Breakdowns, self-discovery, heartache, metamorphosis — all struggles we face every day, and Moody Joody takes us on a journey, leaving behind the things that no longer serve us and becoming ourselves in the truest sense. Their debut album Plain Jane is here to break down societal expectations, dive into the deeper parts of relationships and reveal that at our core, we’re not so much different than the metaphorical “Plain Jane.”
Nashville trio Moody Joody have not slowed down for a second following their 2024 debut EP Dream Girl. Warming up the crowd for bands like ARIZONA, The Maine and Greyscale, as well as festival slots at Austin City Limits and upcoming 8123 Fest, it’s no surprise that they will be carrying on this momentum supporting Valley on their early 2027 tour. They continue to exceed expectations with their versatile alt-pop sound, and Plain Jane is no exception, featuring both upbeat and danceable tracks as well as slower ballads to make the story come to life.
The narrative of this piece follows our title protagonist “Plain Jane” as she experiences some of life’s most wonderful and devastating lessons — relationships, nostalgia, yearning and revelation all come together to ride the rollercoaster of discovering what true identity means to you. Opening with the short prelude “Plain Jane” sucks you into this alternate universe and brings you into the character’s world, gearing up for what’s to come. It immediately launches into “Little Blue House,” a dreamy nostalgic whirlwind of curiosity and observation. It really hones in on the childlike wonder of people-watching and the fact that everyone you meet out in the world is living their own lives, has their own stories and networks of community that make them who they are.
“Heart Shaped Bed,” with all of its upbeat, glimmery shine, feels exactly like the buzzing hum of a budding romance. “Gotta contact high from your skin on mine / Leather and pine, their own little world curtains closed / Baby pull me in a little bit closer.” In direct opposition, “Loretta’s Last Call” comes next, named after a bar that vocalist Kayla Hall spotted just after experiencing her own relationship crisis. “I wanna call but am I allowed to? / Don’t think I could live without you / I’m at Loretta’s Last Call crying in the back stall / Am I too late baby?” The slow build into a rushing tempo encapsulates the horror of realizing that mistakes have been made and it may be too late to smooth things over again.
“Rosie’s Party” smoothly falls into ethereal territory, with floaty vocals that glide over synths with soft percussion to match. The track is perfectly complementary to the will-they-won’t-they lyrical content. “So tell me who’s it gonna be? / Goodbye, go have your fun / You know where I’ll be when you’re done.” Continuing the relationship theme with none of the romance is the album’s latest single “Average Joe,” a striking yet smooth take on falling into the trap of yet another mediocre man, feelings of disappointment before ultimately concluding that your worth is not based on anyone but yourself.
The first half of the album concludes with “Suburbia,” an emotional ballad tackling the push and pull between traditional societal expectations and the individual idea of ambition and success. Running away to live the quiet life doesn’t always live up to expectations, and trading in ambitions that seem out of reach isn’t necessarily the best road to living in fulfillment: “Tried to tell you, tried to tell you, a big old house ain’t gonna help you / I tried to warn you, you won’t survive in suburbia / Everyone looked the same / It’s a white picket fence with a side of shame.” Directly following is a reprise of “Plain Jane,” seemingly a reminder that the story isn’t yet over and there is more to our “Plain Jane” than the ups and downs of relationship troubles and the battle between suburban life and big dreams.
Picking back up with “MAD!” is a stark departure from the romantic undertones, diving straight into the anger that comes from not living up to societal demands. “I’m mad, I’m angry / So what? I’m a fucking crybaby / Who cares? / Can you blame me? / This is how you all made me.” With “OOPS!” a more lighthearted air takes over, a reminder that life doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Creating moments to go out and find the joy is integral, and the late nights out that end in a haze may end up being the moments you remember most fondly. “With a drink in my hand / Could be convinced / It’s 2 AM / And I’m starting to dance / And here I am.. / Oops!”
“Fantasyland” may seem sweet and loving at first glance, but the darker undertones are present nonetheless. A gorgeous, synth-heavy melody pulls you into the delusion that everything is just fine, a familiar feeling to those who have been trapped in the toxic cycle of knowing that a relationship isn’t serving you anymore but wanting to live in that “Fantasyland” for just a little longer. “Summer ‘09” transitions into something even more bittersweet — knowing exactly the path you are destined for when nobody else quite understands.
“Used to watch them sing from the bleachers / wondering why her dreams are in the hands of a teacher / She would have killed to have that moment at 16 / but to everyone it was a pipe dream.”
Losing touch with people you were once close to is never easy, and the feeling of them fading away into the distance is hauntingly familiar. “Smelled like a flower that bloomed in November, full of life and light with wit and humor / Singing Johnny Cash, oh our favorite tune / Geraldine / Please don’t forget me / I’ll see you in my dreams.” This is one of the shorter tracks on the album, but no less significant, seeming like the fleeting moments of nostalgia that come up when you think about someone you haven’t seen in a long time. The piece concludes with “Sweet Surrender,” the final notes ringing out to the tune of not knowing if you’re on the right path or not, yet still pressing on and living life to the best of your ability. “I’m gonna keep on keeping on with the road that I’m on, that I’m on / Same old song and dance, same old sticks and stones / But I don’t have any plans I go where the wind blows.”
Moody Joody’s ability to wrap up all of these emotions into one cohesive storyline is incredible and the intention behind the album is evident throughout the entire project. We had the opportunity to get an inside look at the process of writing Plain Jane as well as the band’s thoughts on self-discovery and individual growth.
★ INTERVIEW ★
CRAVE: How did you enjoy the process of creating an album compared to a shorter EP?
KAITIE: Piecing together a conceptual album & collection of stories has been so fun. The process of creating this whole little Plain Jane world with characters & settings has been so fun. Brainstorming music videos, visuals, and building this world for fans and us to feel immersed in.
KAYLA: We’ve always been huge album people, so “Dream Girl” allowed us to somewhat dive into creating something conceptual and thematic, but not fully. When we got to build out the world of “Plain Jane,” we got to really dive into how we wanted to tell her story from start to finish and how we hoped that would make people feel as they listen alongside hearing a woman finding her voice and deciding a life for herself.
CRAVE: What are each of your favorite tracks on the album, and were there any that you absolutely loved but didn’t quite fit on this project?
KAITIE: “Rosie’s Party” & “Suburbia” have remained my favorites, but “Sweet Surrender” is making its way up there too!! Surprisingly every song made the cut. We wrote this album very intentionally and don’t have any spares haha
ANDREW: They are all special to me, but “Suburbia” and “Loretta’s Last Call” are maybe my favorite songs we’ve ever done. There are probably less than five unreleased Moody Joody songs in the history of the band.
KAYLA: This answer is ever changing for me as I usually am like whichever one is coming out next!!! “Loretta’s Last Call”, “Rosie’s Party,” “Suburbia,” & “Geraldine.” Suburbia actually crept in recently after some life events happened and it took on an entire new meaning for me. Ah! Don’t make me choose!
CRAVE: With the concept of the album being a journey of self-discovery, what do you feel you’ve learned about yourselves throughout the writing/recording process?
KAYLA: There have been times in my life I haven’t spoken my truth or lived my truth in order to keep the peace or stay in a comfortable place. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that no longer works for me, but sometimes that’s met with resistance. I no longer self abandon in those moments and hold space for myself in that way. It’s liberating.
KAITIE: I learned how much I’ve been holding myself back for my entire life just to make others feel more comfortable. This album has given me a place to practice being authentic & totally myself, sometimes it’s felt a little bit like exposure therapy
CRAVE: Since music and individual growth are so personal and unique, do you feel that the story of the album resonates differently with each of you?
KAYLA: “Plain Jane” reflects what womanhood has meant to me- realizing that I, and only I, get to decide which past versions of myself get to come along for the ride, which ones I want and need to shed, and who I become next. “Plain Jane” is the alchemy of our stories as a band – of growing up in the suburbs, the nostalgia of the songs we listened to in youth and the early 2000s, our trials and tribulations in love and self-discovery, the journey we had to go through to chase this crazy dream, and showing up authentically on the other side, even when it’s difficult.
KAITIE: “Plain Jane” for me is an ode to the girl I once was – feeling compassion & gratitude for her, while also setting her free. I don’t need to live my life in fear of judgement anymore, or make myself small so others feel more comfortable. I’ve found permission to live my most authentic life. I wouldn’t be the Moody Joody side of myself without the Plain Jane side of myself, so ultimately I’m really grateful for her.
ANDREW: We all grew up in the suburbs, just in completely different parts of the country. I’m from New Jersey, Kayla’s from Missouri, and Kaitie’s from Utah. One thing we have in common is that we all left those places and abandoned whatever path we thought we were on in order to chase this dream. That is a huge part of this record for me. One of the things I admire most about Kayla & Kaitie’s lyricism is their ability to write with such specificity in regard to their own experience, while still maintaining relatability. I truly believe everyone can see themselves in these stories.
CRAVE: If you could choose, what’s one important lesson/anecdote/message you hope the listeners will take with them after hearing the album?
KAYLA: I hope that this album inspires people to live their most authentic lives regardless of what anyone expects of them.
KAITIE: It’s extremely scary to go against the grain, other people’s expectations of you, and chase a dream not everyone understands. I hope someone listens & it inspires them to shed those fears and find the courage to live the life they can’t stop thinking about.
CRAVE: Was there a method to how you went about choosing the singles for this album? Which one were you most excited to release?
KAYLA: Alternating the “Moody” and “Joody” songs!
ANDREW: Yeah, we wanted to keep people on their toes. I think what was most exciting for us was giving people something completely different than the last single. There are a lot of different feelings showcased on the record, and it was important for that to come across early on.
CRAVE: You’ve mentioned before that your songs tend to fall into the categories of “Moody” and “Joody.” Do you try to strike a balance between the two, or do you find yourselves leaning into one category more often than the other?
KAYLA: Our band ethos has always been to own your humanness. Having “moody” songs – deeper, more emotional, heartbreak, etc is one side and having “Joody” songs – lighthearted, going out, dancing songs give space for both sides of the spectrum!
ANDREW: We pretty naturally bounce back and forth between the two. The balance became important while we were sequencing the record. Deciding at which moments to let the listener sit in the moodiness for a bit, versus when to bring the energy up.
CRAVE: What’s one trait in a person that makes them stand out from the “Average Joe”?
KAYLA: Consistency.
CRAVE: Have there been any particular moments while you’ve toured previously that have stood out to you? Anything really special that you find yourself looking back on often?
KAYLA: The fans that travel to see us is always so crazy to me. Seeing people sing in the crowd and share their stories with us at the merch table and hearing how the music resonates with them. People getting our lyrics tattooed. Getting that human connection is the best part of all of this.
KAITIE: The last tour we did, with The Maine, felt incredibly special overall. They were so welcoming, kind, (same with Nightly & Grayscale who were also on the tour). At the end of every show, The Maine would invite us all up on stage for a song to dance & sing. It was such a wholesome, powerful moment every single night. Singing with the crowd & taking it all in felt so unifying.
ANDREW: Getting to meet people who have connected with our music will never get old. One of my favorite recent memories was our first headlining show in NYC. It was before “Fantasyland” came out, and at the end of our set we blasted the song over the speakers, went out into the crowd and had a dance party with everyone. It was totally spontaneous and such a special moment for us.
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