Mogipbob releases new full-length record

Out on the prairies of Hythe, Alberta, where open sky seems to stretch beyond measure, Jason Graves has been building a musical world that feels shaped by both tradition and possibility. Recording under the name Mogipbob, he arrives as a songwriter interested in the everyday details many artists overlook, turning ordinary moments into something warm, thoughtful and truly distinctive. His work carries the sincerity of small-town life while embracing the tools and textures of modern production, creating a sound that feels at once heartfelt and cutting edge.

When Jason’s not writing or producing, he works for the City of Grande Prairie, a a detail that says a lot about the project; Mogipbob is not built from fantasy or distance, this is music made between shifts, responsibilities and the routines that structure most people’s lives. There is no myth of the unreachable artist here, it’s someone creating from within the same practical world many listeners know themselves.

Mogipbob began as an idea about connection and it quickly became a way to unite a lifelong relationship with songwriting and the developing possibilities of contemporary recording. That balance sits at the centre of the project, where an affection for classic forms, country storytelling, folk honesty and roots tradition remain present, while pop shimmer, funk movement and soul grooves are welcomed into the room.

It’s music that looks backward and forward at the same time, inspired by the golden eras of the 1960s and 70s and channelling the warmth associated with vinyl-age pop, the richness of folk arrangements and the easy wit of classic country narrators. Those influences are filtered through a present-day perspective, shaped by someone making songs in the now rather than trying to recreate another time. Following his debut album High on the Hog, Mogipbob now returns with a second full-length statement titled Like a Viking.

Across twenty tracks, Like a Viking is based in perseverance, memory and self-reflection, offering a body of work formed with a rich analogue fabric of acoustic guitars, keys, horns, strings and layered harmonies. The title track sets up the record with the delicate bounce of acoustic guitar, bright plucks of banjo and soft swell of strings usher in alluring vocal leads carrying smooth vocal leads. Developing with the patter of steady drums and vibrant pips of brass, it’s a playful country pop outing that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

“Unexpected Shores” glides with an intricate blend of rustling drums, banjo tones and swooping vocalisations before slipping into a delightful storytelling outing brimming with tender vocals and soulful aesthetic. “King of the Line” arrives with the buoyant bounce of guitar as expressive vocals float above and the arrangement builds with shuffling groove and vintage pop vibes cut with stacks of backing vocals, lively brass elements and elegant strings.

Other highlights on the record include songs like “ASAP” with its slick rhythmic pulse, stunning vocal leads and country-tinged instrumentation, offering a memorable musical moment. “Retroactive Skies” leans further into funk with wah-wrapped guitars and infectious groove capped by spectacular vocals spinning instantly catchy hooks. With “Logistical Nightmare,” the smooth funk-inflected sound continues with an epic jam that rolls with danceable energy and smokey vocals.

“The Jury Inside” offers a moving listening experience that builds from graceful piano backing and emotive vocal delivery towards a dazzling sound of laid back drums and misty pop melodies. Closing track “The Wrong Side of Happy” brings bluesy vibes with intricate guitar leads dancing above a mellow backing before husky vocals take over to set up an anthemic pop rock finale to Mogipbob stellar sophomore album.

Listen to Like a Viking below