Moody Joody, an indie pop band from Nashville, makes a striking return with their debut EP, Dream Girl. This six-track collection dives into themes of self-discovery, the complexities of relationships, and the bittersweet longing that accompanies the passage of time. With lush, dreamy soundscapes and bold, indie rock vocals, the EP creates a captivating mix of introspection and infectious energy. Dream Girl is an experience that truly shines in a live setting, where its raw emotion and vibrant spirit can be fully felt.

My personal favorites from the EP are “El Camino High” and “Dream Girl.” Both tracks strike the perfect balance between lightness and energy. They feel breezy and carefree, yet pulse with an undeniable vitality that makes you want to move. “Dream Girl” evokes a dreamy, nostalgic vibe, while “El Camino High” carries that same sense of wistfulness but with an addictive, anthemic chorus that’s impossible to shake. Together, these songs capture the essence of the EP: a blend of emotional depth and contagious rhythm that would light up any live show. Whether you’re lost in the music solo or caught in the energy of a crowd, these tracks pull you in and leave you with a sense of cathartic joy.

I had the chance to sit down with the band to discuss their recent EP, their unique branding, and the adrenaline-fueled experience of bringing their music to life on stage. Check out the full interview below:

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Laura:

I’ve been following Moody Joody in the vibrant Nashville music scene for the past few years, ever since I had the pleasure of seeing you open for Small Pools several years back. I’m really curious about how your band has evolved during this time. What changes and growth have you experienced in your music and your journey together?

Kayla:

When we started the band, we really had no plans further than literally putting out the song “The Heat.” It was COVID, and Kaitie and I were kind of like, “Well I guess let’s just throw the song out there and see what happens,” and that was really it. We gave Andrew a 2-week deadline to produce the song after finishing it in a session with him. The song happened to get playlisted on an editorial on Spotify, and everything that sort of took place from there happened very organically.

At that time, because we started that way, we’d have to just write a song and put it out to keep the momentum that we had. We didn’t have as much of an ability to work on a larger project, even though that was always the goal for us. We hadn’t ever toured before this year, almost 4 years into being a band. We’ve come a long way and have gotten stronger in our live shows with our confidence and chemistry. We signed a record deal in March with Photo Finish. We are now able to lean into making projects and think ahead maybe for the first time ever, which truly is a dream come true. 

Kaitie:  

When we started the band, it was mostly for fun & we wanted to remain anonymous (that didn’t last long, haha). Since then, we’ve all gone through big individual life changes & have learned how to show up more authentically, which I think has translated to our music! We’ve dialed in an honest, true to us ‘Moody Joody’ style of writing, production & energy. I think our true selves will continue to evolve and come through in our music which is very exciting!

Laura:

With the release of your most recent EP, Dream Girl, what would be three to five words to describe it? 

Kayla:

Ethereal, shimmery, duality, spunky

Kaitie:

Dreamy, honest, flirty, energetic

Laura:

The ‘Dream Girl’ EP seems to capture a range of emotions—from introspective longing to bold self-expression. Was there a specific emotional or creative moment that inspired the collection as a whole?

Kayla:

The title track of the EP being “Dream Girl” set this sort of tone for the theme of the project. We wanted something that we could lean into when it came to exploring all of the sides of who we are as humans and as women. At times, we let the songs be free flowing, love-inspired and carefree. Other times, the EP explores topics like depression and the sometimes harder side to chasing this dream. We wanted something that could explore the wide range of the emotions and experiences we have along the way.

Kaitie:  

When we were piecing together this EP, a common theme for all of us was authenticity. We wanted the EP to be raw and honest, whether it’s what people want to hear from us or not. We wanted to send the message that you can be both dreamy, energetic, sensual, feminine, and flirty, while also being dark, edgy, depressed, and lost in an existential crisis all at the same time.

Laura:

Your music often blends elements of indie rock and synth-pop, creating a sound that feels both fresh and nostalgic. How would you describe the evolution of your musical style over the years? Are there any new influences or genres that have started to shape your sound recently?

Andrew:

The band started kind of centered around this new-wave/80’s inspired indie-pop sound, and while I think there will always be elements of that at the core of this project, we all love so many different kinds of music, so we’re always pulling inspiration from different places. We tried to start doing that early on because we never wanted to be boxed into only being one thing.

From a production standpoint, when we started the band four years ago, I was really inspired by massive, “perfect” sounding pop records. Lately, I’ve been more inspired by things that are raw and imperfect and loose. As we’ve grown as a band, we’ve definitely started to incorporate a lot more live and organic elements into the records. That was also partially inspired by the live show. Hearing the way a lot of our earlier songs came to life on stage with a full band and with live drums made me want to capture more of that energy on the recordings. 

Laura:

Throughout the years, your cover art branding has incorporated various iterations of crossing out your eyes. This distinctive visual element seems to carry a deeper significance or meaning. Can you share what this represents for you or why it holds importance in your identity?

Kayla:

At the time we decided to start the band, Kaitie and I thought it could be interesting to have Moody Joody live in this almost anonymous, alter-ego kind of space. As we’ve developed, we obviously weren’t going to be able to maintain an anonymous identity, which is actually so funny to me now. But because Moody Joody is still inspired by this world where we could explore all of the music and our identities from that alter-ago mentality, we keep that branding in place.

Laura:

The dynamic between you and your bandmates seems to be a key part of the energy you bring to your live shows. How has your relationship with the band evolved, and how does the chemistry between you all impact the creative process?

Andrew:

If it looks like we’re just having fun with our best friends on stage, it’s because we are. There’s a slight element of chaos to our shows sometimes, especially when we’re on small stages. Since we all love to move around a bunch, there’s definitely a fair share of bumping into each other and tripping over cables. There are shows where we’re just smiling and laughing half the time. All of those organic moments just feed our energy. We’re a little spontaneous – even musically. It’s fun to listen back to the studio versions and realize all the subtle ways the songs have evolved since playing them live. 

Like I mentioned earlier, the energy of the live show has started to influence the recording process a bit too. Our friend Brodie Glaza plays drums for us on tour a bunch, and we’ve started having him play on some of the records too because we’ve built such a cool dynamic with him live that we want to capture in the studio. 

Kayla:

I think that part of the reason the band is where it is today is because of how organic and authentic the process has been for us. When it comes to the creative process and writing, everything is typically pretty seamless because we’ve developed such a flow along the way. We all have a very laid back approach to most of the creative process, and I think it’s special that we can hold space for each other where we all get to explore and express our individuality differently, but come together with a common goal or theme. We just honestly love making music together. We love to have fun and are like a family, so that just continues to grow and make us stronger as a band. 

Kaitie:

To add to what Kayla & Andrew said, I think we all share a common dream, have a BIT of delusional positivity, and aren’t afraid to shoot for the stars. Those elements added into our band have gotten us where we are today! 

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Make sure to listen to their new EP, Dream Girl, now!