Interview with Moons Poet

I found Underground Potato to be a quietly captivating album that embraces authenticity over perfection. Carly O'Dwyer's solo project, Moons Poet, feels deeply personal, with every song carrying the intimacy of a homemade recording keeping emotional impact. Drawing inspiration from artists like Mazzy Star, PJ Harvey, and Joni Mitchell, she crafts an indie-folk sound that is understated and emotionally rich, allowing vulnerability to become the album's greatest strength.

What impressed me most is how naturally themes of mental health, love, healing, and world politics coexist without overwhelming one another. "Firehorse" stands out as the emotional centerpiece, using imagery of rebirth and resilience to offer hope. For me, Underground Potato is a hidden treasure waiting beneath the surface, rewarding listeners willing to look beyond the mainstream for music created with imagination and artistic freedom.

Interview with Moons Poet

(^)> The title Underground Potato is a clever reflection of your identity as an underground artist and your love of gardening. What inspired this unique metaphor for the album?

Just wanting a unique name for an album that was kind of humorous when the songs are fairly emotional. Also - A potato is something that grows beneath the earth waiting to be uncovered…

(^)> You describe listeners as having to “dig through the soil” to discover underground music they connect with. What does being an independent underground artist mean to you?

I love being an independent artist - it's absolutely freeing, you can do what you want when you want, there's no pressure from labels to make music etc. The freedom is that I can create and respond musically whenever I want to and be guided on pure emotion is amazing. I also love discovering new and old music that's barely been heard (digging through alot of music). That's always the best feeling, when you find music that not many people have heard of before and you show someone something from the 70s or whatever era and they have not heard it before. So much fun.

(^)> The album explores themes including mental health, world politics, love, and healing. How did these personal and global themes come together during the songwriting process?

I get ideas when I'm walking my dog or when I'm thinking about things at night. Sometimes I get a song title in my head and go from there. Sometimes I get a melody on the guitar and improvise lyrics. Sometimes I get the music first. It all just depends on how I'm feeling. I tend to get a lot of ideas and just try and get them done as soon as possible as I learnt over the years, if you don't record it then and there, it just disappears into thin air and you forget the song. You have to use notetakers and record ideas all the time, as it happens.

For Firehorse, that felt like a very obvious thing to write about as i had read alot about the year of the firehorse not happening very often and it was a year that meant things were going to “bolt ahead”. So I thought that's kind of exciting/inspiring/interesting to think about and reflect on. “What’s becoming in the year ahead?” Just questioning life and reflecting on it. Is it going to be great/ bad/scary/fantastic? As you get older you realise you dont really know whats going to happen in life and it can get pretty scary, and out of control.

With “state of the world”, I'm feeling like again its an obvious song title.; that since covid the world has been in a ‘state’of panic, uncertainty and politically in the world its become very heavy and truly scary time to be alive.

(^)> “Firehorse” stands out as a song about courage, rebirth, and transformation. What inspired the story and symbolism behind the track?

Its a song that has me reflecting on my own confidence, and yes courage and the idea that you can always grow in life. And transformation is something that comes from personal growth, which I feel I have grown so much since I did my first ep and demos in my 20s both musically and in life.

I'm studying again this time my master’s in teaching and feeling a bit more inspired and excited about the future again.

I'm alsoI questioning about how i kind of got to where I am at this place in my life.

(^)> The idea of moving through darkness toward light is central to “Firehorse.” How important is hope and resilience in your songwriting?

Very important, I have suffered mental health issues since I 2014. I went through alot just to make music. But I have settled and recovered since then feel i have become much more resilient in life.

Moons Poet is a completely DIY project created from your home studio. What creative freedom does working independently give you?

Its fantastic, I create when I feel like it and its a much more natural process. Iv worked with a few different people/artists and Iv relied on others to help produce or record me and Iv found I don’t always sound how Id like to sound due to feeling abit under pressure AND it doesn’t always happen naturally. Like it would be doing it in your own home studio. It is good to do if that suits you. But i think for solo work, its best to work at home. I like my own creative space.

(^)> You embrace spontaneity and avoid overthinking your recordings. Why is preserving natural emotion more important to you than achieving technical perfection?

Natural emotional reaction/ expression is a beautiful thing to express and I love some of my demos (some i dont) but its good to just express instant emotions and not stress to much about getting the “perfect take” all the time. I think i approach music similar to visual arts, i like things abit messy with character and expressing/singing using instinct.

(^)> Your influences include Mazzy Star, PJ Harvey, and Joni Mitchell. What qualities from those artists have shaped your own approach to songwriting?

They have such a beautiful feeling about their work, all very creative, they improvise, they have a rawness and are inspiring, people, writers and singers. I know Pj harvey and joni mitchel are both visual artists to. I love that.

(^)> Your music often leaves space for listeners to interpret songs through their own experiences. Why is personal connection and openness important in your music?

It helps create emotional connection and space is good in music, sometimes no lyrics and just vocal melody and music is beautiful.

(^)> Recording from a spare room at home creates an intimate atmosphere. How does your environment influence the sound and emotion of Moons Poet?

Environment helps me keep my voice relaxed not strained which i can hear in old recordings where I was obviously abit stressed and feeling pressured.

(^)> The album’s themes touch on healing and self-discovery. How has music helped you process your own experiences?

So much, Music is complete therapy for me. It feels beautiful to be able to write a song and sing and play. I was always a pretty expressive kid and i definitely get alot of “ideas” so I think it helps me express my creative energy and helped my mental health in hard times. Its helped me reflect alot about everything and turn a feeling into art.

(^)> As an independent artist, what challenges and rewards come with having complete creative control over your work?

Challenges: Its not heard by a wider audience.

Rewards: The freedom to create music when I feel like making music.

(^)> Geelong has its own artistic community and character. How has your local environment influenced the identity of Moons Poet?

I write a bit more about the Ocean since I moved to Geelong. Its near the surfcoast and I seem to write a bit more thinking about the ocean/beach. I have not played many gigs in Geelong. Going to gigs helps shape and inspire you musically.

(^)> What do you hope listeners discover when they take the time to explore Underground Potato?

I hope they are left feeling inspired.

(^)> Looking ahead, what new stories, emotions, or musical directions would you like Moons Poet to explore next?

I want to make a cover album of songs and do two more albums this year. I have another album I'm working on with guitar pedals called “dream state”. I recently bought a “rainbow machine” by “earthquaker devices” so I'm looking forward to getting immersed in experimenting more and making new music.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Moons Poet on the Pigeon Opinion Playlist