Moonlight Social is an Nashville-based pop-rock duo made up of best friends Jeremy Burchard and Jennica Scott, whose chemistry was forged in the University of Texas marching band and refined on the road. Blending big hooks with honest storytelling, they’ve built a sound that dances between genres — pop, folk, rock, even hints of pop-punk — without ever losing their identity. From their 2012 debut, to their musical rebirth with The Carrot, to their fan-inspired acoustic album Stripped and nostalgic 80s/90s covers, Moonlight Social continues to evolve with fearless creativity and deep emotional resonance.
SNQLX: You both came from a marching band background — how do those roots show up in what Moonlight Social does today, both in sound and performance?
Jennica: I think having the marching band background definitely influences some of the more non-traditional decisions we make in especially the composition of a song. Things like irregular tempos, changing up time signatures, unique chord progressions – You see a lot more of this in composed band/orchestra music than you do on the radio. Also, all those years of synchronizing your body to the music definitely inspires us to write songs that feel good, not just to the ear holes but songs you can enjoy to your very core.
SNQLX: The Carrot was your 2020 full-length album — what did that record teach you about who you are as a duo? Fast forward to your latest single release “Let it Go” what have you learned about yourselves that led up to its release?
Jeremy: Before The Carrot, we had done an EP while in college and a kickstarter album, as well as an EP in Nashville. But The Carrot really was the first time we decided to be completely, unashamedly ourselves in writing, producing, and performing. I think more than anything it taught us that we are enough. We spent the first years of our career in this blender of opinions on who we are and who we ought to be as artists. The Carrot was such a cathartic experience and a chance for us to say, “This is us – a little bit of everything.”
As for “Let It Go,” mostly what I personally have learned is that I am an unwell person when I don’t create! It had been a while since we wrote a new song. My mom died in March 2024 and the fallout from that dominated much of my life for the next year. “Let It Go” came from this place of my body saying, “Ok, you NEED to create music.”
“The Carrot taught us that we are enough. We spent years in this blender of opinions on who we ought to be. That record was us saying, this is who we are — a little bit of everything.” — Jeremy Burchard
SNQLX: You’ve also released two acoustic albums covering 80s and 90s songs. How did you decide which tracks to put your spin on, and what drew you to those decades in particular?
Jennica: We grew up on 80s and 90s music. This was the stuff that partially defined our individual music preferences and ultimately our inspiration has a band. When we sat down to pick which songs we wanted to cover, some were DUHs (“I’ll Be There For You”…c’mon, obviously we’re putting our spin on this iconic Friends theme), but some were more — what song flipped the script when it was released? What songs had an impact on our lives at the time? What song can I just not resist putting my voice into it (“Believe” by Cher – how could we resist?).
SNQLX: Do you approach cover songs differently than originals — or is the goal always to make it feel like “Moonlight Social”?
Jeremy: I think at this point it’s really hard for us to not feel like Moonlight Social. To me though, covers are kind of like reboots of former films. You’re never going to “beat” the original, and that shouldn’t be the point. It should be about bringing something new while honoring the source material.
SNQLX: Your 2024 album Stripped reimagines Imposter Syndrome in a more acoustic, minimal way. What inspired you to revisit those songs, and did paring them down reveal something new about the music?
Jeremy: Stripped was really about the fans. We put a smattering of songs from throughout our career on there, and many of them came directly from fans requesting them on livestreams etc. That was a really fun project because so much of our origin has been that “two voice and a guitar” approach to music.
SNQLX: When fans hear your acoustic takes on songs they grew up with, what kinds of reactions have stuck with you?
Jeremy: I think my favorite reaction has been to our cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark,” which is just an all-time great to me.
A lot of people love that cover because it makes them feel what Bruce sings n a different way. It gives a new vibe to his lyrics, and when people tell you, “Wow, I never really felt this song this way until I heard your version,” I mean that’s just such a massive compliment when you’re talking about a song like that.
SNQLX: Your originals often feel like they’re in conversation with the listener. How do you decide which stories to tell, and how much space to leave for people to see themselves in the lyrics?
Jennica: For me personally, I’m selfish when it comes to songwriting. I tell the stories I need to tell for myself. But I believe that music SHOULD be interpreted in a way that everyone needs it for themselves. Music is such a healing presence in so many peoples lives, it needs to remain universal. The bridge in the song Valleys and Peaks was written with my childhood dog in mind, she had crossed the rainbow bridge not long before we needed to write it… but we’ve heard so many different reactions to that bridge, saying it helped with break ups, processing grief, losing friendships, etc. And that’s what it’s all about. You feel how you need to feel. We’re here for it.
SNQLX: You’ve experimented with pop, folk, rock, and even some pop-punk energy. Do you see genre-blending as part of your identity, or is it just a natural extension of writing together?
Jeremy: Definitely. We’ve never been able to “pick a lane,” and honestly that’s just fine by us. The one thing I’ve learned is that if something wants to come out a certain way, you have to go with it. Serve the song, don’t serve your own sense of what you thought it was going to be before you started recording it. I don’t miss the days of our early 20s, feeling super insecure about whether or not we were “this” or “that” enough to fit in to a certain scene.
SNQLX: Performing as a duo means every layer and decision is deliberate — what’s one way you’ve learned to lean on each other’s strengths?
Jeremy: Jennica pretty much taught me everything I know about harmony. She has such a great ear when it comes to vocal arrangement and making these little tweaks that make something pop a bit more. I love to get weird with the lyrics and the sonic arrangements, and she always does a great job of tying it all together with the vocals. Some of the most fun we have is actually doing all the background vocals, which often kind of feel like a “third band member” in many songs.
SNQLX: You’ve built a very engaged fanbase. What’s one fan-reaction or memory that surprised you, or shifted how you think about your music?
Jeremy: It’s hard to pick one, but I gotta say — we released The Carrot in October 2020 at the height of Covid. And because we couldn’t do a release show in person, we did one on a Twitch stream, wearing carrot suits. I will never forget the love and good vibes from that stream. People across the globe tuning in to jam out and share love. The Internet can be a magical place, y’all.
SNQLX: Looking ahead, what’s next for Moonlight Social — whether it’s sound evolution, a new concept, or something totally unexpected?
Jeremy: Well certainly new music, but I’ve also been working on some concepts to turn some of our songs into short films and films (like we did with SAD). We’ve always loved telling stories, like Jennica said, and I’ve actually got a film background. I keep thinking of new ways to bring these songs and stories to life and I’m feeling really motivated to do that right now.
SNQLX: If you could step into one 80s or 90s music video and live in that world for a day, which one would you pick?
What a question! This is probably cheating, but maybe “All The Small Things” by blink-182 because it’s mostly poking fun at a bunch of other popular videos of the time and is just filled with so much fun and joy.
SNQLX: Who’s more likely to start laughing in the middle of a serious song — and why?
Jennica, but only because Jeremy did something dumb.
SNQLX: After a long show, what’s your ultimate late-night snack or comfort food?
Hmm probably things we’re not supposed to have before we sing, so I’d say chocolate milk or ice cream!
Through every chapter — from marching band beginnings to carrot suits on Twitch — Moonlight Social has stayed grounded in the simple joy of making music that moves people. Their songs thrive on connection, whether reimagining Bruce Springsteen or channeling grief into something beautifully alive. As they look ahead, with new music and even film projects on the horizon, Jeremy and Jennica remind us that the best art isn’t about fitting a mold — it’s about following the spark wherever it leads.
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