After a period away from releasing music, In Silo has returned with renewed purpose. His latest EP ‘Death Moon II’, marks a fresh chapter for the artist, blending nostalgic synth textures, driving indie energy and deeply personal songwriting into a collection that reflects both creative rediscovery and personal transformation.
Originally never intended for release, the five-track project emerged during a spell of writer’s block, when In Silo stripped away expectations and rediscovered the simple enjoyment of making music. That freedom not only reignited his creativity but also became the foundation for an EP that explores letting go of old identities and embracing change. Entirely self-produced, ‘Death Moon II’ also showcases the significant growth he’s made behind the mixing desk during his time away.
Ahead of the EP’s release, we caught up with In Silo to discuss the inspiration behind the release, how stepping back helped reshape his songwriting, and why sometimes the music you never planned to share ends up saying the most.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
In all honesty I always wanted to play guitar for as long as I could remember – mainly so I would be seen as ‘cool’ and get a girlfriend. That being said, the guitar really spoke to me at various points through my early childhood until I heard Red Hot Chili Peppers and became obsessed with John Frusciante’s playing. From there I had to learn and play. I already had experience performing in small local theatre productions and got an incredible rush from that, so it wasn;t a huge leap to imagine playing music in front of people, which I started doing around 16. From there I played in a couple of bands here and there, but it was when I started writing my own music around 15 or 16 that I really started to visualise it as the thing I wanted to do most.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
As mentioned, John Frusciante was a big one for me growing up, particularly his solo albums. But equally Bonobo, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, and almost every band from the 2000’s indie rock/post-punk revival i would listen to obsessively. I don’t think any of these influences are particularly prevalent on this new EP, as I definitely was leaning more into my electronic influences like Cold Cave and Art School Girlfriend among a couple of others.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
No, not particularly. I think it was more of a gradual realisation that the more I did it, the more I realised how important it was to me. I guess when I started gigging with my first proper band, I really believed in the music we were playing and so I naturally took it very seriously – rehearsing whenever we could, gigging as much as we could, writing as much as we could, dressing smartly for shows, being on time, being thankful to people involved.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
It usually starts with a simple idea on piano, or guitar, but sometimes bass – where something grabs my ear. Then it’s just a matter of layering ideas on top until it becomes too cluttered, trying to flesh it out into different sections, cutting back a little. Then I’ll ramble random words and sounds over the top with my voice, before listening back and trying to pick out certain sounds or phrases that are trying to make their way out of me subconsciously. From there i’ll try and work out the lyrics, before tweaking things for the mix. It’s usually months later when I can work out what I was writing about.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
More and more recently I’ve found films, taking photos and art exhibitions a lot more inspiring than music. When I see something really good, or read something cool, it feels like a brain reset and ready to fill the musical canvas again.
Lyrically, sometimes I draw from what is going on with me internally, whether that’s doubt or regret or a whole host of emotions (not always bad ones). And then when I feel like i’ve exhausted those themes, I’ll often write from the perspective of a character – but I always try and tie it back to me so there is still that personal connection, even if it is very faint.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
I don’t really have a message that I’m trying to get across to people – I usually find that a bit cringe. Music really is my way of processing emotions and life and trying to make sense of it all, so if any of that resonates with anyone then that’s amazing – but selfishly it really is just for me. The way I view my work is that I’m piecing together different parts of my personality and experience with each individual project. Maybe I can get to a point where I can look back on my catalogue and say “this is me” and feel like it’s a full representation of who I am.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
So many. Years ago, my first band was signed to a cottage label, where we were promised money to record an EP to then be shopped to larger labels. On the eve of the first recording day, they pulled the funding, and so we had to foot the bill.
Aside from that, the hardest thing for any emerging artist is cutting through the noise and reaching your audience. I’m very grateful to have long-time friends and those people be supportive of me, but equally, I’m very aware that your friends are not your fans. You can;t expect your closest friends to come to every show, or to stream or buy every single release – particularly if they have different tastes. So I think breaking out of a local scene, or consistently building a fanbase is incredibly difficult.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
I’ve definitely felt a sense of pride from most of my EP and album releases over the last few years, particularly after spending my entire 20’s prioritising bands over my own solo material, so it has been very cathartic to have been consistently releasing music since 2020. That being said, nothing beats that feeling of writing a new song that reflects exactly how you feel in that moment, and it’s the thing I’ve been chasing for 20 years.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
I honestly just ignore it. I have a strong sense in my identity and what I’m doing musically. The industry often feels like a series of fads and trends, so why bother trying to keep up with that? It seems exhausting. I was at a conference just over a month ago and two things stuck with me:
First was an industry figure saying that indie and post-punk is having a resurgence – and I thought what a load of shit. Those genres never went away, and its quality is no better or worse than all the stuff i’ve been listening to in the times where “Rock was dead”.
Secondly was an industry guy in a separate talk who was previously released music independently on MySpace way back. And he said the advice he got then was to create a mailing list, and the advice that artists are still getting today 20 years later is about the power of having a mailing list. So there may be these new technologies, or trends, but the overall messaging doesn’t seem to align with that. All that matters is the music, not how many times you post on TikTok.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
I’m working on my live show at the moment, and am releasing a series of videos on YouTube of a live session I recorded recently, so I’m hoping to have some gigs ready to be announced in the not-too-distant future.
Musically, I’ve got another EP in the works, but I need to finish off the final track, and then tweak all of the mixes slightly. I’m also slowly working on my next album which is also another stylistic shift. I don’t know when they will be out yet, but I hope sooner rather than later…
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
I’d like to have done a couple of tours in that time, and to keep releasing music. I have a fairly clear vision of the music I will be putting out and when, but not necessarily where it will take me (if anywhere). Unless I’m able to get a team around me, it’s likely that I will continue to do this as a solitary endeavour in my own way with very little fanfare, which sort of harks back to my artist name ‘In Silo’ and how being a solo artist has very much felt at times.
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Listen to In Silo’s new EP ‘Death Moon II’ below.
