Mola Oddity, with Half A Sadday Saving Time, pushes the boundaries of sound, yet never at the expense of joy—its jazzy experimentation dances, playful and free, crafting a work as daring as it is delightful to the ear. Read our discussion below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
colorful,a bit of drizzle,a bowl of hot soup
Tell us a few things about Half A Sadday Saving Time. What is the main idea behind it?
This is a song about time, starting with reminiscing about the half-Saturdays we used to spend working or attending school. However, in the music video, we convey a more positive attitude toward time! Even if you wake up one day feeling off, you can still embrace a playful mindset and let the day unfold in your own way until you fall asleep.
How does the theme of ‘hope’ manifest in your music, and why is it such a central concept in it?
After nearly three years of living through the pandemic, we are fortunate to have made it through, moved by the acts of support—both big and small—between people. Hope is born this way; it is not empty. Hope is the manifestation of different aspects of society, often subtle and unspoken. I believe our work will always revolve around exploring this.
Your most honest and personal lyric?
That’s a really interesting question! Of course, we would say that the entire album, especially our debut work, in its first creation, is absolutely sincere. But if we had to highlight one line, it would be the title of the tenth track, “I Wake Up to Love You”—which represents the moment of opening our eyes each day and our relationship with the world.
Artist and people that have influenced you?
The island culture and our nomadic roots, shaped by both people and land, have been at the heart of who we are. It’s not just the people, but the land, the rhythms of nature, and the environment around us that have quietly shaped our creativity.
What was it like working with both Laurent Nathan Grey and Baku Hashimoto on the music video? How did their creative styles shape the final product?
Collaborating with directors Laurent and Baku was full of surprises. During our shoot in Tokyo, we were also immersed in observing how each participant existed within the moment of filming—their focused expressions inspiring and energizing one another. Baku’s direction brought a dazzling vision beyond what the eye could see, while Laurent’s deep emotional touch remained ever-present. The result is rich in human warmth, grounding a fantastical piece in a sense of reality.
How does the idea of deep-sea creatures reflect Mola Oddity’s artistic identity and philosophy?
At first, we had no idea what the mola that appeared in our minds was. It suddenly swam into our creative process and lingered, refusing to leave. This led us to start exploring the meaning of mola.
Across different languages, mola carries various meanings—it can be a deity, a word of praise, a shock-absorbing spring… or a massive fish in the deep sea. The way a single word can hold such diverse interpretations is fascinating, and this kind of layered reflection aligns perfectly with our vision for musical creativity.
As for the mola mola, this deep-sea creature, we noticed from countless photos of it covered in bite marks that it seems to possess a unique wisdom—one that responds to pain and aggression not with immediate retaliation, but with a measured, patient resilience toward the world.
In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?
When they recall an interesting, bittersweet moment in life, they might want to play our music.
Thank you!
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