By Colin 
Swedish alt-pop artist MOA is no stranger to emotional honesty. From the raw vulnerability of her debut EP Beat to the punchy defiance of singles like ‘Special Place In Hell’, her music has always been an act of radical openness. Now, with the release of her latest project Home Is Where The Hurt Is, she invites listeners even deeper into her inner world.
The EP, built around her recent run of deeply personal singles including ‘Born Again’ and ‘Me vs Me’, marks a pivotal point in MOA’s creative journey. It is not just a collection of songs, it is a statement of identity, survival, and the ongoing process of self-understanding. As MOA puts it, “You can start over however many times you want, and no past mistake or path taken will forever define you.”
That sentiment runs like a pulse through the EP. Each track feels like a moment of reckoning, whether with the world, the self, or the ghosts that linger in between. Across just five songs, she crafts a landscape of sonic and emotional extremes. Bitter sarcasm meets quiet confession, delicate melodies give way to volcanic catharsis, and humour shadows heartbreak like a second skin.
Chaos in Harmony
MOA first introduced herself to the world with the 2020 release of her debut single ‘Reload’, a track that showcased her emotionally vivid songwriting and left a lasting impression. But it was Beat, her four-track EP, that fully captured the scope of her vision. Songs like ‘Maniac’ and ‘Ghost’ arrived fully formed, fiercely candid and impossible to ignore. The EP was written as part of a 52 songs in a year challenge, and the selected tracks became what MOA describes as “a timeline of trauma I’ve lived and survived.”
“It felt like everything I’ve ever needed to say,” she explains. “And maybe also everything I’ve ever needed to hear?”
She has often described her music as guitar-heavy alternative bipolar music, a reference not just to the genre-blending soundscapes she builds, but also to her own lived experience with mental health. “It’s basically the chaos in my head put into words and melodies,” she says. “I think the most important thing for me is to represent strength and vulnerability at the same time.”
That duality is at the heart of Home Is Where The Hurt Is, where songs are not so much polished performances as they are personal exorcisms. The standout single ‘Me vs Me’ hits particularly hard, a brutal internal monologue dressed in shimmering alt-pop production. On paper, the lyrics are devastating. On record, they are defiant. It is this contrast that makes MOA so magnetic, her refusal to dilute the truth even when it is uncomfortable.
A Gut Feeling
Behind the scenes, MOA has found a creative partner in producer Al Groves, whose work across the new EP has helped sharpen and elevate her sound. Their collaboration, she says, clicked immediately.
“There are these really rare moments where you enter a room and things just fall into place,” she says. “When me and Al worked together the first time, I just got this strong feeling of finally being in the right place at the right time.”
Groves’ strength lies not just in his technical skill, but in his intuitive and ego-free approach to production. “Al has this amazing way of welcoming vulnerability and authenticity in his space. His entire ethos is to serve the song rather than anyone’s ego,” she says. “That, combined with his creativity and experience, is just an unmatched combo.”
Together, they allowed each song to dictate its own sonic direction. ‘Special Place In Hell’ crackles with punk-inflected attitude, while the title track leans into quiet introspection. MOA describes the process as figuring out where the tracks wanted to go.
“Creativity is such a fun and weird space, because what you’re really doing is materialising this gift you’ve been given from the ether, the gift being an idea or a concept, and your job is just to honour that in the best way you possibly can,” she says. “It’s just all about trusting your gut and the energy of the idea.”
That gut instinct, she adds with a smile, is not always easy to manage. “In the end, it’s not up to me. It’s up to the universe… and my silly little lactose intolerant gut.”
An Artist Without Armour
There is a fearlessness in MOA’s songwriting, but it is not loud or performative. It is the quieter bravery of telling the truth when it might be easier to hide. Hers is a refusal to self-censor, even when the stories involve others.
“I’m a really self-aware person, so it’s in my nature to constantly reflect on my emotions and experiences,” she says. “I’ve always been a big oversharer, and music is a part of that.”
Still, she admits that some parts are harder than others. “I sometimes catch myself trying to spare others’ feelings while writing. Mostly people close to me who I want to protect from the knowledge of what I’ve been through. That’s still a hurdle for me, and something I’m working on, just really trying not to censor myself on behalf of that.”
Despite these challenges, MOA continues to write with clarity and precision. Her fans, many of whom have reached out directly, have become a driving force behind her work. “When I started writing music, it was all about venting and expressing and understanding myself,” she explains. “But as I started sharing those thoughts, I noticed there were so many people who could relate to what I was singing about. Now, all I want is to make music that helps people feel less alone.”
@moaforpresident I was just being honest 😔 #newmusic #altrock #heavymusic #intrusivethoughts ♬ Special Place In Hell – MOA
Looking Back, Moving Forward
Music has always been the goal. “This was always what I wanted to do,” she says. One of her earliest memories is of a young woman at her kindergarten who taught her to sing Swedish troubadour songs before she could even read. “She would sit with me for hours teaching me the lyrics. It made me believe I was capable.”
That early support led to years of writing, listening and manifesting. “Florence Welch, Self Esteem and Tove Lo are all on my list of dream collaborators,” she says. “I’m manifesting this so hard.”
Her admiration for other artists comes with the humility of someone who understands the work behind the music. “You know how much love and effort goes into their work. Whether it’s something you personally enjoy or not isn’t really the point.”
That same respect guides her own creative choices. Whether in the studio or on stage, MOA approaches each new project with energy and curiosity. “I strongly believe in not limiting yourself as a creator, genres and sounds are just vehicles for expression,” she says. “I’ll try whatever comes my way that feels right.”
This Is Just the Start
With Home Is Where The Hurt Is now out in the world, MOA is already thinking ahead. “Home Is Where The Hurt Is is a conceptual EP that brings together all of my recent releases, plus an extra song that holds a special place in my heart,” she says. Live dates are in the works too. “Stay tuned for the release date and for the next live dates. 2025 baby!”
MOA is carving out a space in the alt-pop world that does not shy away from pain but embraces it. Her music offers no neat conclusions, only truth. It does not tell you everything will be okay, it shows you that you are not alone.
If Home Is Where The Hurt Is proves anything, it is that the most powerful songs often come from the hardest places. And in turning hurt into connection, MOA has found something stronger than comfort. She has found her voice.
You can find out more about MOA by reading our interviews from this year and 2022. You can also follow her over on Instagram and TikTok.