Get ready for a chill conversation with the mind behind hits like “Drunk Text” and “You Were There for Me.” With his highly anticipated new EP, *Good Old Days*, being released soon via Robots & Humans (UK) and Columbia Records (US), this is the perfect moment to catch up with TikTok’s newest music star, Henry Moodie. We chat about wild fan requests, dream collabs, and even the possibility of a James Bond theme tune.
You’ve amassed a huge following on TikTok. What’s the weirdest request you’ve ever received from a fan on the platform?
Haven’t received anything absolutely crazy, but I have received a few messages of people wanting me to perform at their weddings. it’s great to hear that my music is bringing people together.
Your debut single, “You Were There For Me,” was a massive hit. If you could have any artist, living or dead, cover it, who would you choose and why?
Oooo I would love to hear the song covered in a completely different way. like maybe an orchestra doing a orchestral version of this song. or Billie Eilish doing a more lo-fi version of the song.
You’ve been influenced by artists like Taylor Swift and Coldplay. If you could create a supergroup with any musicians, who would be in it and what would the band be called?
I would love to get Conan Gray and Olivia Rodrigo together. they have similar writing styles and I know they’re best friends so I feel like it could happen. I feel like they both really capture what it’s like to be a Genzie so they could write the most relatable and emotional song ever if they came together, it would be over for us songwriters ahahah.
Your latest song “Beat Up Car” marks a change in your sonic direction and overall feels like a perfect soundtrack for a coming-of-age movie. What does it mean to you personally?
I’ve always loved coming of age sounding music, some of my favourite albums such as melodrama by Lorde capture this sound. and last year I really tried to push myself with my songwriting and beat up car definitely felt like a step in the right direction for me as an artist – I want people to feel like they’re transformed into a movie scene when they hear that song.
Social media, especially TikTok, played a significant role in your rise to fame. How has this platform influenced your career, and what are the benefits and challenges of being a social media-driven artist?
I love how social media means you can connect with people from the complete other side of the world, such as my song “Drunk Text” connecting so much with Southeast Asia! it’s crazy to think that the music industry didn’t have social media before because it’s such a big part of my job these days. I think one of the most difficult things I found since starting this career is trying to find a balance between social media, performing and songwriting. I think it’s quite easy to get focused too much on one of them and lose track of the others.
You often write about personal and emotional topics. What’s the most embarrassing song you wrote that will never see the light of day?
I went through a bit of a toxic relationship last year. Looking back I can tell because all of the lyrics I wrote at that time were super delusional and trying to convince myself everything was fine. Ahahaha I’m in a much better place now don’t worry!
You’ve performed live at some incredible venues. What’s the strangest thing that’s happened to you on stage?
I remember in Hamburg on the recent headline tour, we started playing the track for my song ‘eighteen’ – but instead of the click coming through in our ears (like a metronome), ‘cake by the ocean’ by DNCE started playing. We still can’t figure out why ahahaha
If you could soundtrack any movie or TV show, what would it be and why?
Maybe this is a bit cliche, but I would love to do the James Bond theme tune one day!
Pre-save *Good Old Days* EP HERE
Watch “Beat Up Car” below: