Being a pioneer in any field takes some daring disposition and a strong sense of self-belief. Tex Moonlight, a musician from Baltimore, has created his unique sound and style of music, and he’s set to build himself into a household name that everyone can recognize and identify with.
Tex Moonlight’s “Americonica” is a fusion of Americana and Electronica music. The Baltimore-born and bred musician who now lives in Los Angeles drew inspiration for his sound from his background and upbringing. He grew up in a place where the eclectic sound was dominant and underground Hip-hop heads and punk/hardcore community thrived. It was a scene that had the blue-collar population as the drivers of the music dominating the airwaves, and Tex Moonlight found himself getting sucked into those blends of sounds that filled his streets and neighborhood. As a result, he got immersed in the combination of roots music and modern production, leading him to create his unique “Americonica” sound, the foundation of his music career today.
Describing “Americonica,” Tex Moonlight said, “It features experimentation of my fusion of Neo-folk and futuristic postmodern Blues. It is a sound that falls somewhere between Glen Campbell and Beck. I have perfected this sound over the years, and nothing turns me on quite like getting a whacked-out break beat looped under pedal steel.”
For the earliest parts of his career, Tex Moonlight learned the ropes by fronting various acts along the New York City and Washington D.C. corridors. It took him a while to fully embrace his self-created style and sound, but when he did, he was unstoppable. He created his first project, Moonshot, which he released in 2020, working with producer and engineering guru Dave Nachodsky (Keb Mo’, Donna Lewis) in Baltimore. His days working on the album at the Invisible Sound Studios played a significant role in shaping his career and the type of artist he is.
Tex Moonlight’s raw style and exploratory thematic qualities have shone through in his music. It’s why songs like “Smoke Signals” and “God Knows I Love It” captured many ears and hearts. In the latter, he talks about his strong commitment to dealing with his insecurities publicly and examining his mortality through a kaleidoscopic of departed loved ones’ memories. “Nostalgia can linger like… But I don’t feel haunted… These days I’m swimming in gratitude,” he goes on the track. Tex Moonlight’s fearless sonic qualities are evident in his soundscapes, and he never fails to show them off in his projects or music releases.
Music by Tex Moonlight is available on Spotify, and presently, he’s working on new music, which he hopes to share with the world soon. His goal for the next few years is to make “Americonica” a staple style that everyone enjoys while witnessing other budding musicians adopt the style in their music. “I’ll love to see it grow and blossom beyond me. These fusions make music beautiful, and the world deserves to enjoy the beauties we are capable of creating. Americonica is here to stay,” he said.
