Billy Dodge Moody displays a panoramic indie folk-pop vision with ‘Ephemera: Part 1’
Boston singer-songwriter invites us into his cinematic world of personal storytelling with the first in a series of EPs out Friday, July 11
‘Billy Dodge Moody has an unbelievable knack for writing folk-pop mini-masterpieces… [The EP] has everything from dramatic chamber folk to appealing sunshine pop…’ _WBUR
Performing live on November 15 at The Fallout Shelter in Norwood
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Photo Credit: Courtesy of the artist
BOSTON, Mass. [July 11, 2025] – The best kind of self-help Billy Dodge Moody has ever received came from writing his own songs. “Without question,” the Boston singer-songwriter says with a laugh. “Most helpful therapist I’ve ever had… and I’ve had a few.”
But Moody isn’t selfish in this feeling, despite the benefits songwriting has given him; his charismatic indie-folk-pop compositions may draw from personal experiences, helping him find balance in an increasingly unsteady world, but his themes emerge as wholly relatable to what many of us experience each day. His personal catharsis extends outward as an invitation. Now, his panoramic vision and acumen for engaging, heartfelt storytelling come into focus with Ephemera: Part 1, a new EP set for release on Friday, July 11.
The four-track effort is the first in a series of EPs that will compose his next album, thematically centering around navigating chaos and finding clarity in life. A few months later, Moody takes the record and his magnetic sound to the stage, performing live at The Extended Play Sessions Live From The Fallout Shelter in Norwood on November 15.
“Everything on this EP felt like it came from a natural, honest, genuine place in the writing process,” Moody says. “They’re songs I wanted to write, versus what I thought people would like. The themes in the lyrics are pretty universal, so I hope listeners find at least something to connect with.”
Ephemera is Moody’s first extended release since 2022 album Condition, and is led by a pair of singles in May’s cinematic “Meaning to Disaster” and June’s buoyant “Nobody.” Both tracks helped earn the EP a place on WBUR’s Summer Music Preview, billing Ephemera as one of the most-anticipated New England releases this season and noting Moody’s “unbelievable knack for writing folk-pop mini-masterpieces… everything from dramatic chamber folk to appealing sunshine pop…”
“Meaning To Disaster” and its lush, sweeping sound found Moody reflecting back to his teenage years at the unexpected death of a childhood friend in high school, taking the listener along with the songwriter years later as he continued to try to make sense of the tragedy. Last month’s “Nobody” was a more upbeat number musically, bordering on ebullient indie-pop, but continued to explore darker themes, its lyrics cautioning the listener about how we’re all dealing with internal struggles, and no one really understands what we’re all privately facing each day.
The two new tracks that complete the EP continue to take a steady sound and cradle it with delicate subject matter. The yearning, acoustic-led “Made to Decide,” with backing vocals from Hannah Foxman adding to the aching harmony, centers around making difficult choices, inspired by an ailing pet – his cat Bruce – who became gravely ill, and passed away a day before his euthanasia appointment after Moody and his wife spent weeks painstakingly mulling the decision.
“The title is a bit of a double entendre in that ‘made’ refers to both being, and feeling, forced to choose between two shitty options, and that life in general is decision-making and how the oftentimes difficult choices we make shape who we are and who we’ll become,” Moody admits. “Part of the song is also about that where there are people, pets, and things that come into our lives that we never intended to fall for or develop such a deep connection to. The song was also used as a vessel to talk about other divisive aspects of life that others value and oppose like faith, ideology and overall perspective of mortality.”
EP closer “Suddenly” takes Moody’s all-around-the-campfire storytelling acumen and paints a cautionary tale about expectations and the ones we place upon ourselves. He reflects on his position as a musician, and explores the highs and lows – and more lows – of being an independent creative at a time when art is seemingly not valued by those who consume it.
“It’s mostly about the struggle and perseverance of an artist,” he adds, “maintaining hope and realizing things change when you least expect it, especially when you feel like you’ve been spinning your wheels on something that never comes to any sort of resolution or catharsis.”
Instead, he’s found both of those things in his songwriting. These new tracks exist as a continuation of the journey Moody has embarked upon since first picking up a guitar. And while they aren’t necessarily a total departure from his prior work, there’s a new sense of fulfillment he’s enjoyed by following his instinct, leaving behind emulation of idols, and leaning in to who Billy Dodge Moody the songwriter and storyteller should be. The shift plays out across these four gorgeous, yet heartbreaking, songs, where alternative rock is balanced with folk-pop through his creative alchemy.
“I still lean heavily on my traditional, organic approach to songwriting – starting with a guitar, a melody, and letting the lyrics unfold naturally,” he adds. “That core process hasn’t changed. But with ‘Meaning To Disaster,’ for example, I was also trying to do something more deliberate in terms of mood and tone. I wanted the song to feel cohesive not just lyrically, but emotionally and sonically from start to finish.”
Balancing intimacy with an anthemic quality is no small accomplishment, but Moody has a keen sense of sound and space, allowing tracks like “Suddenly” and “Nobody” room to breathe, and displaying emotional weight in the airiness of the song.
Much of that was achieved on Ephemera by working with producer Brian Charles, who engineered the EP over several sessions alongside co-producer and engineer Annie Hoffman. Recording the EP began at Guilford Sound up in Vermont, and then completed closer to home at Charles’ freshly-minted Rare Signals studio in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
For these songs, the vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist Moody was joined in-studio by Sam Bouve on bass; Parker Goessling on guitar; Tyler Simko on keyboards; Jon Chapman on drums; and the aforementioned Foxman on backup vocals. And Charles led the way.
“I love working with Brian Charles,” Moody admits. “He’s probably one of the most creative, open-minded, and brilliant people I know and that I’ve been lucky enough to work with. I always feel like a kid in a sandbox when working together because he always encourages artists to follow their instincts, and as a producer/engineer, not get in the way of their creative goals until they ask for some sort of guidance. He's the type of person you can trust and it just makes the creative process a joy.”
And that joy is essential as Moody invites us into his creative world, where the upbeat nature of the music and his whipsmart lyricisms belie the seriousness and personal devastation of each song. And like any great therapist, the best way to understand it all is to just listen.
“There was a conscious effort to create a darker, more textured sound that matched the gravity of the subject matter,” Moody says. “That meant being more intentional with chord choices, layering, and dynamics – really shaping the emotional arc of the songs through the arrangements. So while tracks like ‘Meaning To Disaster’ are still rooted in that raw, honest place I always write from, it also marks a shift toward a more immersive and mood-driven approach. It feels like the beginning of a new chapter, creatively.”
Media Contact: Please direct press inquiries to Michael Marotta at michael@knyvet.com,
and reach Billy Dodge Moody at william.d.moody@gmail.com.
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‘Ephemera: Part 1’ EP artwork:
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‘Ephemera: Part 1’ EP production credits:
Music and lyrics written by Billy Dodge Moody
Produced and engineered by Brian Charles with co-producer and engineer Annie Hoffman
Recorded at Guilford Sound in Guilford, VT and Rare Signals in Cambridge, MA
Vocals, guitar, and keys by Billy Dodge Moody
Bass by Sam Bouve
Guitar by Parker Goessling
Keyboards by Tyler Simko
Backup vocals by Hannah Foxman
Drums by Jon Chapman
Artwork by Billy Dodge Moody
ISRC: TCAJN2500152
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Billy Dodge Moody bio:
Billy Dodge Moody blends Americana and soul to deliver complex and compelling personal and politically-charged storytelling. Following the release of 2022 album Condition, the Boston singer-songwriter releases new EP Ephemera in July, recorded with Brian Charles at Guilford Sound in Guilford, VT and Rare Signals in Cambridge, MA. The EP is the first in a series of EPs that will compose his next album, and is led by the gorgeous May single “Meaning To Disaster” and the ebullient “Nobody” in June. It was selected by WBUR, Boston’s NPR, as one of the most anticipated records coming this summer by New England artists.
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Media praise for Billy Dodge Moody:
“Singer-songwriter (and local school teacher) Billy Dodge Moody has an unbelievable knack for writing folk-pop mini-masterpieces. His hooks are so catchy that it can take a few listens to understand how deep his lyrics are… [The EP] has everything from dramatic chamber folk to appealing sunshine pop, all of it well worth repeated listenings.” _WBUR Summer Music Preview
“Musically breezy and rhythmically buoyant, ‘Nobody’ trades the sweeping Americana of May’s ‘Meaning To Disaster’ for sunlit chords and subtle surf-rock tones, presenting a sound that feels tailor-made for summer drives. But beneath the song’s bright veneer lies a sobering message about internal struggles and emotional masking.” _Daily Music Report
“‘Nobody’ simply feels like the perfect summer tune . We were immediately drawn to the almost ‘island’ like feel of the song and it is effortlessly flowing in our music loving soul. Billy Dodge Moody once again proves he is a master singer-songwriter/ storyteller and it is on full display on ‘Nobody’…” _The Whole Kameese
“The latest from Billy Dodge Moody sounds like a bright and summery song, but the subject matter is far less cheery. ‘Nobody’ has the perfect indie pop meets alt-Americana song with some surf thrown in to be a summer hit. Everything in the song feels light and breezy, and it’s endlessly sunny feeling. It’s reminding me a lot of a more modern version of Gin Blossoms. It sounds like the perfect soundtrack for a trip to the beach, or just driving around with the windows down.” _If It’s Too Loud
“Moody's profound lyricism in his latest album, Condition, is deeply rooted in the concept of the human condition. It explores various topics, including the complexities of identity, depression, relationships, and loss. His tracks are full of upbeat tunes that balance the sometimes somber nature of the lyrics and enhance the listener's experience in wondrous ways. Moody's compelling personal storytelling influences listeners to reflect on their own life experiences and relationships with others. His lyrics' sincere and relatable nature is touching, and worth every listen! There is no denying that the entire album is nothing short of delightful.” _WERS Best of 2022
“Fresh tuneage” _Krystal 93
“There is a buoyant joy to the swaying chords of Billy Dodge Moody’s tune. A pleasant nature in his voice dots each line of his new tune ‘Good Things’. Ring chords and bolstered up harmonies hit in the chorus, driving, pushing and pressing the tune to the next break. There is a refreshing positivity embedded in those lines. A summertime jam for good vibes and sunny days.” _Red Line Roots
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Press Contact: Michael O’Connor Marotta at michael@knyvet.com
Artist Contact: Billy Dodge Moody at william.d.moody@gmail.com
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