Muna

Muna is a dark pop group from Los Angeles, United States, active since 2013. The trio consists of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin and Naomi McPherson, and releases music on their own label, WhereIsMuna. Their music sits within indie pop, pop and pop rock, while the group is also described as blending the brooding sensuality of R&B, the rhythms of funk and the audacity of synthpop with direct, emotionally open lyric writing.

Style and approach

The band’s songs are built for both dancefloor release and more private listening, moving between euphoric pop energy and a more solitary, introspective mood. Their work is characterised by sharp storytelling, emotional detail and a dark, polished pop sound.

Albums

Muna release three albums together: About U, Saves the World and MUNA. About U appears in 2017 on RCA and is preceded by the singles “Winterbreak”, “Loudspeaker”, “I Know a Place”, “Crying on the Bathroom Floor” and “If U Love Me Now”. Saves the World follows in 2019 on RCA, with singles including “Number One Fan”, “Who”, “Stayaway” and “Taken”. Their self-titled third album appears in 2022 on Saddest Factory Records, Phoebe Bridgers’ label, and is preceded by the singles “Silk Chiffon”, featuring Bridgers, “Anything But Me”, “Kind of Girl”, “Home by Now” and “What I Want”.

Creative direction

The group’s recorded work is shaped by a strong sense of control and detail. Naomi McPherson produces the album Dancing On The Wall, while Josette Maskin contributes behind-the-scenes pop craft and Katie Gavin provides the lead vocal and lyric focus. The result is described as intimate, cinematic and socially aware, with a tension between joy and anxiety running through the writing and production.