Bruce Moody

Bruce Moody’s new album Keep Showing Up! sounds alive in the best possible way — sharp, melodic, and charged with an emotional urgency that feels timeless rather than nostalgic. Rather than looking back, the record reaffirms everything that has always defined his songwriting: total commitment to performance, an instinctive feel for melody, and an unshakable belief in the emotional power of pop songs. In this conversation, Bruce reflects on creating music during a deeply unsettling period, the enduring pull of power pop, and why the pursuit of the perfect song still matters as much as ever.

Your new album feels remarkably vital and energetic, and it’s striking how youthful it sounds. Is that something you’re consciously aware of, or is it simply the result of staying true to what has always felt natural to you as a songwriter?

Bruce: First of all, I really appreciate those kind words, Patrick! I’ve always felt that when it comes time to record a song, you first need to focus your intentions and your energy on the performance because those things come through on the final recording. Just playing and singing the notes isn’t enough. You’ve really got to pour everything into the track. If the listener can’t feel your excitement, sadness, innocence, anger, or whatever it is you’re trying to convey, the song simply fails. I always try to put 100% into each recording so that the listener can both hear and feel the music.

You’ve mentioned that, both personally and in terms of the world around you, the period during which this album was made wasn’t an especially joyful one. What made it important for you to still see the record through and release it?

Bruce: The insanity that’s being released on the entire world by the fascist regime currently residing in the U.S. White House is unconscionable. Like so many others, I’ve felt increasingly angry and depressed during this past year, more so than at any other time in my life. Even as I was finishing up the tracks for the album, I found it difficult to get excited about releasing it. I mean, I’m very happy with the songs and the performances, but that sense of excitement and accomplishment that’s normally present at this stage of a music project just wasn’t there. With all of the suffering going on around us, the very idea of releasing a new album in the middle of so much chaos and pain just seemed ridiculous to me, almost embarrassing. We’re seeing loved ones being yanked out of their cars and homes and illegally kidnapped by people wearing masks and carrying guns. When we go out to a restaurant or take the dogs to a park these days, I feel like running up to people around me and saying, “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you know the world is on fire? Wake up! We’ve got to stop this!” But in the end, my wife convinced me that it was important to get the songs out there. Maybe the album will provide some musical therapy for someone else who’s having a tough time finding their smile. I certainly hope so.

Did finishing it feel like an escape, a necessity, or perhaps even a form of quiet resistance?

Bruce: All of those things, really. To a large degree, writing and recording this album provided much-needed day-to-day therapy for me. I think it comes down to the one consistent thing that we all share that helps us deal with the stressful challenges in our lives — MUSIC!

Power pop has always been so deeply rooted in melody, immediacy, and strong hooks. Does that bright, hook-driven approach still feel as self-evident to you today as it did when you made Forever Fresh!, or is it something you now have to hold on to more deliberately in a very different musical climate?

Bruce: Absolutely! I think that trying to create interesting melodies and thoughtful lyrics is something that’s just ingrained in me. I grew up listening to The Beatles, The Who, and a whole host of great American and British pop bands. Those influences rub off on you to where your own musical goals are naturally elevated, and that just becomes who you are and what you do.

Given everything you’ve already done and contributed to the power pop world, do you still feel there’s something left to prove? Or is making records now more about trusting your instincts and following the joy of the song itself?

Bruce: I don’t necessarily feel like there’s something left to prove so much, unless it’s to myself. I mean, I’m still trying to write the perfect song, so there’s that! Getting older and dealing with the aches and pains that come along with that experience can be a challenge. But that just makes me more defiant! To your other point, I think writing and recording is absolutely all about trusting your instincts. Sometimes, I feel more like an observer during the writing and recording process and not so much an instigator. It’s almost like being outside of your body and you’re just along for the ride. It can be a weird but very joyful feeling! But when it all comes together, though, that’s magic!

When a song like “Break My Silence” suddenly clicks — when the chorus finds its shape and everything falls into place — what does that moment mean to you now? Does it still bring the same sense of happiness or excitement it did earlier in your career?

Bruce: Sure! That’s the magic I think every musician lives for! That’s why I keep showing up!