I’m a sucker for a rock chick, so I was very excited to discover Malibu native Betty Moon. Her cover of Royal Blood’s Boilermaker stood out to me when I heard it, as it sees this musician bringing a lot of soul back into the genre. If you like your rock and roll then you really ought to check Betty’s music out – a full stream of the track can be found at the end of this interview.
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a single titled Boilermaker. What can you tell us about the track?
Thanks for taking the time to interview me. I initially recorded Boilermaker as part of a collection of cover tracks recently released. They were all songs that meant something to me in one way or another, and this track was my way of covering something newer, instead of typically just doing classics. I just think the song and riffs overall are amazing, and it was a lot of fun covering Royal Blood’s future classic.
How has the reception to Boilermaker been so far, and where can the song be purchased?
So far it’s been amazing, lots of praise from friends, family and the press. Can’t complain right? You can stream it on Spotify, Apple Music and all the other streaming places online.
Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future?
Absolutely, I have a folder I’m looking at right now with dozens of ideas, halfway completed and fully completed song ideas. I’m currently piecing together the best of the tracks and putting my professional touch on them before giving out any release dates or plans. I would expect at least a single in early spring, be ready!
Are there any plans to release an album or an EP?
Of course, I tend to put out one album or EP per year so I can’t miss the mark in 2023. Right now it’s all being pieced together as part of a master plan, but we’re narrowing things down.
Your music has a hard rock sound. What/who influences you most as an artist? What have you been listening to recently?
Thank you, and yes I love guitar rock and always have. That said, I do have a pretty diverse taste in music, and my albums historically have been all over the place sound-wise. I would say the last few releases have just had more guitar dominance than usual, which calls back to my original sound in the 90’s that put me on the map. Lately I’ve been going through the rock charts and playlists on Spotify/Apple Music to find new talent, but always stick with staple favorites like Queens of the Stone Age, Guns N’ Roses, Stone Temple Pilots etc. I think it’s funny that grunge and 90’s stuff is popular again, which is pretty awesome.
What is the writing and recording process like for you?
I typically start with either penning lyrics, sitting at a piano, rocking an acoustic guitar or actually jumping into Pro-Tools to mess with ideas in my head. It’s really about where I’m at that day, whether I’m at home, outside, traveling etc. I do what I can to keep track of my ideas so they don’t escape. It usually leads to me having folders full of ideas which I then piece together ‘professionally’ to make each song. I do have my own studio as well, which helps!
Do you have anything else exciting coming up this year?
I have pushed out a couple of singles to keep things busy online, and am currently working on the final touches for an EP or LP later in 2023. It’s been a challenging year with some personal/life topics, so I want to channel that energy into making some amazing music and expressing myself that way. I know the listeners will be able to relate in their own way, which is always reassuring. Music got me through so much, so creating it for others is so important.
You’re based in Malibu. How is the local music scene faring at the moment?
Well, to be honest I’m not totally sure how the local scene in Malibu is doing. I know there are some great singer/songwriters that play locally, we have a great radio station and there are plenty of rock stars that live in the area. That said, I’m sure the scene is doing just fine.
Do you have any tour dates lined up for the UK?
Not at the moment, but I’d love to line some up.
Any last words for the fans?
For all the listeners that have been with me over the decades, thank you for the support. For those who are new to Betty Moon, thank you for checking out my music and I hope you can join me for the ride.