Summary: Moshow—the Portland, Oregon-based artist and online phenomenon who specializes in rapping about cats—recounts starting to rap at 16, but stopped because, although he grew up in the projects of Baltimore, felt his raps (heavily influenced by gangsta rap) were inauthentic and didn’t feel right. Not coincidentally, perhaps, he notes that he’s a lifelong fan of James Taylor, citing “Shower The People” as his favorite song. Moshow explains that he had an animal-free childhood, but in college, his girlfriend had a black cat named Queenie and a mutual admiration society quickly developed—and launched Moshow on the path of his joyous passion for cats, and his raps and videos that reflect this joyous passion. This passion, he says, quickly extended to Sphynx cats, striking-looking felines chiefly distinguished by their lack of a coat—he’s drawn to them, he observes, feeling like a similarly hairless outcast (“I’m a human Sphynx.”) He recalls that starting to rap about cats, probably six or seven years ago, was more of a spontaneous gesture than a calculated move, and was doing so—including the videos that came later—under the radar…until about a year ago. That’s when the Moshow videos truly started getting noticed, and many of them have gone viral—perhaps most famously, in recent months, “Cat Bath Rap,” in which he’s rapping in the bath tub while giving his cat Ravioli a bath. He also discusses the video he made for the Oregon Humane Society, promoting adoption of cats, and significant results that the video generated, as well as other upcoming appearances and performances. (www.facebook.com/iammoshow/ www.instagram.com/iammoshow/) ALSO: I spoke briefly with Matt Burke, singer-songwriter of the acclaimed band Have Gun, Will Travel, about their new music video for their song “Good Old Shakespeare” (from the concept album, “Science from an Easy Chair”), which features photos and short videos of dogs submitted by their fans and friends. With HGWT having just stepped into the recording studio, Burke also talks a but about the distinctly different approach the band is employing on the follow-up to “Science,” starting with it not being a concept album. (http://hgwtmusic.com) COMEDY CORNER: Bill Burr’s “Dog Trainer” (http://billburr.com) MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Moshow’s “Cat Wine,” instrumentals NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Henry Mancini’s “The Pink Panther Theme” AUDIO ARCHIVE: Listen Online Now: https://talkinganimals.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/TAMarch8-.mp3 | Open Player in New Window
