Featured Photo Credit: Jenn Curtis
Singer-songwriter, Mokita, recently released “down,” which lyrically is a message to people experiencing difficulties and reminds them to be present and know that they are not alone.
“I’ve had some really rough seasons in my life where my depression was just so bad and I didn’t feel like I was ever going climb out of it, but through those times I’ve had some close friends who have walked with me through those seasons; who have encouraged me and just been present,” Mokita shares. “I think the theme of this song was really just a letter to those friends who are going through those things, and to anyone who is having a hard time. Everybody needs a friend to walk with them through the hard seasons and sometimes just being present, being available to listen, and being faithful, is the best way to love someone through those times.”
The song’s relatable lyrics dance with a haunting, gut-wrenching piano melody. As the song progresses, additional instruments are added, inoculating positive energy into this downtempo pop track. The build-up mirrors the song’s descriptive words of emotional isolation and the realization of the existence of a surrounding support system.
Mokita, the name John-Luke Carter adopted for himself after moving to Nashville from Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, roughly translates to “the truth we all know. but don’t talk about” in Kivila, a native language of Papua, New Guinea. Since adopting this moniker, Mokita has created music that reveals those truths, sincerity and raw emotion.
Down’s release is accompanied by a music video directed by Mike Matinazad that captures the same sentiment.
Listen and watch here.
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Amelia Cordischi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Juice Box Press, is an accomplished digital marketing professional with over a decade of experience in media and communications. Her work has been featured in notable publications, including The Boston Globe. A communications graduate of Simmons University in Boston, Amelia served as manager of Simmons College Radio (“The Shark”), where she also launched and co-hosted her radio show, The Find.
In addition to her editorial work, Amelia is an established freelance photographer, with bylines in Blended Magazine and CelebMix, capturing artists and cultural moments across the music and media landscape. Her career began at WCVB-TV’s Chronicle, the ABC affiliate in Boston, where she gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism and storytelling.
When she’s not taking photos from the photo pit, interviewing emerging artists, or crafting the next Juice Box Press feature, Amelia can be found thrifting and exploring the world of sustainable fashion.