"We discovered this enchanting frequency": Emile Mosseri Analyzes His Second Album 'tryin to be born' - Atwood Magazine

      Emile Mosseri guides us through his sophomore album, ‘tryin to be born,’ track by track – an intimate, unrefined, and revealing reflection on love that conveys the beauty of enduring partnership, the pain of self-examination, and the enchantment of spontaneous collaboration.

      “this time i lost my mind” – Emile Mosseri

      Emile Mosseri’s music exudes warmth and intimacy, making each song feel like a gentle confession or a memory unfolding organically. A renowned composer and songwriter, Mosseri has spent years creating soundtracks that enhance the emotional depth of films like Minari and The Last Black Man in San Francisco. However, his own work narrates a different tale – one that's raw, unfiltered, and profoundly personal. On his sophomore album, ‘tryin to be born,’ he fully embraces that vulnerability, highlighting the quiet beauty of long-lasting love, the pain of introspection, and the joy of spontaneous creativity.

      Released on February 28, 2025, via Greedy Heart Records, ‘tryin to be born’ follows two creatively fruitful years after Mosseri’s debut solo album, ‘Heaven Hunters.’ Produced by his friend and collaborator Bobby Krlic, ‘Heaven Hunters’ showcased Mosseri’s deeply emotive songwriting through an ethereal and often cinematic lens, whereas his latest work feels even more immediate, rooted in the energy of live performance and connection. Recorded over just a few weeks, the album features Mosseri collaborating with a close-knit band, including Meg Duffy (Hand Habits), Dougie Stu, and Kosta Galanopoulos, capturing the essence of spontaneity by tracking songs live to tape.

      “I wrote most of these songs in a short span, recording the solo ones at Bobby’s studio, and then spending five days with a band at Altamira Studios in Alhambra, California,” Mosseri shares with Atwood Magazine. “We found this magical rhythm where I would teach the band a song each day, and we’d record it live to tape right away. Bobby was producing, and Meg Duffy, Dougie Stu, and Kosta Galanopoulos played guitar, bass, and drums. Our friend James Riotto was engineering, and we became this little family for a week. It was one of the best experiences of my life, both musically and personally.”

      For Mosseri, this creative chemistry influenced not just the process but the essence of the album itself. The immediacy of live recording, the trust between collaborators, and an instinct-driven approach were all essential in bringing the eleven tracks on ‘tryin to be born’ to fruition. But what was his initial goal?

      “I didn’t start with a mission statement beyond writing vulnerable and lyrically honest songs," he clarifies. "I ended up creating several songs that explore the sanctuary of love, which felt exciting and romantic to me, capturing long-term companionship and all the bliss, longing, and nuances that accompany it.”

      The album’s striking title was inspired by Mosseri’s close friend and collaborator, filmmaker Joe Talbot. “It felt connected to the songs and also had a vintage vibe that contrasted interestingly with the music,” Mosseri recalls. This tension between nostalgia and something more immediate reflects the album’s sonic character – organic, raw, and profoundly present, as if listeners are not just hearing it through headphones but are part of an intimate, collective creative moment, crafting something extraordinary together.

      “This is my second solo record, and it feels more alive than my first or my scores,” he notes. “That’s largely thanks to Bobby and the crew who played on it, infusing it with life and magic.”

      The album features several standout tracks, from the intimate and boldly dramatic opener “bloodboy” to the cathartic closing piece “you & your boyfriend” – one of Mosseri’s two personal favorites, along with the deeply vulnerable “the time i lost my mind.”

      “I wrote ‘you & your boyfriend’ years ago with my old band while we were making an EP called Human Love in Stinson Beach, California,” he reminisces. “The idea was to write from the perspective of a heartbroken guy yearning for his girl back, who is willing to accept her new boyfriend. My bandmate David Baldwin contributed my favorite line: ‘he’s paying double but you can stay for free.’ I always liked this one more than anyone else in the band did, and I’ve loved it ever since, so I had to include it here. It’s the direction I want to pursue in my songwriting, so it’s fitting that it’s the last track on the album, giving me a place to continue from in the next one.”

      Further notable songs include the hauntingly beautiful “wasting your love,” the gently bittersweet “not going anywhere,” and the visceral fever dream “don’t fall back so easily” – a tender ballad of love, longing, and letting