At just 22 years old, British singer-songwriter Henry Moodie has quickly become one of pop music’s most exciting emerging voices. Since breaking through with fan-favorite tracks like “you were there for me” and “drunk text,” the rising artist has amassed more than a billion streams worldwide and built a devoted global fanbase drawn to his emotionally honest songwriting.
Now, following a sold-out run across the U.K. and Europe, Henry is bringing his Mood Swings World Tour to North America this fall in support of his debut album, Mood Swings. The project captures the highs, lows and uncertainty of early adulthood through deeply personal lyrics and relatable storytelling, themes that have become central to his music.
Ahead of the North American tour, Sweety High caught up with Henry to discuss the inspiration behind his latest single “MISS U,” what he’s learned from life on the road, how his relationship with vulnerability has evolved as an artist and what fans can expect from the next chapter of his music. Read on to learn more about Henry.
Sweety High: “MISS U” captures the emotions that come with being separated from someone you love. What was happening in your life that inspired this song, and how personal was it for you to write?
Henry Moodie: I wrote “MISS U” when I was in a long-distance relationship, and everything was reminding me of them. I’d catch the smell of someone’s cologne walking past and think, “Oh, that reminds me of him.” I’d be driving and hear a song on the radio and think, “That’s our song.”
It was that constant, 24/7 feeling of thinking about someone. I remember being in the studio and realizing there was definitely a song in that feeling. We started playing around with the chorus chords, and honestly, the song wrote itself in a couple of hours.
It felt like catching lightning in a bottle. Everyone in the room jumped on it, and it ended up becoming one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.
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SH: If fans could take away one message from “MISS U,” what would you want it to be?
HM: I think missing someone is actually a beautiful thing. It hurts in the moment, but it means you have someone in your life that you love enough to miss.
There’s that quote from Ed Sheeran about a broken heart being proof that you’ve loved. I think that’s really true. As hard as missing someone can be, I’m grateful to have people in my life that I care about enough to feel that way.
(Image courtesy of Henry Moodie)
SH: One thing fans seem to connect with most in your music is your vulnerability. Has it become easier or harder to be honest in your songwriting as your audience continues to grow?
HM: Honestly, I think it’s stayed the same.
Whenever I’m writing, I’m not really thinking about how people are going to perceive it or react to it. Those thoughts usually come later when I’m listening back and realizing just how personal the song actually is.
Songwriting started as a diary for me, so it’s always been incredibly personal. I never let outside voices into the room when I’m writing.
That said, there are definitely moments when I listen back and think, “Wow, that’s quite a lot to say out loud.” That part can be scary. There are songs I haven’t released because of that. But most of the time, I’ve managed to push through the anxiety and put them out anyway.
SH: You recently wrapped a sold-out U.K. headline tour. What did that experience teach you about yourself as a performer?
HM: I used to be a pretty nervous performer. Being on stage never came as naturally to me as songwriting.
If I look back at old videos, I had no idea who I was. I was wearing the craziest outfits, and I felt like I didn’t really have an identity yet.
After years of touring and performing, I think this most recent U.K. tour was the first time I truly felt like I’d arrived as Henry Moodie on stage. I felt confident for the first time. Not in a narcissistic way, but I genuinely felt like I belonged there.
It was the best tour I’ve ever done. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by everything around me, I felt like I could own the stage.
SH: You spent time on the road with Lauren Spencer Smith in the U.S. What did you learn from watching her connect with audiences night after night?
HM: She’s incredibly relaxed on stage, and she’s so conversational with her audience.
One thing I love about Lauren is that every show feels different. She’ll notice a sign in the crowd and turn it into a moment. She creates little interactions that make people feel included.
A lot of artists can feel larger than life when they’re on stage, and that sometimes creates distance between them and the audience. Lauren has this amazing ability to feel like a superstar while still making everyone feel like they’re part of the show.
Watching that taught me how important it is to involve the audience and make them feel included. Beyond that, she’s just an incredible songwriter. Seeing how deeply her fans connect with her music inspired me to keep writing the best songs I possibly can.
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SH: Your debut album, Mood Swings, marked a major milestone in your career. Looking back, what does that project represent to you now?
HM: Mood Swings feels like a time capsule of being confused in my early twenties.
When I listen back, there are so many different emotions, ideas and perspectives throughout the album. It’s all over the place in some ways, but I think that’s what makes it honest.
It really fits the title. That’s the entire theme of the record.
I look back on it very fondly because it contains some of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. At the same time, it still feels really recent. Time is such a strange thing.
(Image courtesy of Henry Moodie)
SH: You’ve accomplished so much in a short amount of time. What’s something about Henry Moodie today that would surprise the version of yourself from five years ago? And where do you hope to be five years from now?
HM: I think the biggest thing is that I’m much better at handling anxiety now than I was five years ago.
Growing up and going through life experiences has taught me how to sit with difficult emotions more comfortably. I think I’ve become much better at that.
Five years from now, I hope I’m still doing exactly this. I hope I’m still releasing albums, touring and making music. I also hope I still have the same band around me because they’ve been with me through every chapter so far.
SH: You’ve hinted that there’s a lot more coming this year. What can fans expect from this next chapter of music?
HM: A lot more of my insecurities are coming out in these songs.
This next chapter digs much deeper into my psyche. The emotions feel more complex, and I’m letting people into parts of myself that I’ve never really explored before in my music.
We’re also heading out on a world tour, which is incredibly exciting.
The songs I’m making right now are some of my favorites I’ve ever written. Even if the second album comes out next year, it’s already shaping up to be my favorite body of work so far.
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SH: Speaking of, you’re about to head back out on tour. What excites you most about getting back on the road?
HM: Obviously, I love performing and seeing the fans, but honestly, one of the things I’m most excited about is getting back together with my band.
Touring only works when you’re surrounded by people you genuinely enjoy being around. You’re living together on a moving bus every day, so it really becomes a family.
I’ve got the best crew, and I’m excited to spend time with them again. I’m also excited to meet more fans in America because I’ve done support tours here before, but I’ve never done a full headline tour across the U.S.
It’ll be really special to meet the Henry Moodie fan base that’s been growing here.
SH: Which songs are you most looking forward to performing live on this tour?
HM: I’m really excited to perform “MISS U” because we’ve never done it live before.
I’m also excited for “drunk text.” Even though it’s not my biggest song, it goes off every single night. It never gets old.
There’s also an unreleased song called “She” that we’ll be playing. I’m really looking forward to seeing people’s reactions to that one.
(Image courtesy of Henry Moodie)
SH: What’s one city you always look forward to visiting, or one you’d love to spend more time in?
HM: In America, I’d probably say Chicago. I absolutely love Chicago.
I also love New York. Some of my favorite memories and favorite songs came from time spent there.
Outside of the U.S., I always love going back to Manila in the Philippines. The fans there are incredible, and I’ve always had amazing experiences there.
I also love Perth in Australia. It’s a smaller, more isolated city, but I have family friends there, and every time I visit, I have the best time. It’s become a bit of a happy place for me.
Honestly, I love this job because it allows me to see so much of the world.
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SH: Where do you feel you’ve grown the most as a performer?
HM: I think adaptability.
When you’re performing live, unexpected things happen all the time. Someone might faint in the crowd, your in-ear monitor might stop working, or something else might go wrong.
Earlier in my career, I would’ve completely frozen in those moments. Now, I feel much more capable of handling whatever happens and finding a solution quickly.
Experience has made me much more adaptable on stage.
SH: What’s currently on repeat in your personal playlist?
HM: Honestly, Olivia Rodrigo’s latest album.
I’ve been listening to it nonstop. I genuinely think it’s one of the best albums of the year. It’s so deep, emotional and well-written.
Songs like “honeybee” and “the cure” have been on constant repeat for me. At the moment, that’s pretty much all I’ve been listening to.
SH: Anything else you’d like to add for fans?
HM: Honestly, just a huge thank you to my fans.
There wouldn’t be a music industry without fans, and the older I get, the more I realize that.
These days, I’m much less focused on creating a viral moment or chasing huge numbers. My focus has shifted toward the people who are already here, the fans who continue showing up and supporting me.
I want to keep making music for them, listening to them and growing alongside them. If bigger things happen along the way, that’s amazing. But I’ve taken a lot of pressure off myself when it comes to chasing that.
I’m just incredibly grateful for all the support.
For even more on Henry, click HERE to discover everything he shared with us as our Man Crush Monday.
