maq 22 is carving out a distinctive space in the electronic rap scene with his latest EP, MUNINN. Blending the introspective with the mythological, his music bridges personal history and futuristic soundscapes, delivering what he calls “melancholic happiness.” In this exclusive interview with Urbanista Magazine, maq 22 opens up about his collaboration with producer Tiresss, the creative journey behind MUNINN, and how Norse mythology and his Frisian roots shaped the project. From breaking mirrors in a glass house to experimenting with electronic beats, maq 22 gives listeners a glimpse into both his artistic process and his evolving sound.
What was the spark that led to creating MUNINN?
Even though these days it’s more common for indie artists to focus on singles, I’ve always loved the idea of putting together an EP or album. I like creating a journey and curating a collection of tracks that work together as a whole. When I discovered Tiresss, his production immediately stood out to me. His sound is super diverse, but there’s a consistency to it that made me want to build something with his beats.
How did working with Tiresss differ from your previous collaborations?
A lot of producers online are hesitant to send stems for their beats. He trusted me with them and was always really enthusiastic about the songs I sent back. That level of trust made the whole process feel easy and inspiring.
Which track on the EP do you feel most represents your current artistic identity?
“Glass House.” The glass house represents the possibility of being seen by the entire world through the internet. But the broken mirrors in that house reflect back a distorted image of me. It’s a song about dealing with existential fear while also wanting to be recognized and understood as an artist.
How do mythology and personal history intersect in your music?
With every album, EP or tape I release, I like to pull from the things I’m interested in and use them to create a theme for the project. As a Dutch Frisian, I started diving into the history and old religion of the region I’m from. I came across the Prose Edda and got really into the mythology. It’s one of the biggest sources we have for Norse mythology and it explores how people back then thought the universe came to be and how everything in the world works. As an artist I want to build my own imaginary world, and that idea really connected with me. That’s what led me to choose this theme for the project.
What emotions or ideas did you want listeners to take away from MUNINN?
Melancholic happiness.
How does your process for writing and freestyling differ when working with electronic beats?
I think because I grew up listening to a lot of pop and electronic music, the rhythm and melodies from that sound just stuck with me. It feels natural to write and record over those kinds of beats, and honestly it’s just more fun.
Did any particular challenges shape the final sound of the EP?
Yeah, definitely the mixing. Getting my vocals to sit right in the beat without being too loud or too quiet, especially during the heavy parts, was tough. I learned a bunch of new techniques while working on it. I picked it all up online. Honestly, shout out to the internet.
What’s your favourite lyric or line from MUNINN, and why?
“Turning up the volume, it’s all maxed out I don’t feel a thing, so no I can not tap out All I see is broken mirrors in this glass house My room’s all foggy like a bath house Neighbours at my door, like is it that loud I gotta do this shit right, pull my cash out” That part from “Glass House” really captures what my days looked like while recording MUNINN. I’d be blasting my latest mixes, still feeling numb after MMA training, smoking up my room where I record, getting knocks on the wall from my neighbours, and trying to lock in and make more music. At the same time I was dealing with the kind of emotions fears I mentioned earlier when I spoke more about that track.
How do you see your sound evolving after this release?
This project definitely feels like a step toward a more electronic rap sound. I’ve also started producing my own beats, inspired by studying Tiresss’s work and with help from my close friend and fellow musician Pastelfuneral. I’ll actually be going on tour with him in China this October to play some shows.
If you could describe MUNINN in one word, what would it be and why?
Dystopian. To me, it sounds like the soundtrack to a cyberpunk/dystopian movie.
