 sequencer/sampler in conjunction with a NORD LEAD 2X synthesizer which Thomas and Rob manipulate, creating an on-stage interplay between live and looped beats and live instrumentation. What sets the band apart from most electronic-based acts is this commitment to maintaining an analog sound, both in the studio and in performance.