We had a chat with Betty Moon following the release of her captivating new single ‘Hunger Moon’ to find out more about it
With the release of her stirring and immersive new single ‘Hunger Pain’, Los Angeles-based artist, songwriter, and producer Betty Moon continues to establish a nostalgic and stylish alternative rock sound that feels like a vintage 90s rock hit with more modern sensibilities and production.
There is a real sense of character and personality to Betty’s vocals throughout the track, and when coupled with the independence and artistic free reign that she has over her sound, making for a listening experience that is bursting with uniqueness throughout. We love this new release, and figured we would have a chat with the artist to find out a bit more about it, the inspiration behind it, and where it fits into her celebrated new EP Strangely Beautiful.
Hey! We love your new single ‘Hunger Pain’, what more can you tell us about it?
Thank you! ‘Hunger Pain’ is one of the more vibey, intimate songs on Strangely Beautiful, but it still has that Betty Moon attitude in it. When I started writing the track, I played the acoustic guitar riff and kept the first take. The slide guitar was added later. The initial acoustic guitar idea laid the foundation for the whole song, and gave it a softer, more personal feel. But underneath that, there’s still a lot of sensuality, confidence, and energy. If you listen to the lyrics, I’m sure you’ll get the idea, but I always prefer leaving some room for the listener to interpret it in their own way. I liked the idea of making something that felt exposed without losing its edge. It’s vulnerable, but it still has that Betty Moon rock pulse.
What was the process like putting it together?
It started from a more stripped-down place, which let the emotion of the song lead the way. I wanted the acoustic guitar and vocal to remain prominent, then build the production around that without overcomplicating it. The goal was to keep it mellow, pulsing, and infectious so the vocal and feeling remained front and center. I feel like this song has a bit of the 90’s Betty Moon energy, which wasn’t what I was going for at first, but it ended up becoming one of my favorite songs for the EP.
What were your biggest influences when creating it?
I think there’s definitely some ’90s alt-pop energy in there, which is always part of my DNA in some way. I was thinking more about mood and vibe than any one specific artist: late-night thoughts, desire, nostalgia, and that feeling of wanting something you maybe shouldn’t want too much. I’m sure I was conjuring a lot of those early to mid-’90s alternative and rock influences, especially how bands from that era created atmosphere, dynamics, and tracks that felt natural as they built. I like songs that have a little mystery and leave space for people to find their own meaning.
How does the track fit in the context of your new EP Strangely Beautiful?
This new EP has a lot of reflection and reinvention running through it, and ‘Hunger Pain’ shows one of its softer, more introspective sides. The EP moves through different moods track by track, but the emotional thread connecting it all is transformation. It’s about looking back, wanting more, letting go, and finding beauty in all the strange places life takes you.
‘Hunger Pain’ fits because it carries both ache and movement, which is really at the heart of the songs I wrote for this project. I personally went through a lot of changes and challenges over the past few years, and I wanted to write and release music as a creative, therapeutic outlet for those experiences. In that way, these songs, including ‘Hunger Pain’ are really an extension of myself.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
I’m continuing to push Strangely Beautiful and the songs from the EP, including ‘Hunger Pain’ and ‘A Taxi Ride’. There’s more radio and press coverage happening, and I’m always writing and working on new ideas from my studio. I like to keep things moving, so the future is really about building on this chapter, staying creative, and continuing to surprise people.
