Following last month’s release of the widely-cherished single “Fantasyland,” rising pop trio Moody Joody have unveiled their latest track, “Average Joe.” The song serves as a compelling preview of their forthcoming debut album, Plain Jane, which is set for release on October 30 via Photo Finish Records. As the band continues to build momentum, “Average Joe” stands out as a smart, melodically propulsive exploration of modern dating dynamics.
The track offers a sharp critique of performative masculinity, dissecting the frustrations and humor inherent in contemporary courtship. With lyrics like, “Sit in your brickstone apartment/And you sip your manhattan/New York Times morning crosswords/don’t make you more of a man,” the band captures the essence of a disappointing romantic encounter with wit and precision.
A Cathartic Exploration of Modern Romance
Co-lead vocalist Kaitie Forbes describes the song as a deeply personal reflection on past experiences. “’Average Joe’ has become one of my favorite moments on the album,” she explains. “It leans into the toxic cycles I went through in my twenties of falling for unavailable, performative men. It’s that raw disappointment of realizing you fell in love with potential and not the person standing in front of you.”
Bandmate and co-lead vocalist/synth player Kayla Hall echoes this sentiment, noting that the song emerged from a place of genuine frustration. “The idea for ‘Average Joe’ came after yet another situationship where this person did and said all of the right things in the beginning just to turn it around,” Hall shares. “The bridge of the song fell out in a fit of rage the next day. It’s felt like a slow burn—which I’ve come to appreciate in life and in relationships. ‘Average Joe’ leaves you with this powerful energy of lingering feminine rage.”
Crafting the Sound of Plain Jane
Multi-instrumentalist and producer Andrew Pacheco highlights the collaborative effort behind the track’s production. “It was one of the last songs we finished writing for the record,” Pacheco notes. “It took a couple sessions to really nail down the right direction, but once we found it, it became this really important cinematic moment on the album.”
With a sold-out NYC show under their belts and a performance scheduled for The Maine’s 8123 Fest next January, Moody Joody is poised for a significant breakthrough. Having already amassed over 21 million global streams and garnered support from major outlets like Rolling Stone and The Fader, the trio is clearly hitting their stride as they prepare to share Plain Jane with the world.