Exclusive Interview: Henry Moodie Talks “beat up car,” Bringing Vulnerability to His Craft, an Exciting New Era in His Career, and More

Henry Moodie has swiftly risen as a preeminent songwriter of his generation. His evocative lyricism and profound vulnerability deeply resonate with audiences worldwide, infusing unforgettable pop melodies with raw emotion. Renowned for hits such as “drunk text,” “pick up the phone,” and “you were there for me,” Henry’s musical prowess continues to captivate fans globally.

This March, he releases the highly-anticipated single, “beat up car,” which marks a new chapter in his career.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Henry (who’s currently on tour) about “beat up car,” the exciting era he’s embarking on, bringing vulnerability to his craft, using his platform to shine light on mental health, and more.

PC: One of your gifts as an artist is your ability to write from such a vulnerable place, creating songs that are deeply personal yet universally relatable, allowing your fans and listeners to incorporate them into their own lives. Has it always been easy for you to embrace vulnerability in your craft? And is that contrast something you’re mindful of during the writing process?
Henry: Oh my gosh, thank you for that. I grew up listening to Taylor Swift and that country songwriting style where the lyrics are very specific and personal. That’s always been how I have written. I’ve always been a very vulnerable and open person.

My mom is a therapist, so I’ve always been in an environment where I felt comfortable talking about my feelings and being open, which is really important to me. I’ve always seen songwriting as a safe space to channel my emotions. Even though the songs I wrote when I was younger were terrible, they were still as personal as they could be at the time.

PC: Through your songwriting and lyricism, you’re able to paint these vivid pictures that are so poetic and haunting. What’s played the biggest role in your development as a songwriter? What has been the lyric that you’ve written that has stopped you in your tracks?
Henry: I appreciate that. I feel like I’m constantly striving to get better. I’m not sure if that moment has happened yet. Maybe “pick up the phone.” That song, after I wrote it, made me pause and think, “this could be something.”

But I’m incredibly grateful that the music is resonating with people. That’s all that matters to me because that’s what music did for me growing up. It was always a safe place, helping me through difficult times. Pouring my heart into a song can only be a positive thing because it means people feel less alone in their lives.

PC: As you were saying, you’re an artist who is always striving to improve. How are you challenging yourself with this next body of work?
Henry: I’m really trying to stretch myself conceptually. As a songwriter, it’s easy to write songs about relationships, and there’s no problem with that. I’m trying to write more stuff about life, growing up, friendships, and things about anxiety and mental health, and relationships. I’ve obviously written a lot about relationships, but I think my biggest goal is to stretch myself and write some happier stuff.

My songs are so depressing. [laughs] I have a song called “good old days” that I’m really excited to release because it’s a happy song.

PC: You’ve got a new single out now. Tell us about “beat up car” and the inspiration behind the track.
Henry: I was in New York when I wrote “beat up car.” There’s something about the city that feels like a main character, especially as a British person. We grew up with American media, and New York is always this place that we dream of going to. It was such a cool experience, and I felt like I was in that mindset when I got into the session for “beat up car.” I wanted to write a song that felt like its own main character.

As for the inspiration, I live in a small town in the U.K., so there’s not really much to do. We always get in one of our cars, which are all beaten up because we’re all terrible drivers. We sit there for ages and chat because that’s all we can do since there aren’t any bars nearby. I love doing that with my friends, but I wanted to imagine what it would be like to be in a relationship that felt the same way that I feel with my friends. So, I was fantasizing about a dream relationship when I was writing it.

PC: I feel like a lot of your lyrics are very cinematic. This is going to be a strange question because all of your songs are so personal to you, but if you had to select a song that best encompasses who you are as an artist at this moment, which would it be and why?
Henry: That’s a good one. I would say “pick up the phone” because I feel like that describes my anxieties a lot. The first verse goes into depth about me, and it has a poppy, hooky chorus, which I always love. I enjoy writing a classic sort of down-the-middle pop chorus, so I would say “pick up the phone.” It would be that or “drunk text.”

PC: You’re also a big Swiftie, and Taylor is known for her eras. If you had to name this era in your own career, what would it be called and why?
Henry: I would call the era that I’m entering now, “Good Old Days,” because I feel like I’m going to look back and call these the good old days. That’s sort of the concept of this next body of work. I’m just giving all the tea today. I feel like I’m in a place in my life where I know that I’m going to look back and miss these days so much, so I’m trying to embrace and be in the moment. That’s what I would call this era. That’s a great question.

PC: You also have such a remarkable ability to convey emotions through your vocals. As a listener, you feel the words that you’re singing. You’re on tour now. What is it like pouring your heart out on a live stage night after night? How much do you use this environment to test out the new material?
Henry: That’s another good question. I’ve been teasing some unreleased stuff on this tour, and people have been so lovely and supportive. With performing, naturally, I’m more of a songwriter. When I perform, I have to embody this alter ego, Henri. I don’t know why I call him the French version of me, but it’s an elevated version of myself.

I love being able to tap into that when I get on stage. Regardless of how I’m feeling, whether it’s a good day or a bad day, I always want to ensure that when I’m on stage, I’m giving the best show that I can. It feels great.

In a non-vain way, I feel like I’ve leveled up on this tour, especially because I have a band with me. It’s really helped having a full band because I didn’t have one on my last tour due to budget. It’s so expensive to pay for an entire band on the road, and I couldn’t afford it then. But for this tour, I’ve had them. For the America shows, I still can’t afford it, but hopefully next time I come around, I can have a band. So it’s going to be just me in America, but in Europe, it’s been really nice.

PC: I’ve also appreciated how open you’ve been about your own anxieties and mental health. That’s such an important message, especially with your audience and reach. It normalizes these conversations. Have you always known you wanted to use your platform to be an advocate and help destigmatize this important topic?
Henry: Definitely. It’s so important for people with platforms to be open about their mental health. It makes everyone feel less alone. If I’m struggling with anxiety and someone is going through a similar thing, then I hope that sharing my experiences can help them. Life is so short, and I recognize the power I have with my platform. I want to ensure that I’m using it to help as many people as possible. It would be a waste if I couldn’t be open about my own struggles. I want to support people through whatever they’re going through, especially for Gen Zs, as the world can be such a challenging place right now.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2024, what can fans expect from you?
Henry: A lot more music, including both happier and even sadder songs. It’s completely polarizing now—it’s either super happy or super sad. There will also be more tours! I’m eager to get over to America as soon as possible. I’ve got some shows there.

I’m in my era where I’m seizing every opportunity, keeping busy, and constantly working. It’s going to be a very hectic time. I also have an EP in the works that will definitely be released at some point. I’m thrilled to continue pushing myself as a songwriter, stretching my artistic boundaries, and giving it my all.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Henry: The Lumineers. People might not expect that. I love thier sound. It’s very inspirational.

PC: First album you bought or streamed?
Henry: 21 by Adele. I was seven when that record came out. I remember it took over the world, especially in the U.K. I grew up listening to Adele, and her ballads like “Someone Like You” inspired me to become a songwriter. It’s such a timeless record.

PC: First concert you attended?
Henry: It was a Justin Bieber concert when I was in year two in the U.K., which I think I was six or seven years old. I don’t even know how I was let into the concert. I don’t think it was legally allowed, but I somehow managed to get into the O2 Arena and watch it. I just remember how loud the crowd was. I was shocked. Everyone was screaming, but it was so fun. It was for my friend’s birthday. He invited me.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Henry: That’s a really good question. There are a couple. Melodrama by Lorde. It was the first album that I got fully invested in. It was such a cohesive body of work. It reminds me of such important parts of my childhood. It came out in 2017 when I was thirteen. I remember listening to Melodrama and thinking I want to write a record like this. It really encapsulated what it felt like for me at that time.

The other is Folklore by Taylor Swift. I remember listening to it during lockdown and thinking, “This is a timeless record.”

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Henry: There’s a venue in London called Royal Albert Hall. My dream as an artist is to have a one-off night with a full orchestra and perform one of my albums in its entirety.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Henry: This is quite boring but my vocal steamer because on tour it’s so scary to think about getting ill. If you get sick, you’re so screwed. It’s so important to take care of your voice. I’ve got my steamer with me to keep hydrating my voice.

Watch the official video for “beat up car”:

To keep up with Henry, follow him on X, Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Listen to “beat up car” today.

Photo Credit: Katie Silvester