The Mole (MC/producer)

The Mole, AKA Th' Mole (Jonah Mociun) is a vocalist and electronic composer who became a leader in the movement of "no budget" record labels around 2001. He is a native of California.

"If You Don’t Like This You Have Bad Taste" was self-released in 1995 under the name Pierre Johnson. Subsequent solo and collaborative recordings were variously released during the next several years.

He founded the Motion Recordings label in 1999 and released albums under the names Turbo Punx, The Poetry Master, Johnny Sunshine, and Experimental Man.

2000 marked the release of "(Single)", his first release under the Mole moniker. But it was with 2001's "Communion" album, after relocating to Hawai'i, that a much wider audience was introduced to The Mole. "Communion" included one of his signature live tunes, "Caitlin", which quickly began circulating on the internet and on mix tape compilations. Meanwhile, through his outrageous live shows (including costumes and other theatrics) he developed a local following. "Beloved Retard Babies," a collection of "Communion" out-takes, was later released as a companion piece to the album.

While part of Maui’s alternative music scene, The Mole met frequent collaborator Demune, and the pair released the "Attack of the Zombie King" album in 2003. "Bloody Flags", an anti-war single, also featured Demune, as well as Ancient Mith. In 2004, the Mole embarked on an extensive European tour. He formed the spin-off band Headley Grange with indie rocker Body Holliday, releasing the "Hurt Fire" EP later that year. Motion Recordings also began issuing albums by Nomar Slevik, Hairdresser Mike, and Mattr. By the time he released "Whirlwind World," The Mole had moved to West Oakland, California. Styled after "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, "Whirlwind World" was a fantasy-themed concept album, its story changing depending on which track the listener “flipped” to. The Terms None duet "This Is What Happens When My Thoughts Get Ahead Of Me" was the lead single from the album, released in remixed form. As the release of "Whirlwind World" heralded a sizeable increase in fan-base (with sudden and unexplained popularity in Eastern European countries), an extensive West Coast tour followed, including appearances at Burning Man. 2005 also saw the single release of fan favorite "How 2 B Cool", as well as the "Organopolis" EP on Finnish label Anti-Party Music. Meanwhile, German-based Ramadan Records released the "Mattr. and Friends: Consequence of Thoughts" album, nearly half of which featured vocals by The Mole.

In 2005, The Mole went to New Orleans as a Hurricane Katrina relief volunteer, where he ended up living for over a year. During this period he recorded with New Orleans artists including DJ 0.000001, Pierre Pre$$ure, Shorty, Gemma Jones, and MC Subzero Permafrost. 2006 saw the release of the "Mutamigradaptation" "tour CD" on Dutch label Hectic Records (including the hugely popular break-up song "I Hate You"), a massive tour including nine countries and nearly 40 dates (sharing stages with Venetian Snares, DJ Krush, and others), as well as a recording collaboration with legendary emcee and artist .

Since 2007, The Mole has relocated to an "undisclosed" location in California, where he has been working on a children's music project under the moniker Captain Daydream. He has also been readying the release of the long-promised "new album" which has finally been announced as a release on Daly City Records for early 2009. The album, "Greatest Hits (Ha Ha Ha) Vol. 1", will be comprised of mostly new material, aside from several oldies and new re-makes, and is slated to feature guests including Warrior Queen, Mochipet, and Captain Ahab. Amongst numerous album cameos and compilation features, 2008 has also yielded "Why Not Try", an EP released in collaboration with German electronic composer The Chukchee. Meanwhile, Big Dada recording artist K-The-I??? is said to be recording a new album produced entirely by The Mole.

Partial Discography

Albums/EPs

*"If You Don't Like This You Have Bad Taste" (as Pierre Johnson) - 1994
*"Splendid Sleeping Conditions" (with Saggis Fife, as The Johnson-Fife Symphony) - 1995
*"Music For Pizza Parties" (as Pierre Johnson) - 1995
*"The Christmas Album" (with Don Johnson, as The Brothers Johnson) - 1995
*"Back To Attack" (as Pierre Johnson) - 1996
*"Heart Core" (with Don Johnson, as The Brothers Johnson) - 1996
*"The Poetry Master" (as The Poetry Master) - 1999
*"The Odyssey of the Silkworm" (as Johnny Sunshine) - 1999
*"Ch@os" (as Turbo Punx) - 2000
*"Experimental Man" (as Experimental Man) - 2000
*"North San Juan" - 2001
*"Communion" - 2002
*"Beloved Retard Babies" - 2003
*"Attack of the Zombie King..."(with Demune) - 2003
*"Ho Ho Ho" (with Demune, Platelunch & Tang Li Wheebs) - 2003
*"Bloody Flags" (maxi-single with ancient mith & Demune) - 2004
*"If I Were Real..." (as DJ 0.0001) - 2004
*"This Is What Happens When My Thoughts Get Ahead Of Me" (maxi-single with Terms None) - 2004
*"Hurt Fire" EP (with Body Holliday, as Headley Grange) - 2004
*"Whirlwind World" - 2004
*"Organopolis EP" - 2005
*"Consequence of Thoughts" (with Mattr., Demune, Ancient Mith, and Terms None, as Mattr. and Friends) - 2005
*"Mutamigradaptation" - 2006
*"Mutamigradaptation LP" (alternate tracks) - 2007
*"Why Not Try EP" (with The Chukchee) - 2008

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/themole The Mole web page]
* [http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=31489539 The Mole live video]
* [http://www.motionrecordings.com Motion Recordings website]
* [http://www.dalycityrecords.com Daly City Records website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/captaindaydream Captain Daydream web page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/dj0000001 DJ 0.000001 web page]

References

*www.motionrecordings.com/themole citation
author = Mociun, Jonah
year = 2008
title = The Mole (Motion Recordings)
journal = Www.motionrecordings.com/themole
url = www.motionrecordings.com/themole]
* www.myspace.com/themole Citation
author = Mociun, Jonah
year = 2008
title = Myspace.com - Th' Mole, AKA the Mole
url = myspace.com/themole]