At just 20 years old, Henry Moodie has already made a significant impact on the music industry. With over 450 million streams, he was among the Top 10 ‘Most Viewed UK Artists’ on TikTok in 2022, joining the ranks of Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, and Harry Styles. Additionally, he has been recognized as one of Amazon Music’s ‘Artists to Watch’ for 2023 and included in MTV UK’s Push Artists of 2024.
Henry’s musical journey began with a songwriting diploma from the prestigious BIMM music school. His debut single, “you were there for me,” released in 2022, was produced entirely in his childhood bedroom.
His second single, “drunk text,” became a global hit, topping Spotify charts in Malaysia and Indonesia. Subsequent releases, “eighteen” and “pick up the phone,” have further solidified his reputation as an emerging pop sensation.
We chatted with Henry on his musical journey, read below and watch our TinyMic TikTok with Henry as well.
You’ve mentioned that music was always present in your life growing up, from your parents’ influences to spending time in the school’s music block. How do you think these early experiences shaped your approach to music today?
Growing up, my mum was really into musical theater, which made me want to be on stage and perform. My dad had a deep love for songwriting and classic singer-songwriters, so I combined the two and decided I wanted to be a singer-songwriter. I naturally fell into it through my friends at school; we spent so much time in the music block. I’m a massive Swiftie — Taylor Swift is the reason I do music.
You’ve cited Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Conan Gray as inspirations. In what ways do these artists influence your songwriting process or overall approach to music? Do you have a favorite song off of Taylor’s latest album?
My favorite song on “Tortured Poets” is “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me.” It’s so juicy, so much tea. I also love “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” I take a lot of inspiration from Conan Gray and Olivia Rodrigo because they create cohesive albums and are so vulnerable with their storytelling. That inspires me to be as personal and vulnerable with my storytelling as possible.
As someone who now inspires other young people through your music, what is one piece of advice would you want to ECHO out to aspiring artists who are just starting out on their own creative journeys?
The best advice I got was that you have to write all your bad songs to get to your really good song. You don’t just randomly get hit one day; it comes after you’ve worked hard on everything else. So my advice is to be consistent, practice, and keep honing your craft. Especially with social media, the key is consistency. TikTok and Instagram algorithms love that.
Social media has played a significant role in connecting you with like-minded people. How do you navigate the balance between maintaining authenticity in your online presence and engaging with your fans?
Social media has amazing aspects, like connecting with people worldwide and promoting your music. However, I’ve noticed that I can’t focus on anything these days and need to get off my phone. I know I have a song called “Pick Up the Phone,” but I need to put down the phone, to be honest.
You recently opened for The Vamps on tour. How was that experience for you
Opening for The Vamps was amazing. They are genuinely some of the nicest people I’ve ever met in the industry. I connected with so many of my current fans through that tour. James even came and supported me on my tour. He’s an incredible songwriter, a talented human, and has been in the industry for 10-15 years. I definitely go to him for advice.
Your recent partnership with Azar for a show in Birmingham aimed to combat loneliness. How important is it for you to align with brands or organizations that share your values and messages?
Mental health is central to my music. Certain albums and artists have gotten me through difficult times, and I feel like music expresses what words can’t. It connects with you in a spiritual way. My biggest goal as an artist is to move people with my music and make a difference with my platform.
If you could set up a fan in any setting for them to listen to your music, what setting would that be and why?
The best setting for Henry Moody music right now would be streaming my new song “Beat Up Car” on a road trip in summer — it hits different through car speakers. If you’re going through something, I’ve got a few very depressing songs too. We’ve got a mix: summer tunes and some more melancholic stuff.
Listen to Henry’s recent single, “Beat Up Car” and follow along with him on Instagram to stay up to date all Henry Moodie.