Mothica: “Writing ‘Somewhere In Between’ brought me back to the basics of why I fell in love with music.”

With the release of her new EP Somewhere In Between via SharpTone Records, Mothica presents a collection shaped by her experiences with depression, addiction, and recovery. Much of the material began as poetry written on her phone while coming out of rehab, before being developed into full songs. Rather than starting with fully formed concepts or visuals, Mothica approached this EP through stream-of-consciousness writing, allowing recurring themes to emerge naturally once the songs were complete.

Tracks such as “Save Your Roses” pair brighter production with lyrics that carry darker subtext, while songs like “A Bullet” directly address moments from before she got sober. For Mothica, music remains a way of processing difficult experiences, and this EP documents that period of transition in a straightforward and honest way. Visually, the project continues the development of MothiCorp, a fictional corporation that appears in her videos and serves as a parallel to both the music industry and her own internal struggles.

In our latest Cover Story, V13 speaks with Mothica about the writing process behind Somewhere In Between, the role music plays in her life, and how she sees the MothiCorp concept evolving alongside her career.

Your new EP, Somewhere In Between, is out now via SharpTone Records. We’re going to dive into the stories behind the EP, including your latest single “Save Your Roses,” and look into the world of MothiCorp. Let’s start with the EP. You’ve said that depression and addiction left you feeling very all-or-nothing. While making the EP, you had this “how do I exist in the middle” mentality. Now that Somewhere In Between is out, how did that question shape how you approached this collection of songs?

“It was a different way of writing for me. In the past, my writing was very backwards: I had the song title, the music video, everything in my head, and then I made the song. This time, I wrote a stream of consciousness, whatever came out, came out. The theme of the EP just shows itself. Eventually, you look back and start to see patterns.”

I understand many of the lyrics started as poetry written on your phone while coming out of rehab. How did that raw, unfiltered process influence what we hear on the release?

“Writing lyrics without music in mind means there’s less judgment. Most of my songs were written in a room with someone else, which can make you self-conscious. Bringing in something I’d written privately allowed for more interesting and deeper lyrics than I would have said in front of someone else.”

The EP blends pop songwriting with a grittier, heavier guitar-driven style. You said you wanted to channel anger into the music. Do you feel you succeeded?

“I think so, though there’s still more anger to get out. We tried to include more yelling or screaming, which hasn’t always worked for me. On songs like “Evergreen Misery” and “Weapon,” there’s a breakdown where we recorded vocals down a hallway with me by myself, just yelling. That was super cathartic.”

Let’s move to the single “Save the Roses.” The video is set inside MothiCorp’s offices. What does MothiCorp represent to you creatively?

“MothiCorp is a mysterious corporation, but it parallels the music industry and my own subconscious. It was inspired by The Truman Show. If I had the budget, it would be fun to dig deep into all the MothiCorp lore.”

“This time, I wrote a stream of consciousness, whatever came out, came out. The theme of the EP just shows itself. Eventually, you look back and start to see patterns.”

You featured Jaden Hamer on guitar, Brittany Nicole Bauman on drums, and Tay on bass. What made you choose them?

“It’s fun in music videos to hire some femme-presenting, tattooed, hot people. No offence to my real band. I’ve hired Jaden and Brittany for other videos. They’re great musicians, and it was fun to see them learn the song.”

I understand there are hidden Easter eggs throughout the MothiCorp offices. Can you talk through some of your favourites?

“There are throwbacks to previous videos, like props from “Last Cigarette,” which was about Mothman. We also had fun creating employee roles—scientists experimenting on light bulbs. Maybe MothiCorp is a giant light factory, which is why moths work there. There are books and props from past videos.”

V13 Cover Story – Issue 118 – Mothica

Let’s talk about the song itself. “Save Your Roses” sounds explosive and energetic, but lyrically, it’s darker. You’ve linked it more to substances than a specific lover. How important was that dual meaning?

“Pretty much every love song I’ve written isn’t about a human, it’s about drinking or drugs. The chorus came from something a fan said at a meet and greet. I flipped the quote. The song feels brighter and more energetic than anything I’ve done, but if you read the lyrics, there’s a double meaning.”

You mentioned the lyric was inspired by a fan who talked about giving flowers before death. What was it like hearing that and applying it to your music?

“I found the fan online, she’s from the Netherlands. She said people deserve their flowers while they’re alive. It was poetic. We often say the best things about someone after they die or when they’re not in the room. It made me think how life-changing it would be to tell someone directly. I flipped that idea into the song: tell me you like me now.”

What would you say is the most personal song on Somewhere In Between?

“Definitely “A Bullet.” I wrote it before getting sober. I wouldn’t normally release something with such a dark message. When I was relapsing, I told myself it was better than suicide, the lesser of two evils. That’s in the lyrics. Finishing it after rehab was tough. I cringed a bit, but fans loved it. Those gut-wrenching lyrics are what connect most.”

How does it feel knowing your music touches people on that level?

“It’s awesome, and I never take it for granted. Sometimes I have to detach from my songs live, especially the sad ones, or I’ll start crying. Once I put a song out, it’s no longer my secret. It becomes other people’s favourite or least favourite. It’s like sending your child off to school.”

“‘A Bullet.’ I wrote it before getting sober. I wouldn’t normally release something with such a dark message. When I was relapsing, I told myself it was better than suicide, the lesser of two evils.”

Where do you see your vision for Mothica going from here?

“There are so many exciting things I want to do with Mothica. I write music because it’s a way to tell my story, and I’ve always wanted to tell my life story in other mediums, like in a dark comedic TV show or even a memoir. I’d love to bring more humor into my art because laughter has been the best medicine for me through every hardship I’ve overcome. So hopefully one day, Mothicorp will sprout a few different branches of other forms of media.”

What have you learned about yourself as an artist and a person from the experience of writing Somewhere in Between?

“Writing Somewhere In Between brought me back to the basics of why I fell in love with music. Instead of writing with some end goal in mind, without the theatrics and visuals being the forefront. I started writing these songs as a stream of consciousness, as I would write in a diary, and it helped me process the heavy feelings of getting sober again and all the emotions I suppressed while I was numbing myself. It felt like a homecoming, solving this big, beautiful puzzle that reminded me why I’ll always love music.”