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LIFE & HOME 39
when you’re on tour, you’re spending
money on things like hotels and stuff to
keep the people you travel with taken care
of. Now, the focus is on getting as much
money as we can before we’re free to get
back on the road.”
As an artist and a businessman, Mooluh
acknowledges that the rules of the engagement
have recently
changed for the
entertainment industry.
He’s concerned
“With all that’s happening in the world
— I realize that I have to use my voice in a way that matters.”
not only for himself,
but also for the venues who book his act.
“Nobody could have predicted the fallout
we’re seeing now. COVID has really
affected the small venues, and a lot of
them are closing down. We’re really hoping
that this doesn’t affect us all longterm.”
The year 2020 isn’t the first time Mooluh
has faced obstacles in pursuit of his artistic
dreams; his initial intention of performing
original songs self-accompanied by a
guitar took a detour at age 17 as the
result of a freak accident involving a
broken window.
Sustaining serious nerve damage in his
hand may have abruptly ended his guitar
playing, but Mooluh translated this potential
setback into an opportunity to redirect
his creative energy into different
stylistic territory. Learning to read and
play music as a child benefitted him
tremendously in his current situation,
which relies heavily upon cooperation and
communication amongst artists to bolster
exposure to a wider audience.
It’s these genre-wide connections that
are turning Mooluh’s home state into a
hotbed of hip-hop talent. “When my
career began, I was thinking I would have
to leave Arkansas before I could come back
and be recognized,” he says. “But after a
local artist like Bankroll Freddie goes out
and gets a deal with
a huge label, that
draws attention to the
local scene.” When
typical modes of promotion
in limbo, Mooluh can still rely
upon collaboration with other major local
artists to maintain spotlight relevance.
“We’ve never encountered a situation
like this in our industry,” he muses. “It’s up
to us to come up with ways to stay out
there and keep our music and our
businesses going. ∞