Present and Authentic: Little Moon Gears Up for Tour

By Zach Collier

Photo Courtesy of Joyful Noise

The 2023 Tiny Desk Contest winner is about to embark on a West Coast tour in support of their next record. Hear the latest single, entitled “now.”

Little Moon is the Provo, Utah-based avant-folk collective fronted by songwriter Emma Hardyman. Hot on the heels of their 2023 Tiny Desk Contest win and subsequent NPR-sponsored tour, the group signed with Joyful Noise. Now, they’re wide-eyed and ready to take on the world after a string of rapid and exhilarating career breakthroughs.

Their next big break just might be the group’s highly anticipated sophomore album.

Entitled Dear Divine, it’s a deeply personal reflection on love, loss, and self-discovery. Born into a half-Peruvian, half-white Mormon family, Hardyman had always grappled with contradictions. But when her husband and fellow-musician Nate Hardyman lost his mother, the couple’s shared grief led them to reject traditions that had never made sense to them and to completely reconsider everything they thought they knew.

Listeners will get a taste of the album’s intense themes in “now,” the latest single from Dear Divine.

“It’s a deeply personal reflection on my struggle to be present and authentic in a world full of expectations and insecurities,” shares Hardyman.

“Developed over many years, this song grew and changed with me, delving into the difficulty of loving and being loved, especially within cultures and institutions that often prioritize trust in them over trust in oneself.”

Photo credit: Mario Alcauter

In the song’s music video, director Ty Davis seeks to portray Hardyman’s struggle to break free from the confines of inauthentic belief through rich imagery, deep symbolism, and genuinely captivating set design. In Davis’s portrayal, Hardyman is an actress in a surreal theater performance, struggling to escape.

“Growing up, I often felt like I was putting on a performance just to fit in,” says Hardyman. “‘now’ is a message to myself that in our brokenness and vulnerability, we can find true connection and love.”

While the band’s debut record Unphased was a lyrically esoteric and sonically raw album recorded live without a click track, Dear Divine is a vast, dense sonic world with rich production and clear messaging. Co-produced by Hardyman and Bly Wallentine, the album features an array of textures—from ethereal harp plucks to Zelda-inspired synths. This rich sonic landscape mirrors the album’s thematic depth, exploring love, grief, and self-understanding through a tapestry of sounds.

“now” is an excellent sample of what’s to come. On Dear Divine, Little Moon is sure to delve into the complexities of love and trust while reflecting on family and the divine nature of flawed love.

The band will embark on a West Coast tour in support of Dear Divine this November. Make sure to follow Little Moon on Instagram and grab tickets for your city below.