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Oct 27, 2020 By Caleb Campbell

Nashville-based folk and indie pop artist Mary Moore has released the video for her latest track, “Moonstone.” Moore followed her 2018 debut EP, Rooted Heart, with her previous single “Cold Hands,” which added a more pop-centric feel to Moore’s already melodic folk. “Moonstone” continues down this pop-tinged path in a glitzy indie pop song, with a stirring chorus and beautiful vocal melodies that make full use of her powerful voice. 

“Moonstone” was born from Moore’s experience hiding her struggles beneath a veneer of warmth and happiness. She compares herself to moonstone, gems that, though they seemingly reflect light, produce no light of their own. Despite her demeanor Moore found herself immersed in stress as she notes in the opening lines - “I grind my teeth at night / The doctor says I’m stressed / My friends think I shine bright / But I am dull at best.” Moore uses percussive ‘80s synth textures to give the track a rousing indie pop flair while her vocals recall the theatrical and uplifting tone of Florence and The Machine or Brandi Carlile. Although the lyrics vent Moore’s feelings of exhaustion and depression the upbeat feel to the track is almost liberating, as if Moore is finally dropping the facade and owning her feelings. 

The video for the track takes the space connotations of moonstone and runs with them, following an alien who has crashed down to Earth. The alien, played by Moore coated in five-and-a-half hours worth of blue body paint, is found by a boy and hidden away ET-style. Much like ET, the boy also goes on to teach her about the human world. The video is fittingly light-hearted as Moore is introduced to disco balls, tent forts, and the Mentos in a Coke bottle trick. Moore says, “I knew I wanted to bring in disco balls into the shoot because disco balls are similar to a moonstone - they reflect light, but don't actually make it themselves. [Director Jimmy Naples] already had the idea that the alien would fall in love with music so we combined those two ideas and then knew we would have the love interest throw a lil dance party with a disco ball and music at the end.” 

As 2020 winds down Moore is reentering the studio to record another batch of songs for 2021. With “Moonstone” though, Moore successfully pivots towards impassioned indie pop anthems. Although “Moonstone” may be somewhat of a departure from Moore’s folk roots, the glittery change fits her well, as does the charming accompanying video. Check out the song and video below.