British singer Henry Moodie attracted thousands when he performed at The Exchange TRX on May 5. Photo: Henry Moodie/Instagram
When it comes to comfort artistes, a name that’s likely to appear on most Gen Z’s playlist is Henry Moodie.
Known for his emotive lyrics delving into themes of friendship, love and heartbreak, the English singer-songwriter has managed to touch the hearts of millions of fans worldwide.
“Writing music has always been like therapy to me ever since I was young. I have always struggled with anxiety, and music has helped me through so many difficult times,” the 20-year-old said in an interview recently.
Moodie was in Kuala Lumpur earlier this month, where he staged a free show at The Exchange TRX.
The performance was nothing short of electric, with thousands of fans flocking to the mall to catch a glimpse of the breakout star.
“Everyone here has been so nice, the service and everyone at the show was just lovely, and I’m really happy to come here because people really show me their support here,” said Moodie.
Moodie was in a three-piece band before he debuted solo. Photo: HandoutGrowing up with a therapist mum who encouraged him to express himself freely, Moodie naturally embraced vulnerability in his songwriting.
Drawing inspiration from talents like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray, Moodie strives to create music that resonates with listeners on a personal level.
“I want my music to make people feel like they’re not alone.
“Even if they can’t relate to the specifics of a song, they might be able to relate to the overall message,” he said in a previous interview with an online portal.
Born in a village near Guildford, the United Kingdom, Moodie was 12 when he started learning the piano, writing songs and uploading covers on YouTube and Instagram.
He was 13 when caught the attention of a talent manager with his rendition of Shawn Mendes’s In My Blood.
Around the same time, Moodie’s mother encouraged him to learn the guitar – a skill that proved valuable when he was offered to join the three-piece band The 202.
After finishing his GCSE, Moodie decided to quit school for a full-time career with The 202, which made its debut with Dance Floor in 2020.
However, his journey with the band was short lived, lasting only two years as the members had different musical tastes.
Despite that, Moodie remained steadfast in his artistic pursuit, enrolling in the BIMM Music Institute to study songwriting while simultaneously building a following on TikTok with his covers.
Now, there was only one thing left to do – put out an original song.
“Singing a cover is super fun but singing an original song is more personal because you’ve written it yourself. It’s more emotional,” he said at our interview.
In July 2022, Moodie released his debut single You Were There For Me, which quickly topped airplay charts and Spotify playlists across Europe.
The singer, who boasts over 6.2 million followers on TikTok, also found himself receiving offers from various record labels. He’s now signed to Sony Music.
Moodie’s popularity soared to new heights earlier this year when his hit song Drunk Text topped charts in Malaysia and Indonesia.
The ballad also went viral on TikTok, with the audio attached to over a million videos on the platform.
The success of Drunk Text perhaps lies in Moodie’s ability to connect with fans by being as open and personal as possible.
In a press statement, Moodie said: “When I was writing the song, I really wanted to mirror my emotions; that excruciatingly confusing feeling of deleting the text that you are so close to sending, and then also, the feeling of what I’d wanted to say all along.”
Indeed, there’s no denying Moodie’s passion when it comes to songwriting.
When we asked him about the inspiration behind his latest single Beat Up Car, Moodie lightened up and eagerly delved into the details of the track.
“When I wrote the song, I wanted it to sound like you were transported into a movie scene... to have that sort of coming-of-age, main character moment vibe.
“It’s about wanting to run away with the one you like. A lot of people have been asking me to write a love song, so I knew I had to do it,” he said.
1. How much has changed in your life since blowing up on social media?
My life’s definitely gotten busier.
Back in England where I spend most of my time, I could go out and do anything because I’m not that big in the UK.
But coming here (South-East Asia) is a different experience, it’s like a double life and I love it.
It’s so weird because I came from the other side of the world... from a little village with a lowkey life back home.
Coming here made me feel like a male Hannah Montana.
2. You once mentioned that you seek validation for your songs from other people. Is it still the same now?
I still seek so much validation from everyone.
The minute I write a song, I’m sending it to everyone like, “Do you like it?” because I feel like there’s a difference between a songwriter and listener’s opinion on a song.
My sisters aren’t musical at all, but I value their opinion on a song probably more than someone from the industry.
Moodie plans to include happier songs in his next project. Photo: Glenn Guan/The Star
The whole process of putting out a song takes a while for me because I’d always go back and change things.
I know a lot of people who, whenever they enter the studio on the first day, will just keep whatever they have recorded in the final version.
But for me, I’d go back, re-record the vocals, change the lyrics and melodies because I’m actually a perfectionist.
3. Which song has been your personal favourite to work on so far?
Pick Up The Phone.
Songwriting and music has always got me through a hard time. For this song, I wanted to help other people who are going through a hard time.
I tried to make it a motivational song.
It goes into depth about my mental health struggles, my anxiety and all that stuff, so it’s definitely a personal one to me.
4. You performed in the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia in the span of days this month. How do you recharge after doing all that in such a short period of time?
I’m still figuring that out.
I’m trying to sleep as much as possible, I’ve gotten into meditation and just trying to centre myself.
My screensaver on my phone is literally a quote from Helen Keller.
Moodie is still learning to find a balance between work and personal life. Photo: Henry Moodie/InstagramIt says: “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
I can sometimes get really stressed out if everything feels overwhelming, but I just try to remind myself that that’s going to strengthen me as a person and I can get through it.
I’m stretching out of my comfort zone, doing new things and just growing as a person.
5. What can fans expect from your upcoming project?
I’ve written so many songs that are yet to be released, and it’s really the most personal music I’ve ever written.
I’ve written a lot of love songs. In this next body of work, there’s definitely going to be love songs but there are also concepts outside of love.
I’m diving into concepts I’ve never explored before, writing about life and growing up as a teenager.
The stuff coming out is also happier.
