MOAL NFT artist interview | NFT CULTURE | Web3 Culture NFTs and Crypto Art
Where are you from? (State a bit of your background, have you moved, etc.)
I grew up in the North of England near Manchester and have now lived in London for 10 years.
Can you tell us about your background and what led you down the path to becoming an artist and eventually experimenting with NFTs?
I only started photography during the Covid Lockdown so it’s been 1yr9 months since I picked up a camera. I used YouTube tutorials to learn everything and my style pretty much evolved since the first month I learned how to use the camera.
Creatively, I’ve been writing music for 10 years, so I’ve always had an artistic output in that sense. Adding photography to that skill set was just a further development of that.
I have never had a Web2 career in anything artistic, so finding NFT Space in October 2021 became the only thing I know of an artistic production, I guess I do it in reverse order of most.
When did you make your first NFT? Which platform did you choose and why?
November 2021 with Opensea, as it was the only one I had heard of! It took me 2 weeks to learn how to make a metamask wallet and actually make a piece, it was so confusing and there is such a high barrier to entry for most people! I have brought a few artists myself since, as I understand the frustrations that come with this.
Can you tell us one thing you can’t live without? (and why)
My laptop! I make all my music here and edit all my photos here, so I’d be lost without it.
Who is your favorite artist(s) (Not NFT)? What about their style resonates with you?
Without a doubt Björk. She is the daughter of Mother Nature and truly an innovative force in the creative industry. Her music and her images inspire me every day and she will forever be my creative muse.
Who is your favorite NFT artist? What makes this artist unique?
Don’t have a specific favourite, but some collections that have caught my eye are:
- Parker Day (@heyparkerday)
Her ‘ICONS’ series is a wonderful celebration of the weird and wonderful captured through a lens. Reminds me of watching The Mighty Boosh and League Of Gentlemen growing up.
- Rob Woodcox (@RobWoodcox)
His pictures are just magical and inspiring, they really make you feel something.
- Dmitry Shad (@Blacksunphotog1)
His “Under The Black Sun” series is an incredible project in the world of photography and expertly captured, such striking and powerful images.
What made you pursue NFT art?
I’ve never had a Web2 career in anything artistic, so NFT just seemed like the best option to start with. Web3 has been set up to finally celebrate the artists and creators out there and show them respect for the time, emotion and creativity they all put into their work.
What’s the one piece of NFT art you wish you’d bought but missed out on?
I would like a Parker Day ‘ICONS’ piece.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why this location?
A tiny remote cabin in Norway (with good WiFi ha)
What are your other passions besides art? Why?
Apart from music and photography, I love fashion, especially men’s styling. I’m obsessed with designers like Rick Owens and Ann Demeulemeester.
I also love good TV/movies – ‘Curb your enthusiasm’ is my favorite TV show ever and ‘The Handmaiden’ my favorite movie ever.
Do you make other forms of art?
Just music and photography.
How did you arrive at your specific style?
Honestly, I have no idea, it’s all completely subconscious. It all definitely stems from the musical artists I love to listen to (Bjork, Sigur Ros, Jeff Buckley) and how they make me feel, but I couldn’t give you a tangible answer.
There was never any influence from photography or photographers, as I didn’t know about any people’s work before I started (I literally had no idea who Tim Walker was!).
How has your style evolved over the years?
My photography has been pretty much the same since month 1 when I learned how to use a camera. Once I understood the basic camera functions and how to use the features in Adobe Lightroom, all my photos have had a similar style. My editing has improved since then, but overall you are witnessing my development as an artist in real time.
What is coming in the near future?
Lots! I am SUPER excited about my next project. I am finally combining my musical work and my photography. I made 100 1/1 portrait shots using a long exposure technique I just learned. I’m also learning Premiere Pro to add some animation to the final parts. The main part though is that I’ve made a 42min song to accompany the pictures, so each picture will hold 1/100th of the last song.
It’s something I’ve never seen done in the space before and it really shows who I am as a complete artist, so that’s why I’m really excited for people to see (and hear) it!
If you could collaborate with one artist, who would it be?
Birch
Do you have any upcoming drops?
Yes, my 100 piece music/photo collection I mentioned earlier is coming in May!
Where can collectors find your work?
Link to the website:
Links to the NFT Marketplace:
