In Conversation with Moonbean: What is Infinite Can Never Die
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder) - MOONBEAN
For Toronto-based MOONBEAN, the hardware electroclash duo have spent the last several years building a reputation through explosive live performances powered entirely by drum machines, synthesizers, and a healthy dose of unpredictability. Their recent compilation, WORKS (2022–2025), gathers together the project’s first chapter before they turn their attention toward a debut full-length album. Ahead of that next era, we caught up with MOONBEAN to discuss the power of live electronic performance, the enduring spirit of underground dance culture, and why Charli xcx may have it wrong about the dance floor being dead.
REVERIE: For readers meeting MOONBEAN for the first time — who are you, and what should they know about the world you’re creating together?
We are MOONBEAN! A hardware Electroclash dance music duo from Toronto.
MOONBEAN: We're creating a world with our art where people feel comfortable to express their badass selves, ask for what they want, and unapologetically shake their ass. A space for radical self-expression, spontaneity, community and dance.
REVERIE: How did MOONBEAN first come together, and what was the spark that made you realize this was more than just a one-off collaboration?
MOONBEAN: We met each other while volunteering at Hillside music festival in Ontario, and started writing music together during the pandemic, but it wasn't until our first post-lockdown show that we knew we were hooked! Playing live and touring has been our main focus since.
REVERIE: Your music pulls from disco, acid house, synth-pop, electro, and club culture, but there’s also something deeply playful and empowering in it. How would you describe the MOONBEAN sound in your own words?
MOONBEAN: Since we perform with a strictly hardware setup of drum machines, synthesizers and effects pedals, with no prerecorded backing tracks, there is always a level of chaos and spontaneity for us and the audience, which keeps things playful and evolving. Every set is a bit different from the next.
We strive to create a live feeling electronic sound that is heavy, unexpected and danceable, and inspires people to connect with each other and express themselves on the dance floor. We also try to infuse our music - and our lives - with a punk ethos vibe.
REVERIE: You perform with live hardware rather than relying on a more traditional DJ setup. What does that approach unlock creatively, and how does it shape the energy of a MOONBEAN show?
MOONBEAN: The live hardware thing is definitely the most critical part of what we do! We have over 30 pieces of gear, and are able to instinctively manipulate every instrument and sound in so many different ways, which allows every song to expand and contract uniquely every time we play. We also leave space in our sets to improvise with each other and feed off the audiences energy. Every show we play is a bit different than the last which keeps things interesting and exciting for us and our audience. The instruments themselves, and how they are connected, can be unpredictable at times, which creates another element of surprise and inspiration for us.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)
REVERIE: Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” is such a foundational electronic/disco track. What made you want to reinterpret that song, and how do you approach covering something so iconic without losing your own identity?
MOONBEAN: We had one of those magical late night dance floor moments with "I Feel Love" back before MOONBEAN was a thing. It was such a huge revelation for us about the power of music, dance floors, and the deep history of analogue synthesizers in pop music.
The track was such a mystery to us, and out of pure fascination we wanted to figure out how to recreate it.
It was actually the first thing we attempted to do with our hardware set up. We cover the song with similar arrangement and instrumentation as the original, but we found ourselves pushing the sound and vibe organically into a more heavy, and gritty space, which feels energetic and exhilarating to perform live.
REVERIE: Let’s chat about your recent release: WORKS (2022–2025). Why did now feel like the right time to collect these songs into one release and why did you decide to compile 3 years of work into one album?
MOONBEAN: After focusing on playing live for our first three years, and predominately working on singles, we had yet to put out any proper physical media. We thought that our third cross Canada tour would be a good time to collect all of our original recorded materials to date, and release some vinyl and CDS! We wanted to give those songs a proper limited run before we release our upcoming debut full length album later this year.
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)
REVERIE: Looking back at the music on WORKS (2022–2025), what do you hear in your own evolution? Are there ideas or themes that have stayed constant? What were your primary influences?
MOONBEAN: Our experiences getting to know the specific instruments themselves more, our understanding of their histories, and our exposure to live acts and DJs while on tour have all influenced our sound over the years. The sheer amount of shows that we've played, as well as the traveling, people, sound systems, venues, and audiences! We hear it all. The experiences we've had touring Canada and the EU has been invaluable in our evolution as artists, and we transmute those experiences into our music.
Our thematic landscape has remained centered throughout, around themes of self empowerment, sexual freedom, community, cosmic psychedelia, and critique of modern life.
REVERIE: A lot of MOONBEAN’s music seems rooted in liberation, embodiment, and radical self-expression. How intentional is that ethos, and what conversations do you hope your music creates on the dancefloor — do you agree with Charli xcx’s recent take that “the dance floor is dead”?
MOONBEAN: No talking, just dancing, smiling and eye contact! For us personally we've had so many life changing, powerful experiences on the dance floor. Dancing with friends and strangers for hours and hours.
Having come from a predominantly rock and jazz band world, discovering the power of the dance floor has been monumental in our personal growth. And we have been pulled to contribute and facilitate moments like this in the spaces we play. We end up playing predominantely band focused venues, it is our aim to bring this type of dance floor experience into those spaces. Liberation, self-expression and embodiment have always been baked into dance music culture. At this moment in history and culture, we think it's even more important to be amplifying this ethos and way of being.
Our rebuttal to the idea that the dance floor is dead is - what is infinite can never die.
Maybe if you're talking about massive corporate stadium size events with people constantly on their cell phones filming instead of living in the moment. But as for most other community music spaces, underground events, small festivals and DIY shows, in our experience, the dance floor in Canada has never been more alive!
Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)
REVERIE: Toronto has such a rich electronic and queer nightlife history. How has the city shaped MOONBEAN, both musically and personally?
MOONBEAN: Talk about a lively dance floor! The queer community knows how to throw down, which has inspired us immensely. On top of that, there are some truly amazing electronic acts active in Toronto right now such as World News 808909, Phèdre, Slash Need, Pick a Piper, and the list goes on. Seeing these bands live over the years as well as sharing stages with some of them has very much inspired us to do what we do! To keep pushing, experimenting, and developing the medium. It's a very exciting time to be creating and performing live electronic music in Toronto! The community is so supportive.
REVERIE: Now that WORKS (2022-2025) closes one chapter, what does the next era of MOONBEAN look like?
MOONBEAN: We are releasing our debut full length album in 2027! This album will feature all new, original material written and recorded over the past 6 months, mostly during our EU tour. With the release of this album, and our continuing evolution as artists and humans, we hope to keep playing shows, touring, and sharing the dance floor with folks for many years to come!