Last month, Uganda-born, Austin-based songwriter Jon Muq premiered his single “Bend” with us, providing a behind-the-scenes look at where the song’s honest lyrical themes originated as well as the seamless process of setting the track to tape with the help of producer Dan Auerbach and some session players. “I had a problem with self-reflection,” Muq shared with us. “I hate mirrors, but I decided to confront myself in a mirror, and ‘Bend’ is the conversation I had with my reflection. It’s OK to give up on yourself on occasion; find an honest conversation with your reflection, and you will truly discover yourself.”
Before the arrival of Flying Away—the debut album the track will appear on—at the end of May via Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound, Muq shared another version of the song with us, this time a live recording for our “Neighborhoods” series which he filmed during a recent trip to Nashville. Set up in front of the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge on the city’s border, Muq strips the song of its vintage production value to instead present it as raw emotion accompanied by acoustic guitar. Check out the performance below.
