MUNA on surviving a breakup while keeping the band together

A few years ago, my daughter shared a song with me and said, “You need to listen to this band.” I've been a fan of MUNA ever since. Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson came together in college at USC back in 2013, and have since built a devoted following. The indie pop trio has supported Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, & Taylor Swift on tour. We spoke about their fourth album, “Dancing on The Wall,” mental health, taking creative risks, and why bands still matter. 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Meet MUNA 01:43 Are Bands a Dying Breed? 04:09 The Band as a Mental Health Support System 05:21 The New Album: Dancing on the Wall 09:06 How MUNA Came Together at USC 12:33 Katie's Origin Story & Naomi Becomes the Producer 16:04 Early Validation 26:50 Conflict, Creative Process & Working Alone 31:37 Katie's Solo Project & the "Open Marriage" of a Band 35:25 Friendship vs. the Band – MUNA vs. boygenius 37:07 What Does Music Give Each of You? 49:44 Drive, Ambition & the Need to Be Seen 53:09 Building Community and the Song "So What" 55:17 Getting Dropped by Their Label 58:41 "Silk Chiffon," Artistic Integrity & Taking Risks 1:01:29 Signing the Guest Book New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and ⁠YouTube⁠ so you never miss one. ⁠Sign up here⁠ to get Alchemy in your inbox⁠. Stay connected with Anthony Mason on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ & ⁠Facebook⁠. For brand partnerships: [email protected] For press inquiries: [email protected] For bookings: [email protected] About our Founding Sponsor, ⁠⁠The FLAG Art Foundation⁠⁠: The FLAG Art Foundation is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. Follow FLAG on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠. About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.