Music Bugle Exclusive – Q & A – Alyssa Moore/Randy Moore Of The Moore Family Band

By Nicholas Jason Lopez

San Jose, Calif.-based alt-rock outfit The Moore Family Band recently dropped their second single, “Raining Inside My Head,” accompanied with a rotoscope-style animated lyric video directed by Eric LaFebre.

Written about the hopes of a relationship holding strong through life’s many obstacles, the optimistic “quick-punch”-styled song serves as a welcome followup to debut single “Failing.”

Both songs serve a collective glimpse into what fans can expect from their upcoming album ‘Missy,’ due out Dec. 4, 2020 via Asian Man Records. Recorded entirely in quarantine, ‘Missy’ will feature several collaborators, such as Dan Potthast of MU330 (synths on “Failing”), Jeff Rosenstock and Peter Niven.

Raised on Weezer, Green Day and Alkaline Trio, the real-life siblings found a way to work those influences into their sound.

The Moore Family Band are lead vocalist Alyssa Moore, guitarist/bassist Randy Moore and drummer/backup vocalist Dylan Moore.

The Music Bugle had the opportunity to chat with Alyssa and Randy about ‘Missy’ and more.

Music Bugle – What was it like putting together your debut single “Falling”? 

Randy Moore – Putting together “Falling” came together fairly quickly. I believe it was the last song written before going into the studio. I love Weezer and wanted to write a big power pop song for the record.

Alyssa Moore – Writing the song was a pretty easy process for the band. Within a couple minutes of brainstorming, we had this song that represented all of us in its own way. 

Music Bugle – What were some challenges you faced while making your album ‘Missy’? 

Alyssa Moore – We never had challenges that were out of the ordinary, just normal sibling bickering from time to time. 

Randy Moore – My biggest challenge I faced was not being able to get in the control room due to COVID restrictions. I love being able to be behind the board. 

Music Bugle – How would you describe San Jose to someone who has never been there before? 

Randy Moore – San Jose to me is a cultural melting pot of ideals, people and technology. 

Alyssa Moore – I would describe San Jose as a place to call home. The Bay Area is home to so much culture and I’m glad to be able to call it home.

Music Bugle – Who are you listening to right now, music-wise? 

Alyssa Moore – Music-wise, I’m listening to PUP, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion and Amy Winehouse. 

Randy Moore – While writing the album, I was listening to a cornucopia of music styles. Stuff like Phoebe Bridgers, DRAIN, The Dirty Nil, The Beatles and Green Day. 

Music Bugle – What excites you the most about your particular musical style? 

Randy Moore – We just sat down and everything came together pretty naturally. Energetic rock-n-roll with a pop sensibility.

Alyssa Moore – I like how our music style makes it possible to tell stories and express different emotions in a universal way. 

Music Bugle – How have you been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic? 

Alyssa Moore – The pandemic definitely made me feel lost for a bit. It wasn’t until we started writing music that I felt a new door open and a new project to help me feel motivated again.

Randy Moore – My brother Dylan and I were living in Orange County. We had a lot of tour plans, but those all fell through. When the pandemic hit, we both moved back to San Jose and decided to wait things out up here. 

Music Bugle – Does social media make it easier or harder for a band to stand out these days? 

Randy Moore – Social media is a double-edged sword. It makes music more accessible to the masses, but it’s a lot of fighting through the crowd to be heard.

Music Bugle – What’s a quote that motivates you to keep doing what you do? 

Randy Moore – I’ve always liked, “The great thing about rock-n-roll is you realize the top of the mountain is big enough for more than one band,” from Paul Stanley.

Alyssa Moore – “This is my art and it is dangerous,” by Delia Deetz from “Beetlejuice.”

Music Bugle – Where do you go when you feel the need to escape? 

Randy Moore – I always drive to Santa Cruz and chill by the ocean. It calms my soul. 

Alyssa Moore – There’s this little road close to my house that my friends and I drive all the time. It’s probably like a 30-40 minute drive, but it’s so peaceful and it clears my mind every time I drive it.

Music Bugle – What’s something that you wish happened more in today’s music industry? 

Randy Moore – More equality with female artists. Having witnessed mistreatment firsthand, something’s gotta change and soon. 

Alyssa Moore – Giving credit where credit is due. Rewarding hard-working, genuine artists instead of problematic people.

*Photo credit – Natalie Neria*