mokusla's self-produced "ghost" taps into the strength of long-distance friendship

Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer and producer mokusla (inspired by the gaelic phrase Mo Chuisle, which means ‘my darling’) has returned with an heart-rendering new single “ghost”, the first track to be release from her forthcoming new EP lovely people here, but it’s just not the same, which is out on 23rd October.

Written, performed and produced by mokusla herself, “ghost” explores the depth and power of long-distance friendships, tapping into elements of nostalgia and the difficulty of finding your place in the world while not losing track of where you came from and wanting to maintain a connection to the place that will always be, in a way, home.

Imbuing elements of her home’s folk and traditional music blended with electro-pop reminiscent of Caroline Polachek and IDER, “ghost” all stems from a simple synth line before growing through the first verse into a crescendo of airy, zoned-out vocals. At over five minutes long, the song is nearly split in two, with a more cloudy, effervescent opening giving way to a more thumping, uptempo finale.

mokusla’s vocals act as somewhat of a safely line, pulling the listener along as they are dragging across the emotional parapet. Just as the track feels as though it’s about to take off, its suddenly shrouded in silence, as only the vocals and the simple piano motif from the beginning return once more. “She knows that she’s strong and she’s brilliant...” she sings as the song comes to a close, a fitting final refrain for a track lost in its creator’s uncertainty.

“The song is for a strong and brilliant friend,” mokusla explains of the creative process behind “ghost”: “It was written from a place of deep frustration, listening, helping and feeling helpless beyond words as a friend journeys through a difficult time.” "I wanted this track to be a celebration of her inner strength,” she continues, “beginning in a vulnerable place and journeying through as she remembers her own brilliance. It's the strength of my friends that keeps me going.”

lovely people here, but it’s just not the same is a four-track project celebration of the importance of true friendship regardless of distance, written at a time of feeling lost in the world and trudging towards the cosy embrace of nostalgia. Her upcoming EP is Mokusla’s second project following the release of her 2022 debut you don’t know what you’re missing, after which she was awarded the Hen Hoose x PRS mentorship, working with Tamara Schlesinger (MALKA) and Susan Bear of the artist/producer collective.