Hey Moon and Aries, can you tell us a bit about the origin of Moon and Aries and how you came together as a music duo?
Hello Lauren! J Moon here, thank you for chatting with us today! So Tom Aries and I have now been working together for 3 years! We were social media friends that turned into What’s App friends haha and in 6 months of this friendship, and getting to know each other’s music hearts and souls, we realized that we could be a great musical match. And after the first song, The Never Ending Escape, we knew we had great chemistry and a similar musical mission and vision. And now we’ve released 27 songs.
How has your musical journey evolved since you first started making music together, and where do you see it heading?
We’ve had so many mini upgrades and large upgrades. Both Tom and I have evolved and grown as people! So of course, our music’s storyline is having these upgrades as well. Each song is a new puzzle piece, a new understanding, a new dig deeper and a reach higher. So we are always expanding ourselves, and then our songs expand. Our style expands. It’s all very aligned and synchronistic.
Can you share some insights into your creative process when making music together?
Of course! Tom and I discuss the topic of our songs and the full vision of our albums for a long time before we begin writing them. Sometimes we have a song title and concept for a year before we feel the time is right to craft the song. We want to make sure we fully embody the spirit and essence of the theme in a very extensive way. We could write a movie about each song! Then Tom comes up with his brilliant instrumental, and then I write the lyrics and find the vocal melody afterwards. But it actually always feels like we are in the studio together, creating everything in real time. Maybe Tom and I are time travelers.
“Traffic” is your newest single. What can you tell us about the inspiration behind this track?
Tom and I were talking about how busy we are. How much we feel like cab drivers in our lives haha And then the concept came up about all of the traffic that is in our lives. Mainly inner traffic, attracting more outside traffic. And Tom and I are always seeking a smoother ride. It’s very existential. Again, going back to upgrading.
We also were talking a lot about our desire to be in New York, and so we wanted an instrumental that gave you that feeling of driving in a big city, with my lyrics feeding you liberation.
How did the concept of “Traffic” come about, and what message or emotion were you aiming to convey with it?
I love the metaphor of Traffic and how it’s so layered. So when we went with this title, we knew the rest of the song was going to have to live up to it! And we love this task. And because our album is called Resolutions and Revolutions, the emotion of this track is one of hope, serenity, excitement to be in that energy of “life is going to happen, but we will find our way through.”
Are there any unique challenges or interesting anecdotes from the recording or creation of “Traffic” that you’d like to share?
For me, Tom’s instrumental is just so freaking uplifting and enjoyable. Sounded like a theme song to a TV show. So I wrote it in a way where you could follow the song with a strong narrative. And singing it is nice for me because I have a jazz and musical theater background, I loooove sinking my teeth into this style.
Can you share any behind-the-scenes details about the music video for “Traffic” and how it complements the song?
Our wonderful friend, Ami, she has made 2 previous comic strip music videos for us in the past! We love comics. And we figured this type of artistry will compliment the song. And I think it turned out so well. We love it.
What’s your typical songwriting process like, and how do you collaborate when creating new music?
As I said earlier about the process of creating the concept, once we have that totally flushed out, Tom creates the instrumental. And it’s always based on the energies of the discussions. And by the time he sends it to me, I have an idea of what I want to say and sing about.
How do you navigate creative differences or challenges that may arise during your collaborative process?
If we need to put a song aside for a bit, we will do that. Some songs we write in a day. Some in a year. That’s the only thing that comes up … is maybe the song isn’t fully realized until later. But we give ourselves space to figure this out. We control our timeline.
If you could describe Moon and Aries as a combination of three words, what would they be?
Higher musical mission.
Can you share a random or interesting fact about each of you that your fans may not know yet?
Tom and I both have kids! So we are always reflecting on our lives and the adventures we go through, and how to make a better tomorrow with our music.
After releasing “Traffic,” what can fans expect from Moon and Aries in terms of future releases or projects?
Traffic is track #4 on our album, Resolutions and Revolutions. There will most likely be 12 or 13 tracks in total! So lots more music coming. Always.
What advice do you have for aspiring musicians who are just starting their own musical journeys?
Never stop learning and observing. Be a student of music and a student of life.
