Mux Mool - Planet High School

Ghostly International's introduction to Minnehappiness native Mux Mool's new project Planet High School out now.

Despite being accused as anti-human, repetitive, soulless, whatever, electronic music attracts the more devoted of idealists—the vinyl purist, the underground hero, the anonymous producer, etc. For Mux Mool, all his music connects to a certain outlook on life—basically, that the pre-established trajectory for adult life is being completely reimagined. He explains the concept behind his new album, Planet High School here and delves further into the concept in our Q & A below.
 
What high school did you go to?
I actually went to 2 different high schools. The first was Red Wing Senior High School in Red Wing, Minnesota. I went there for 9th and 10th grade. Over the summer I applied for an arts school called the Perpich Center for Arts Education (also known as Arts High) in Golden Valley, Minnesota.

How did you find your experience?
It was pretty awful for me. I had about 2-3 friends in Red Wing all together. I also started 10th grade at about 285 lbs. and had just gotten braces. I was also a weird kid who just drew pictures all the time. I would say Red Wing is not particularly known as a center for culture, and yeah, it was awkward. But 11th and 12th grade was much better. I moved to St. Paul, MN and lived with my dad and went to school with all the rejects who go to an art high school. Also, my best friend also got into the school so we got to hang out again. Arts High was a semi-open campus situation and you could call your teachers by their first names and didn’t have to ask to go to the bathroom or wander the hills. But, I hate homework, and so I never did any. Thus, I never graduated.

What music were you into?
Oh boy... uh I listened to a lot of Led Zeppelin, Beastie boys, Fatboy Slim and the soundtrack to Escape from LA, Prodigy, Chemical Brothers, Daft Punk. Uh, some Jimi Hendrix mixed in there, oh and also quite a bit of trance and house, but I listened to those in mixes mostly. Sasha's Xpander - loved that one.

What is Planet High School?
The Earth, as I see it.

What is the Planet High School cover all about?
It’s about showing all the things I have to do, some of the things I do for fun, how I’ve had to learn to do a lot of things and fill a lot of roles that I didn’t expect to, to be a professional musician. I just really don’t feel very one sided or one dimensional. I’m a full time musician which means that everything I do goes into that. It’s not always about just grinding and FORCING music out because you’re “hustling.” It’s about how I love the music that I do, therefore I do a lot of other things for it to make sure it’s presented properly. I guess that even for an internet savvy and internet oriented artist, I had no idea how much emailing I’d have to do. I don’t have a good mind for emailing.

If you could reform education in two ways, what would they be?
I would say that after 6th grade, kids shouldn’t have to ask to go to the bathroom. That’s just demeaning, but you don’t know any better, but really that’s weird! Also, my experience was one where I learned everything in my classes but struggled with the homework. The system itself is set up to herd the flock or designed for the majority. But I’ve known my whole entire conscious life what I wanted to do. I think if I had been allowed to work on those skills, or at LEAST not constantly get in trouble for drawing during class, not only would I have excelled in school, but I probably would have felt better throughout. Also, make school later in the day or at least mix up the schedule a bit. I have never been nor will I ever be a morning person, and I don’t even get to choose that. That’s biology. If every day is a terrible struggle just to stay awake, not only are you not learning, but you just despise what you’re doing. At least, I definitely did.