Minoa - Forward, Backward, Start Again (2022)

Minoa, originally Ina Klos, was already musically encouraged as a child: She took piano and singing lessons, sang in the school band, in a jazz combo and in the choir. After graduating from high school, she studied popular music in Hanover (GER) for two years, but ended her studies early, because of feeling thwarted in her own creative work by the constant analytical questioning. Minoa longed to make her music free from any norm, in an intuitive way, let all impulses break fresh ground - and went to Berlin, where she still lives today. For the artist, it always felt natural to write her songs in English, even though she is not a native speaker; however, the first one and a half years of life in the USA seem to have subconsciously shaped her in that direction. Probably also her father's love for the music of the Beatles and her mother's for that of Joni Mitchell. "Forward, Backward, Start Again," released digitally, on CD and vinyl, is a milestone for Minoa, with which she musically introduces herself to a broad audience from Berlin's DIY scene with international-like quality. The title is a metaphor for the inner struggle with oneself: For the impatience to finally take a step further, to sprint off bravely and in the next moment to be caught up by fear because you have left the safe terrain. And to try again. And again. It is this dichotomy that is also reflected in the songs on the album.

"Forward, Backward, Start Again", Minoa's debut album will be released on August 19, 2022 on the Berlin label ListenRecords. Behind the stage name is the singer, musician and composer Ina Klos, who was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in a small town near Hanover. The eight songs on her first record, Minoa displays a flair for songwriting and melody that is seldom heard and clothes it in an idiosyncratic, international-style electric guitar sound that has no need to hide from the big names on the scene like Julia Jacklin, Big Thief, Angel Olsen, Soccer Mommy or Snail Mail. The vocal skills of the trained singer and speaker are also of captivating - and deeply touching - quality.