Rising country star Niko Moon has today released his debut album – GOOD TIME – as his first full-length studio record. Stream the album here.
Breakout country star Niko Moon has fast become one of the artists to watch in recent years. Having made his name penning legions of hits for the likes of Zac Brown Band, Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts, now Niko Moon is stepping into the spotlight on his now artistry on his debut album out everywhere today – GOOD TIME. It’s a soulful, upbeat record that does exactly what it says on the tin – heralding in a ‘good time’ with summery, laid-back vibes from start to finish, breezing in with an easy, grooving swagger. Coming out of the years of lockdown, this record is a breath of fresh air, a record full of feel-good tracks couched in a very current and modern production. Produced by Moon alongside long-time collaborator and friend Joshua Murty, the duo have clearly worked hard to finesse and refine Moon’s sound and for the 14 tracks on the record he stays squarely in that lane, a path separate from much of what you can currently hear on country radio, making it immensely refreshing. The record is an example of an artist who knows exactly who he is and what he wants to say – most of the tracks were written exclusively with Moon alongside his wife Anna and Joshua Murty.
As opening track ‘No Sad Songs’ will tell you, Moon’s vision for the record is a joyful melody that you can get lost in. This opening track does just that sizzling with the joy of summertime, accentuated by swaggering back beats and twanging guitars in a dripping groove as Moon sings ‘I don’t to hear no sad songs / I just want to have some fun tonight / Dancing away til last call / drink in my hand got me feeling bright.’ Given the combination of Moon’s light and unique vocal delivery and production, the song feels like a good-humoured mockery of the country genre itself that has always been renowned for its ‘sad songs.’ It’s a song made for day-drinking by the lake with friends. ‘Way Back’ infuses a charming banjo backdrop, singing about the roots of friendship, whilst ‘Paradise To Me,’ ‘Last Call’ and ‘Dance With Me’ are slow-grooving, R&B-infused love letters to love itself and tracks like ‘She Ain’t You’ offer a boot-stomping sass and swagger.
The most emotional moment on the record comes later on the record on ‘Without Saying a Word’ that celebrates being a good and humble person, celebrating the small things in life and staying true to his roots. It’s the track that signifies the power of Moon’s lyricism and songwriting and his capabilities as an artist. Where the record falls down is in its large lack of variety and in another project, we hope to see more of this track. Though he has achieved his aim of ‘No Sad Songs,’ there feels something lacking in not having that nuance of emotion – the listener needs darkness and shade in order to appreciate the joyful ‘GOOD TIME.’ More than anything, you don’t come away from the project feeling like you have a true grasp either of Moon as a person or as an artist. It is to be hoped that for his next project, Moon will dive further into the shade and range of emotion that he is clearly capable of – his songwriting credits are testament to that fact. This being said, Moon has still managed to carve a path out for himself in the country genre that feels incredibly fresh and exciting, led more by melodies than by lyrics – surprising given his roots as a songwriter.
Read our Destination Country’s Interview with Niko Moon: Lyric Magazine | Entertainment Focus
