SPOTLIGHT: MOONRUST
Meet Moonrust and tune into his new EP “Four dreams, one day”
Congratulations on the release of four dreams, one day! What does this EP represent for you at this stage in your journey as Moonrust?
i think it represents where I’m at in life, lots of changes, in transitions, in motion. that’s why the ‘four dreams’ name felt right. it gave me room to explore different emotions without needing to connect them in a neat way. as Moonrust, I’m still exploring, and this EP let me turn that uncertainty into something!
The tracklist feels very evocative “patterns,” “jive,” “trinity,” and “waves.” What ties these four songs together under the EP’s title?
what ties them together is the idea that they’re all capturing very different moments. each one came from a massively different headspace, and rather than force them into one storyline, I wanted to let them exist side by side. that’s where the EP title comes from, how a single day can hold so many small stories. I see each track as a different lens, or mood, or moment I’ve lived through. four dreams, one day is me allowing those pieces to exist without needing to connect them neatly.
You’ve been described as a mix of Clairo and Mac DeMarco. Do you see yourself in those comparisons, or do you feel your sound lives somewhere else entirely?
i get where those comparisons come from, and I really admire both of them, so it’s flattering to even be mentioned in the same breath!! i think there are definitely some shared things, like the lo-fi feel, or that balance between softness and groove. i take bits of influence from all over, including stuff that’s not even musical, so I’m still trying to figure out where my sound ‘sits’ and it probably changes a little with each project.
Your lyrics draw heavily from personal reflections. Was there a particular experience or mindset that shaped this EP?
i think the EP is really about capturing a period of life, rather than a single event. It’s kind of like a diary, showing both the highs and lows, and the people i would spend time with at the times, all in one package. each song has their own personality just like people you get to know.
“patterns” opens the project. Why did you choose this track to lead listeners into four dreams, one day?
i like to think of patterns as the EP’s cup of coffee. slow, warm, and gives you just enough energy to start paying attention, but it also introduces a kind of dream logic where things loop. the song just felt like a natural opener, with the repeated ‘yeahs’ which are kind of like little exclamations of feeling along with the music. they help express the moods without needing actual words. i enjoyed saying ‘yeah’ a bit too much with this one!
Your music blends pop, folk, and alternative sounds. How do you approach weaving together these genres without losing cohesion?
the genres may vary, but my production style is usually consistent throughout. i think a big part of it comes from my production choices. even if a song leans more folk or pop, there are subtle things in how I layer sounds, process instruments, or mix elements that tie everything together. i know some of the music production nerds out there might pick up on those little touches (hopefully, i try my best)
In what ways did working between Swansea and Bristol influence the sound or mood of these songs?
the two cities definitely brought different feels. both are buzzing with creativity, and local scenes. swansea is definitely quieter and more introspective, which influenced some of the slower, moodier moments, while bristol has this very unique creative energy and collaborative scene that pushed me to experiment more and go out of my comfort zone with things.
You mention long nights crafting your music. What does your creative process typically look like during those hours?
it’s not a regular thing, sometimes weeks go by without much, and I don’t usually plan on writing anything. often for me I’ll be doing something else, like watching a film, and suddenly these sparks of ideas start flowing, next thing I know, i’ve lost all my concepts of time and ideas are being written. at the time, i was watching a lot of david lynch films, and they definitely crept into my mind, as they easily do.
How important is joy in your songwriting, and how do you balance that with the more introspective or vulnerable moments?
joy is definitely important to me. I find a lot of joy in the really small things that would’ve otherwise passed me by. that kind of subtle joy is what keeps me writing. i think the introspective side and the joyful side aren’t really separate. a song can come from a vulnerable place but still carry warmth, or lightness. i’m not trying to write “happy” or “sad” songs. i’m more interested in capturing the in-between of it all, and joy is often a big part of that!
Listen to “four dreams, one day” here.
