The Big Moon are back with a brand new track and news of a new album

Like many of our favourites, The Big Moon were set to shine brightly back in the forgotten times of early 2020, in those heady days before pesky pandemics and lengthy lockdowns stopped them (and everyone else) in their tracks just as they were set to tour their (still) brilliant second album ‘Walking Like We Do’. With only a handful of festival spots last year, it has been a while then. But now, The Big Moon are back (back!! BACK!!!)! 

‘Wide Eyes’, the first single to be taken from the gang’s fourth album, ‘Here Is Everything’ (set for release on 14th October, FYI - Ed), is a perfect slice of feel-good vibes to usher in the summer with. A song that carries that feeling of reconnecting with everything and everyone that we missed, it comes complete with a video that packs an almighty emotional punch in its sheer joy and elation at the sight of friendships rekindling and secret handshakes. So, we obviously had to dry our eyes and catch up with Jules and Soph to welcome them back.

Welcome back!! First things first though. It is hotter than hell today, do you have any tips for coping with the heat?

Soph: Hello! The internet says to put your socks in the freezer?

Jules: And then put them on your feet?

Soph: No, just leave them in there Jules.

Jules: I used to have a wet sock that I would drape around my neck. I haven't done that for a while, I forgot about that.

Soph: We did a photoshoot yesterday for hours and it was really hot and someone had a neck fan. You put it round your neck and you have little fans blowing in your face, which was amazing.

You’re gonna need to wear them at Finsbury Park this weekend. Congrats on the new single, the video is beautiful and quite emotional isn't it? Was it meant to be or is it just us?

Jules:  Yeah, it was meant to feel like coming back together after going through so many things. It's a really good post-everything feeling.

The video looked like loads of fun to do, especially learning the hand-dance moves. Who was the best at learning all those moves?

Soph: Well, Jules and Cee had the most to do and I was honestly gobsmacked watching them learn it.

Jules: It was so much fun to learn. I am honestly trying to convince all my friends to do secret handshakes with me now. It's just so fun to work it out together. I really loved it.

Fern arrives really late in the video, is that secretly because she was really bad at learning the moves?

Jules: Hahaha, no she was really good.

It feels like this summer is the one where everyone's really catching up, especially mates from around the country and around the world. The video kind of reflects that, what was it like when you finally all back in a room together?

Soph: We’d only seen each other on Zoom for a really long time. And then we went to Suffolk for two weeks to get the album ready to record. Jules had written loads of songs in that time and that was the first time we had been together properly and not just meeting in a park I think.

Jules: We were cooking each other giant meals and all sleeping in a dormitory, like a really long room.

Soph: It was like the closest we could be after being the furthest away from each other.

It's such a feel good song, was it important for you to come back with that sort of vibe?

Jules: I think it is a really happy song, and I think it's nice to come back with that vibe. Because we've all been through so much, like COVID. And I've had a baby, and I'm finally in a place where I can look back on that experience and feel really okay and happy about it. On the album, there's a lot of really happy songs but there's also a couple of painful songs, because my experience of the last couple of years has been that and that is the experience of everyone. That's what life is like. But yeah, it's nice to come back with a happy one for sure.

So last summer must have been wild, having a baby and coming back to the music world all at the same time.

Jules: The week that the last lockdown ended, just exactly as everyone started going back to pubs and indoor places I had my baby and hid inside my house for another six months and entered my own personal lockdown. Yeah, it was such a weird feeling and really surreal.

Soph: And you came out to play festivals with us, with them.You were having the whole experience, and then you came out and did that and then went back to it. It was so surreal.

Having to juggle everything all at once, after not having to do anything socially or musically for a year must have been tough.

Jules: Yeah, it was a lot. But I think it's amazing how much stamina parents have and what you can do on no sleep or very little energy while you're going through a huge hormonal crash and life change. You just keep going. I think it's really amazing. People say it takes a village to raise a child, right? That's the saying. Every time I hear that, I'm like, it doesn't. It takes parents. It takes a mum, it takes me. I'm doing it! I sound angry now, I'm not angry (laughs)

Soph: It’s good that you know that? Because seeing you have a newborn and also manage to record this album and go through all of that with us. It's like, so impressive.

Jules: I think it's amazing when you find out what you can do, what your body can do and what you're actually physically capable of doing.