Bittersweet symphony

BAHRAIN-BASED indie alternative band Mission to the Moon has dropped a new music video this month, picturised on Into Blue, the title track of its EP which released earlier this year.

The video, shot in Lebanon, has received 500 views and more than 100 likes so far by music enthusiasts and fans on YouTube.

Mission to the Moon comprises bassist Ayesha Tyabji, singer Nour Boujacli and guitarist Mohamed ‘Mojay’ Abdulla.

The visual is directed by lead singer Nour, who is studying TV and film production at the Beirut Lebanese American University. It features pops of the colour blue, nodding to song’s title. 

“Into Blue is a seemingly upbeat, feel-good tune melodically but the lyrics carry a bittersweet undertone about coming of age,” the 20-year-old told GulfWeekly.

“The song is about growing up and the changes that come with that, particularly the loss of innocence and the transition to adulthood,” she added.

The screenplay focuses on an old couple who are seen dancing in different settings, starting in an empty hall filled with balloons around them, and later around a group of people. The spectators look at them with admiration, as the video then jumps to the two lovers enjoying their time at a carnival; riding on the carousel, driving a bumper car and dancing together. The video features a cameo by Nour, who plays the role of an employee at the carnival, admiring the duo as they enjoy their time together.

“The idea for the music video came about when we were recording the song actually. While playing the track back we talked about how we could picture an elderly couple ballroom dancing to the music and from then on the image stayed engraved in my head.

“The vision of the elderly couple perfectly encapsulates the idea of growing older with someone you love and is bittersweet. The dance starts in the day time and ends at night time. The couple doesn’t feel the time passing by because they are together and that’s what the song is about to me at least,” she explained.

Initially, the trio did not have a particular direction as to what they wanted the four track-EP to be. They started off writing about different personal experiences, however, once they put the songs together, they formed a coming-of-age theme, which reflects how they’re navigating adulthood.

“It’s the most mature project we’ve worked on thus far. We started the band as seniors in high school and as we’ve grown older, our music has become more mature and we have gained more confidence as artists and people,” Ayesha, 20, added.

The artists were living in different locations while working on the EP together as they’re all pursuing their studies in different parts of the world - Nour in Lebanon, Ayesha in Toronto, Canada, and Mojay in the UK.

Mojay, 21, is studying computer science at Reading University, and recalls how the track On the Edge was put together remotely by his bandmates.

“Ayesha and Nour first started writing that song on a Facetime call. Ayesha came up with the guitar riff during the call and then they managed to capture the essence of the song in one sitting. From then on, the production process took place with voice notes being sent back and forth,” he added.

The band also got a helping hand from fellow local talents Debbi Francisco and Sean Fernandes of Juniper’s Club, who are set to release their new indie dance EP titled Goldfish Tears this summer, as previously reported in GulfWeekly.

Ayesha, who is studying genetics at Toronto University, shared that the three hope to perform together again once they reunite in December.

Mission to the Moon staged their first gig at Alriwaq art space two years ago.

The music video for Into Blue is available to watch on YouTube, and the EP is available on all popular music streaming services.

For more details, follow @missiontothemoonmusic on Instagram.