By Joe Vickrey
Unless you’ve been living under a series of large, soundproofed rocks, you already know local legends Little Moon won NPR’s 2023 Tiny Desk Contest. For Provo to say we knew “wonder eye” before it became a global hit is a massive W for our music scene and it’s going to make us sound so cool at parties.
In my mind, if you win a national contest like that, you’re instantly whisked away into superstardom, but we’ve gotten a very close look at the timeline for how things happen after such a triumphant victory. In the past year or so, we’ve seen Little Moon on Tiny Desk Concert, being signed to Joyful Noise Recordings, embarking on a national tour, and now their new album Dear Divine is finally here!
When “now,” the first single of this new album, dropped, I raced to hear it, and the track made all of Little Moon’s music click for me. Suddenly I got it. Initially, I just wanted to be supportive of them, but this quickly became one of my favorite songs of the year — I get goosebumps every time I hear it. Between jangly guitars, harps, and clarinets, singer Emma Hardyman’s vocals parade through both strong and vulnerable. It combines indie pop with theatrical scoring for a taste of perfection on earth, and it’s a good example for just how unique the group is.
The arrangement on these songs is both awe-inspiring and inviting. “give you flowers” is an excellent example of that. Beginning with reversed guitars, drum machines and plucked violins before developing into an orchestrated movement, it feels like it could’ve fit into Steven Universe. The range of instrumentation in Dear Divine is wild, but it all fits perfectly.
Dear Divine perfectly centers around Emma’s voice — I genuinely did not know humans could sing so well. A few years ago, I had just begun taking voice lessons, but my teacher was sick, and Emma subbed in. I immediately recognized her and was overcome with nerves. Think about her angelic soprano range, and now imagine her trying to help Tim Robinson learn how to sing. She was kind and patient as you might imagine her to be, but I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life. While it’s my biggest claim to fame, I frequently have the thought, “I hope she does not remember that.”
To me, the lyrics of Dear Divine emphasize finding joy in the seemingly small things and magnify the grandeur of life. To see the world as a magical place again is a gift that’s scarcely found. While the group mentioned on their Instagram that their lyrics and then-upcoming shows would deal with grief, loss, and transformation, I can’t help but feel positive while listening. Those are such heavy topics, but the album presents them in a healing way. “holy & sweet” especially hit me in the feels. If I’m not overly projecting, the song speaks on seeing your family age, and the theme of seeing loved ones move on from this life in a way that’s both touching and comforting.
Little Moon’s music makes the world feel a bit like a warm and fuzzy storybook in a friendly forest. Lighthearted adventure finds you and there’s no thought of looking back. This is one of the best albums of 2024, and we should wear its roots as a badge of honor. For new fans and old, Dear Divine deserves all the attention it gets and more. Don’t miss out on the chance to support and be supported by such excellent music.
Be sure to follow Little Moon on Instagram! You can listen to “holy & sweet” below.