A cathartic, hard-hitting and gloomy anthem, ‘AMNESIA’ marks goneMUNE’s glorious return to the international music scene, following up on her 2023 Album ‘TULPA:REDUX’. The leftfield songstress and creative is a rather well-known name in the underground landscape of Singapore and Southeast Asia, especially thanks to her forays into synthwave and boundary-pushing electronica, an endeavour that’s deeply wrapped in melancholic personal experience and cathartic, trauma-healing lyricism. The project also remains somewhat relatable and digestible thanks to a distinct alt-pop character.
‘AMNESIA’ continues on the same theme, showcasing goneMUNE’s willingness to move on from her painful past and complex mental health. In that sense, the single is quite optimistic, always maintaining a certain amount of mystery and aural euphoria, some of the project’s landmark features. Anticipating the upcoming album ‘AVERDONIA’, ‘AMNESIA’ is the first chapter in what’s bound to be an intricate, meaningful storyline, all focused on rebirth, grief and resilience.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with goneMUNE to learn more about her artistry and general ethos… Interview below!
Hey goneMUNE, thanks for chatting with us! The reader has already been given a comprehensive summary of what you stand for as a musical entity. Yet, I feel that hearing it from you might be beneficial, given the complex and heartfelt ethos behind the project. Much of your artistry has been focused on trauma healing. Would you say you have made progress on that? Are you in a better place than you were two years ago, for instance?
Thank you for having me, Gabriel! Yes, absolutely. 2020 to 2024 were incredibly intense and difficult years for me. Growing up in a tumultuous household in Singapore while trying to navigate other societal issues was already a lot to carry, and even after starting therapy in 2021, I knew it would take time to truly reach a healthier place.
Nothing could’ve prepared me for what was ahead – those traumatic years reshaped the way I saw myself. I had to relearn how to live for myself after living so long for others. I’m definitely in a better place now, and I stand by the belief that you don’t have to be mentally unwell to make meaningful art. In fact, I believe it’s the opposite. We should normalise prioritising our well-being and taking care of ourselves.
goneMUNE‘s aesthetic is rather unique. I suppose that’s the perfect counterpoint to your deep, introspective lyricism. The video for ‘AMNESIA’ is a fitting example of that. What should the listeners look out for when watching it?
In the music video for ‘AMNESIA’ (and in upcoming releases), I explore the story of AVERDONIA: a cyborg created by an unstable scientist who takes their own life shortly after finishing their creation. The cyborg was modelled after the scientist’s deceased child and was programmed with the capacity for emotion – but without the known trigger for AVERDONIA to access it.
AVERDONIA then begins a journey in search of humanity (like they’re looking /for/ the trigger), encountering strange environments and otherworldly beings, yet always feeling disconnected – until they meet a mysterious figure named V wearing a bandaged mask. Though his appearance is concealed and seemingly unfinished, AVERDONIA is drawn to him.
This bond acts as a trigger (manifested symbolically by a nosebleed) as fragments of AVERDONIA’s human past begin to resurface. Symbolism plays a key role throughout. The styling for both AVERDONIA and V is carefully constructed, embodying their personality, past life and hints to the story. If you look closely, both characters wear garments connected by hanging strings.
My stylist, Ryan (@destroyryvn), did a great job bringing that symbolism to life. Bandages, in particular, are a recurring motif, one of the meanings representing the mysterious link between V and AVERDONIA. What exactly binds them, and the deeper purpose V plays in AVERDONIA’s life, is a mystery that will continue unfolding through future releases. The music video was an absolute blast to shoot – it was my first-ever production with a full team, so it’s immensely meaningful to me as a DIY musician. Huge shoutout to Joseph (@badsoju) for capturing my vision so perfectly and bringing it to life on screen.
‘AMNESIA’ is your latest effort, a striking and hard-hitting look at grief, loss and loneliness. Are we correct in saying that the song rescued you from a dark place, emotionally speaking? Was there a particular event that inspired it?
Yes, in many ways it truly saved me – and gave me the clarity I desperately needed. The demo for ‘AMNESIA’ was created back in April 2023, entirely on my iPad using iOS GarageBand. I had just wrapped up ‘TULPA:REDUX’ and its EP release show, and was standing at a crossroads, unsure of what to do next. I was still in the middle of an on-and-off relationship (that lasted three years). That same person had berated me for so long that I completely lost my sense of direction in life.
That year, I started to feel like I was making music for the wrong reasons, for the wrong people, people who didn’t care, who only wanted to take from me. It was exhausting. After a soul-draining gig, I reached out to Singaporean artist duo TZECHAR (@tzechar.art), whom I’d known online since I was 11. They had recently returned to Singapore after living many years in Melbourne, and I had always admired their work. Meeting them in person and hearing their advice struck a deep chord in me.
From that point on, I knew I had to shift the focus back to myself. I took a break from music for a year. Therapy became essential, and so did truly doing the work. Around that time, I also stepped into the funeral industry, and witnessing death every day, hearing the grief of those still on Earth, made me realise just how short life really is. I could just die at any moment.
I didn’t want to waste another second putting my dreams on hold. So I returned to AMNESIA, this time with more determination. I started mixing it, and it has stuck with me through all the chaos. Now that it’s finally out, I feel like a massive weight has been lifted. Releasing this track, and everything it holds, feels like letting go of a version of myself I’ve long outgrown, as well as the dark memories from the past few years. I’m ready now to keep creating with the people who’ve truly supported me, and to leave behind those who never did.
You have been writing and producing music for a while. Would you say that such a process has helped you cope with your emotions and find a new path forward?
I’ve been producing and writing music since December 2020, using it not only as a creative outlet but also as a platform to express myself in other forms; whether it’s editing all my videos and photos or incorporating movement into my live performances. Not only has it been cathartic, but it’s taught me a lot about how the world works, ironically.
In the beginning, it was easy for me to pour my emotions into music, like an immediate release valve for whatever I was feeling. But with AVERDONIA, I’ve come to realise that it doesn’t offer the same kind of relief anymore. I think it’s because I had been using music as a form of avoidance without truly addressing the root of my problems. While it was a great tool to release trauma and emotions, it didn’t necessarily help with long-term healing. Oddly enough, I’m grateful that it doesn’t work the same way now. It’s a sign that I’m no longer escaping through my art. Validating the fact that I’m finally facing my issues and actively doing the work to heal.
‘AMNESIA’ is wrapped in a fiery synthwave livery, quite futuristic and hyper-pop-ish. Can you take us through your production process? What are some of your biggest influences?
My writing and production process is never fixed, and I find it hard to give a straightforward answer when people ask how I start a song. Sometimes it begins with experimenting with a sample, other times I’ll have a vocal melody or a lyric idea first and build from there…always different. Genre-wise, I like to explore, as one could probably tell from my discography, so I’d say I lean more toward being a dark experimental artist rather than strictly a dark alternative pop musician – that would just be an easy label for others to catch onto generally.
I believe that if you want to express something, do it, and don’t let anything restrict you initially in your creative process. AVERDONIA came a bit easier because there’s a concrete storyline, but the mixing process was tough. I had been working on my iPad for so long that transitioning to a new MacBook came with a steep learning curve, and I knew I needed help. Huge shoutout to Ming from TZECHAR and Mervin Wong (@mervinwong00) – AVERDONIA would not have existed without them.
I’ve always been a little stubborn, very DIY in my approach, wanting to figure things out on my own, but learning to ask for help has been a massive part of my growth. As for influences, David Bowie has always been a major one. I first discovered him on Tumblr when I was 11, during a time when I was just beginning to explore the world and my identity. I related to his music a lot, as well as the work from Pete Burns of Dead or Alive. I was drawn to their androgyny because it mirrored how I often felt about myself. That said, my inspirations are pretty scattered across genres. They tend to come together in my subconscious memory as I sit with my thoughts alone while I produce.
What can we expect from your upcoming LP, ‘AVERDONIA’? Can you give us a quick glimpse of the storyline behind it?
After ‘AMNESIA’, AVERDONIA’s story continues. While the full LP won’t be released anytime soon, I’ll still be expanding the narrative through upcoming releases. We’ll gradually uncover how AVERDONIA’s journey pans out, whether or not they’ll ever find the peace they deserve, as they begin to confront their past and come to terms with who they are. The relationship with their creator, who is also their father, and the true identity of V will come into focus. It’s going to get a lot more intense from here, and I hope people will stay to not only witness but experience the ride.
Finally, what’s your experience of navigating the music industry nowadays? Is there anything you think you could do differently?
Being an independent musician is always tough. But honestly, I’d still take it. I like being in control of many aspects of my work, whether it’s directing and editing my videos or producing and mixing my own music. That said, this level of effort feels like a gamble at times; you never really know what’s going to take off. I was lucky with ‘AMNESIA’ gaining some traction, and I’m truly grateful for that. Still, with the way social media algorithms work, it’s disheartening to think about how much good art goes unseen.
Yet, I don’t think that should stop anyone from creating. At the end of the day, artists should make art for themselves, and if people connect with it, that’s great. But not everyone will resonate with your work as it expands, and that’s okay, too. If I could turn back time, I’d definitely start investing in my music career a bit earlier. I really wish that I had more confidence in creating music when I was younger, because it has just brought me so much today.
In another way, if I were more financially well-off, I’d definitely be doing higher-end productions, both visually and sonically. But I didn’t grow up with that kind of privilege. I’m not a nepo baby – I’m building everything from the ground up. Despite the challenges, I’m grateful. Grateful for where I am now, for the fans who support me, and for the friends and collaborators who stood by me through so much.
What’s your audience like at the moment? Have you connected with like-minded folks across the globe? Are you part of any particular community that helps you move forward?
I don’t think many people in Singapore truly resonate with my work. There just isn’t much appreciation here for original music, especially alternative or darker genres. That’s why it means so much to me when people from around the world, especially those from the US, connect with what I do. One day, I’d love to go on tour. But realistically, I’m still early in my career, so financially it’s not a top priority at the moment. I’m sending all my love to everyone outside of Singapore who’s found something meaningful in my music, and of course, to the rare few within Singapore who get it too. You’re deeply appreciated.
This article has been supported by goneMUNE through a small donation, and we are proud to be working together to promote her music.
