Moon Worm was born out of necessity. Jack Schaefer grew up on a farm in rural North Dakota, loving indie rock but having no one to share his passions with. As a result, being “able to do it myself was kind of a necessity,” Schaefer admits, so he writes, records, and mixes all of Moon Worm’s music himself. The project is, in that way, clearly rooted in one man’s singular vision. Now based in Minneapolis, his latest work is the “Midnight Audio” EP – with the self-titled lead song as the focus track, available now across all the usual reputable streaming platforms.
Hey how are you doing today? Where about in the world do we find you?
Thank you I am doing well, currently in Virginia Beach for the summer! I took a different job so spending some time on the east coast and getting new inspiration on the beach has been a fun and exciting experience.
What was the reason you chose to call yourself Moon Worm?
It comes from the first full moon of March referred to as the “Worm Moon.” It is a sign of spring/new life. At first, I thought it was something funny and original as a new band name, but it stuck and now it’s becoming an alter ego of mine.
You are USA based, in Minneapolis; tell us about the current music scene there and what you like about it
Minneapolis has an awesome music scene and has for a while. There have been some great bands in the recent years especially in the indie rock/punk scene that are popular nationwide now. There’s also no shortage of venues to play/see other artists shows at. I think it’s an underrated scene with a big base of loyal fans.
Your latest single is 'Midnight Audio'; what inspired it?
Midnight Audio is a song I wrote when I was in a transitional phase of my life where I felt I was being pulled in different directions. The feeling of not wanting to release your youthful dreams and aspirations while also being stricken with realistic expectations of what that looks like leads to the existential feeling in the song. I think it speaks to the state of mind many of us find ourselves in with modern life wondering if the choices we make are the ones that will ultimately make us happy.
You have an EP out of the same name - what can fans expect to hear? Are there any major overriding themes?
The rest of the EP is a dream pop landscape filled with exciting atmospheres and sounds that represent a step up from what I’ve done in the past. The overwhelming theme is existential humanism which falls in line with the general message of Moon Worm. I think that comes from a certain awareness of how short life is and a sentiment for romanticizing the experiences we have.
Your music is influenced by eclectic genres, bands and artists; can you name a few?
Tame Impala, Beach House, and M83 are always my obvious choices. Lately I’ve been listening to more niche’ groups such as Sunbeam Sound Machine, Dreams We’ve Had, and CD ghost. I’m always on the hunt for inspiration whether that be music, movies, or experiences in life which is an important part of artistic growth.
If you had to choose just one to collaborate with, who would it be and why?
I think M83 would be my first choice. Their production style is so massive and cinematic which is a big part of my fondness for them. I think we share a common theme with our music and to get a look into their creative process would be a dream come true.
Which leads us nicely onto 'Fantasy Dinner Party': Who past and present, alive or not, would you invite to a dinner party at your house and why?
Tyler the Creator for sure. I love his personality which would be a joy at any dinner party and the way his mind works is so fun to see. Creatively I think he’s one of the best artists of our generation, so he’d be one of my top picks to hang with!
Do you have any tour plans for 2023/24?
No tour plans yet. I’ve been focusing attention on releasing new music and promoting it through means of social media. I have been working on the live set though and I can say it will be a fun show when I do get out there!
What is your creative vision for the next 2 to 3 years?
Creatively I want to keep putting music out that builds on what I’ve already done. I have a big collection of songs that I’m ready to roll out as time goes on and ultimately, it’s just about putting it out there not knowing where it takes you. So far, it’s been amazing hearing feedback from fans on social media so I’m super excited about the direction Moon Worm is heading!
Check out 'Midnight Audio' on Spotify, or below.
Thank you I am doing well, currently in Virginia Beach for the summer! I took a different job so spending some time on the east coast and getting new inspiration on the beach has been a fun and exciting experience.
What was the reason you chose to call yourself Moon Worm?
It comes from the first full moon of March referred to as the “Worm Moon.” It is a sign of spring/new life. At first, I thought it was something funny and original as a new band name, but it stuck and now it’s becoming an alter ego of mine.
You are USA based, in Minneapolis; tell us about the current music scene there and what you like about it
Minneapolis has an awesome music scene and has for a while. There have been some great bands in the recent years especially in the indie rock/punk scene that are popular nationwide now. There’s also no shortage of venues to play/see other artists shows at. I think it’s an underrated scene with a big base of loyal fans.
Your latest single is 'Midnight Audio'; what inspired it?
Midnight Audio is a song I wrote when I was in a transitional phase of my life where I felt I was being pulled in different directions. The feeling of not wanting to release your youthful dreams and aspirations while also being stricken with realistic expectations of what that looks like leads to the existential feeling in the song. I think it speaks to the state of mind many of us find ourselves in with modern life wondering if the choices we make are the ones that will ultimately make us happy.
You have an EP out of the same name - what can fans expect to hear? Are there any major overriding themes?
The rest of the EP is a dream pop landscape filled with exciting atmospheres and sounds that represent a step up from what I’ve done in the past. The overwhelming theme is existential humanism which falls in line with the general message of Moon Worm. I think that comes from a certain awareness of how short life is and a sentiment for romanticizing the experiences we have.
Your music is influenced by eclectic genres, bands and artists; can you name a few?
Tame Impala, Beach House, and M83 are always my obvious choices. Lately I’ve been listening to more niche’ groups such as Sunbeam Sound Machine, Dreams We’ve Had, and CD ghost. I’m always on the hunt for inspiration whether that be music, movies, or experiences in life which is an important part of artistic growth.
If you had to choose just one to collaborate with, who would it be and why?
I think M83 would be my first choice. Their production style is so massive and cinematic which is a big part of my fondness for them. I think we share a common theme with our music and to get a look into their creative process would be a dream come true.
Which leads us nicely onto 'Fantasy Dinner Party': Who past and present, alive or not, would you invite to a dinner party at your house and why?
Tyler the Creator for sure. I love his personality which would be a joy at any dinner party and the way his mind works is so fun to see. Creatively I think he’s one of the best artists of our generation, so he’d be one of my top picks to hang with!
Do you have any tour plans for 2023/24?
No tour plans yet. I’ve been focusing attention on releasing new music and promoting it through means of social media. I have been working on the live set though and I can say it will be a fun show when I do get out there!
What is your creative vision for the next 2 to 3 years?
Creatively I want to keep putting music out that builds on what I’ve already done. I have a big collection of songs that I’m ready to roll out as time goes on and ultimately, it’s just about putting it out there not knowing where it takes you. So far, it’s been amazing hearing feedback from fans on social media so I’m super excited about the direction Moon Worm is heading!
Check out 'Midnight Audio' on Spotify, or below.
