After Battling Cancer, Toronto Indie Songstress Moonlyn Spreads Joy and Positivity with “Here & Now” From Possessed by Angels Album
Renowned for her infectious positivity and radiance, indie songstress Moonlyn is on the sole mission to spread joy through her music. With the release of her latest single “Here & Now,” Moonlyn is preparing to release her new full-length album Possessed by Angels on October 17. Her third studio album marks her latest record release since her 2010 album Blondes Prefer Gentlemen.
Her upcoming album is an incredibly vulnerable release, as it began to take shape at a dark point in Moonlyn’s life. After undergoing a serious cancer diagnosis and surgery during lockdown in 2020, she began to work on Possessed by Angels as a way to find light within the darkness.
“It helped me focus on the good, stay positive, and keep moving forward,” she says. “After getting past the ‘why me?’ moments and the tears following my cancer diagnosis, I made a choice – I didn’t want to be unhappy, I wanted to make good use of whatever time I have left here.”
Her latest single, “Here & Now,” was the first track Moonlyn worked on for the upcoming album. With its distinct 90s acoustic rock vibe, the song carries a powerful message about the importance of focusing on the present moment and devoting all your energy to the here and now. In less than a month, the song and its accompanying video have garnered over 250,000 streams, resonating deeply with listeners and making a strong connection with a wide audience.
“It was a song that my friend Peter had sent to me for me to add my talents to,” Moonlyn says. “I focused on everything I’m grateful for and poured all my energy into creating an album full of positive music with inspiring messages. Now, I want to share these messages with the world – to spread happiness and hope and to inspire others to do the same. Sharing my love with the world through my music is what’s keeping me strong.”
With catchy melodies and lyrics that celebrate life’s sunny side, Moonlyn invites you to a world where every beat is an invitation to dance, and every note is a burst of happiness. Within the music of Moonlyn, you will find nothing but inspiration, positivity, and one uplifting tune after another.
Hi Moonlyn! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers?
Hey, what’s up everyone! Moonlyn here – indie singer/songwriter from Toronto. I believe I was born to spread love to the world with my music and that’s precisely what I’ve dedicated all my time to doing. I am an optimist at heart and always strive to see the bright side in every situation. My latest single “Here & Now” is all about focusing on the present moment and seeing all the potential that it has.
Your new album, Possessed by Angels, is described as your most vulnerable work to date. Can you share more about the personal journey that led to its creation and how your experiences influenced its development?
After I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of 2020, I decided that this was the time to start producing my next album. While the world was in lockdown, I was working away, creating musical babies to share with the world. Music has a unique way of connecting people and spreading hope. I didn’t want to drown in sadness, so instead my songs became the light in my darkness and it gave me hope. As I got deeper into writing the songs for my current album, I was inspired to share all of my life lessons, to instill positivity and love with my fans. My decision to share these life lessons and positivity through my music will hopefully be my beautiful legacy.
The single and video for “Here & Now” have quickly gained a lot of attention. What has been the most surprising reaction from your fans, and how does their response impact you personally?
Knowing that my music is reaching all over the world has filled my heart with so much love. All the positive feedback I’ve been receiving from “Here & Now”, only confirms that my good vibes are making a happy difference and hence, I’m fulfilling my destiny. All the songs on my upcoming album “Possessed by Angels” have a positive message to inspire happiness with my fans. In fact, I can’t wait to share all my new songs with the world. The next single I will release after “Here & Now” is called “In Heaven”. It is a happy love song.
You mentioned that working on this album helped you focus on the positive during a challenging time. How did music become a source of healing and hope for you throughout your cancer diagnosis and recovery?
My creative process is deeply intertwined with my personal journey and sense of purpose. Working on this album made me feel like I was doing something important. I’ve always felt that a loving part of me was going to be left behind in my music when I’m gone. It made me feel like my life had meaning and I wasn’t going to fade away without at least sharing my story and lessons learned. Music can bridge gaps between people’s hearts and souls, so I believe all art has the potential to heal every broken heart, whether as the observer or the creator. Art and especially music has the power to connect on a spiritual level, filling all spaces with beauty and inspiration.
Your music often revolves around themes of positivity and joy. How do you stay grounded and maintain your optimism, especially when faced with difficult circumstances?
It is a process, with many stages. I have so far spent a lifetime trying to figure out how to be happy, despite negative situations. Once I decided that nothing was going to bring me down anymore, I began to write better and even sing better. Once you are faced with your own mortality and you feel you have nothing to lose, many worries fade away. I’m living for me now, with my mission to spread love and happiness through my music while enjoying every single minute I have been blessed with. That’s why the first song from my new album is called “Here & Now”.