INTRO BY KAT VISTI
INTERVIEW BY CAMI LIBERTY
PHOTO COURTESY OF BETTY MOON
Toronto-born singer, songwriter, filmmaker, and producer Betty Moon has had her music featured in TV shows and movies like Californication, Dexter, The Bounty Hunters, and Walking the Dead. She's been nominated for four CASBY awards for Best Album of the Year, Best Single of The Year, Best Video of the Year, and Best Artist of the Year. Betty Moon released her 8th studio album last August entitled Chrome. We sat down with Betty to learn more about her latest single Parachute, plus much more!
When did you first become interested in music and when did you realize that you wanted to be a musician?
BETTY: "It happened at a really young age when I was growing up in the Toronto area. I was introduced to some legendary rock records and was instantly hooked. Things really came together quickly after I started my first band and it eventually led to a major label record deal when I was in my teens."
How would you describe your music in three words?
BETTY: "Pure Sonic Euphoria."
At the end of 2017 you released your album “Chrome”. What was the process like creating the album?
BETTY: "It took about a year to put the album together in its entirety. We started off by writing with the band daily and selecting the best parts of every idea to use for the songs. It went really smooth but we took our time to make sure we were happy with everything. I produced and mixed the album as well, so having that control made the process even easier."
You recently released your latest single “Parachute”. Can you tell us a little about the song and the inspiration behind it?
BETTY: "I wrote that song with the idea that sometimes you need that escape from certain situations or even a life that you’re not 110% satisfied with. It’s about taking that leap, and putting yourself in a realm where you can be the person you’ve always wanted to become. It was really fun making the video recently since I had this idea as I wrote the song. You really have to watch the video, listen to the lyrics and pick up on my vibe to understand the message fully. Part of my whole “Betty Moon message” for my listeners is to live an amazing life."
You also released a music video for “Parachute” – how did you make sure that the video conveyed the song well?
BETTY: "This was easy, as mentioned the idea already existed as I wrote the song but we made sure the location, wardrobe and overall vibe matched the song perfectly. It was really about the editing after that, and since I did the video as well it was easy to keep within my vision. We filmed it in front of a green screen so choosing the right backgrounds were important to me, and I took my time to make it perfect in post."
How would you compare “Parachute” to the songs on “Chrome”?
BETTY: "I’d say this leans more into my classic Betty Moon / Rock N’ Roll territory, compared to the rest of the songs on the album. There are few tracks on ‘Chrome’ that are alt rock. Several are more electronic and pop, which is a departure from the other 7 releases over the years. Something just pulled me in that funk/rock direction on “Parachute” and it fits perfectly on the release."
Is there anything else we can expect from you in the near future?
BETTY: "I’m actually in the studio now working on new music for the next release. I will be putting out a new single in the fall and perhaps complete a new album before year end. I’m writing all the time and tend to come up with song ideas daily so this next record should be primo. So far, we have a handful of songs written and are in the demo stage for the next album. I’m already so excited about yet another new direction that I’m exploring. My goal is to narrow my sonic vision to 7 to 10 new on fleek tracks by September. Its pretty exciting and I feel like I’m reaching my ultimate stride at this point."