Interview: Hudson Moore Reflects on the Importance of Songs, His Fans, Persistence
It's been a little less than one year since Hudson Moore released his Getaway album, in June of 2016. In the time since then, Moore has been out on the road quite a bit, headlining his own shows and opening for artists such as Martina McBride and the Eli Young Band -- and proving to himself that all of his hard work on Getaway paid off.
"I think anytime I open up for successful artists of that level, it shows the importance of songs," Moore tells The Boot. "Obviously you can learn little tricks about performance or what moments in the set really get a reaction from the crowd; that’s always nice. But it really just reminds me of the importance of having great songs that people can relate to and sing.
"Those guys, especially Martina, they have great, timeless songs that are still amazing today," Moore adds, "and it inspires me to write songs that will stand the test of time and be good 20, 30, 40 years from now."
Getaway became a Top 20 record on iTunes, and Moore's current single, "Sand in the Bed," has garnered more than 1.5 million streams thus far. That success has propelled the singer-songwriter to continue writing and recording songs that his fans can relate to.
"I feel like we’ve got some good momentum, and more fans are discovering the music every day through Spotify and YouTube and social media," Moore shares. "It’s not quite a year, but it’s been a really cool [10] months of just getting the music out there. You don’t know how the songs are going to react until you release it to the world, so it’s nice to hear, ‘Hey, this song is getting me through my day,’ or, ‘This song brings me joy.’ Hearing the fan reaction to it is really encouraging and fun."
Moore has been releasing his music independently, and while he says he'd be open to working with a label if the situation was right, he's happy to have complete control for now; however, being independent does mean that he's always working.
"You know you’re going to have challenges, but it’s crazy how, you just have to stay persistent," says Moore. "I think some things that you imagine when you first set out don’t necessarily happen overnight, but that goes for any profession."
Moore cites radio play as "definitely a challenge" as an independent artist, but notes that he's "really thankful" for alternative outlets -- social media, Spotify, YouTube -- as he works to get his music heard by new fans. Fan interaction, in fact, is one of the things that the soft-spoken Moore has enjoyed the most about growing his career; he didn't realize that he would like it as much as he does.
"You selfishly get into music because it’s your passion and you love it; it’s something personal. But I’ve honestly been surprised by the amount of fulfillment I get from getting to meet the fans," Moore admits. "That’s my favorite part of the night, getting to meet them. I wouldn’t have a job if it wasn’t for those guys; they’re my audience, and I can’t do it without them. I didn’t realize how much fulfillment I would get from meeting the fans and interacting with the fans. That’s been a real highlight."
Although Getaway hasn't celebrated its first "birthday" yet, Moore is already thinking about his next project.
"I always want to continue to evolve as an artist, but I’m also establishing my brand," the Texan explains. "My fans are really embracing the sound and style of my Getaway album, so I want to not stray too far away from that. I think, sometimes, when people change their sound too abruptly, it can be confusing to the fans, especially with a new artist.
"It will hopefully be an evolution, if the songs continue to get better, and me as a vocalist and an artist continue to get better, but I think it will still have my brand and my style," Moore continues. "I’m not going to do a rap album or a polka fusion."
In addition to his shows with bigger artists, Moore has also been headlining clubs and smaller venues. Although those shows come with "pressure" to draw a crowd, Moore has been "pleasantly surprised" by attendance. Upcoming dates can be found on his website.
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