Editor’s note: The following interview explores themes that readers may find distressing, including suicide, grief and loss. Reader discretion is advised.

Mons Vi is the alias of the Big Apple’s Matthew Hershoff, a multidisciplinary artist who found his bearings by making bedroom-pop a method of survival. Hershoff’s collection of songs amassed over the last decade tell the harrowing story of his twenties; a period marked by immense loss, pain and personal hardship. Finding solace in songwriting, this coping-mechanism transformed into a creative outlet for Hershoff, who began gigging with a rotating cast of musicians in NYC’s indie circuit before the onset of COVID-19.

When speaking with Hershoff, I ask him how his relationship with music has changed since being cultivated as a place of healing during a difficult chapter in his life.

“My twenties kicked off with me losing my mom to suicide, which was devastating to me and coloured the next decade of my life. Music started as an entirely personal thing: It was about going through a process of grieving, and just getting my feelings and emotions out. Though my mom’s death is not necessarily the focal point of every song I’ve written, it’s a cornerstone of my personality and my experience; so, themes surrounding loss and abandonment come through in a lot of my earlier work. That being said, I’ve done a lot of growing since then, not like I’m an old man on the hill (laughs)… but, you know, I’ve connected with different people, found community and peace and am now I’m in a new identity-formation period. For the first time, I’m thinking about how I can bring my music into a live setting and make people come together and experience some kind of collective energy!”

Over the last eight years, Hershoff has built a musical catalog that he plans to release as a full album in the near future. Knowing that his musical career came of age in NYC, we get on the topic of the city’s dense culture and rhythm as a world-renowned epicenter of artistic expression.

“New York has such a rich history of music and powerful personalities,” says Hershoff. “You can’t escape it when you’re here and it makes you feel like you’re part of some kind of lineage; which, of course, informs the music that comes out of the city.”

Matthew Hershoff (Mons Vi), by Delaney D.

For Hershoff, a steady work ethic of going out and playing live music, coupled with getting to know familiar faces at gigs and about town, has helped him settle into a community that he says, “is really there for the long haul.”

The pandemic has made it difficult, if not impossible, for musicians like Hershoff to connect with their community lifelines. Without shows materializing as a cultural milieu, Hershoff has been chipping away at the beginnings of his debut record in isolation.

“As my debut comes together, I’m trying to harness the essence of what made me feel alright with being a human. All of this collective time alone has helped me think of how I can make these songs –some of which are eight years old– both healing and fun and a means of people coming together. This is what I picture while I write, hoping that it manifests.”

To get a glimpse into Hershoff’s imagination, I then ask him to touch on the backstory of his recently released music video for his latest track “After School.”

“I collaborated on that video with a friend of mine, Renata Pereira Lima. She is an extremely talented choreographer and works a lot in the realm of modern, interpretive-style dance. I knew I wanted to make a video with movement and I described what the song was about to her, and she brought that to life. The storyline is really as simple as two characters wanting each other, but one won’t give the other attention, so the other crosses a boundary to get said attention and then they have a party.”

Hershoff articulates that his songwriting is generally character-driven to represent and heighten parts of himself that he wants to come forward in his music. He notes that this method of narrative creation allows him to hone in on parts of his personality to release vulnerable feelings or hold himself accountable.

“We all have parts of our personality that, if you let them get out of check… you know, you end up being a jerk or getting out of control. If you let those parts of yourself speak freely through your art, it allows you to take control of your emotions in a healthy way,” he elaborates.

In closing our conversation, Hershoff dives into what is on his plate at the moment, as well as his upcoming plans.

“I’m putting my band back together right now and exploring other mediums of expression. I’m, of course, especially focused on music and feel like things will reveal themselves sooner rather than later, as the world begins to open up and live shows become possible once again. The best way to support me is by checking out my music and, you know, bobbing your head to it (laughs). But in all seriousness, if you’re interested and listening to the words, come to a show and hang out! I’d love to get to know you.”

Mons Vi

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Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter (she/her) is the co-founder and managing editor of Also Cool Mag. Aside from the mag, she is a music promoter & booker, and a radio host & DJ.

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