Mickey Moone Channels 1950s Rock & Roll on New Single “Take It Easy” from Ride Alone
Canadian multi-instrumentalist Mickey Moone has released his latest single from the project Ride Alone titled “Take is Easy”. Over two decades into the music game, Moone consistently reveals his influences, whether classic rock, first-wave punk…and this track: a hooky 50s vibe. Produced and mixed by the artist himself in his home studio, Mickey Moone provides all instrumentation and is the primary lyricist offering sentiments as You are the light in my day, you illuminate everything declaring his passion, hunger for love, and pleading for a match to loyalty with You’re a locomotive I’m the tracks you’re rolling on, I’ll bring you anywhere for free.
“Take It Easy” is the second release from Ride Alone, mastered by Steve Rizun, and has echoes of songs from yesteryear as well as Moone showcasing his accessible singing voice—not that there is anything wrong with his throatier style in former rock offerings like the gritty “Perspective”. “Take It Easy” highlights his range; the pace of the subtle strumming of retro guitar draws you in.
The music video for “Take It Easy” was shot entirely on a Samsung Galaxy 24 and directed by Marc Simmons over a Sunday afternoon before operating hours at a drive in theatre. Moone, from Ontario, performs the song throughout the video, running around with his love, Julie ‘Ginger’ Moone. “Marc Simmons is a quick thinking, and naturally talented director! It was great working with him,” Moone said. Regarding the musical tones he offered, “I hope people will always find the work of Buddy Holly, and artists like Evelyn King. Maybe my music would lead them there.”
Known locally in southern Ontario as “that-folk-a-billy-country-rock-punk-guy”, Mickey Moone took all of the liberties he wanted in expressing his eclectic style. “The song is like a message within an analog bottle, sent from a simpler time across a digital ocean to bridge generations…regardless of mainstreams, or how much time goes by,” he said. “We all know the leap of faith an individual must take at the beginning of a relationship. I suppose “Take It Easy” is that moment in time. Sonically I was inspired to deliver a track that might have come from the 1950’s using today’s accessible tech. I recorded it alone, one instrument at a time starting with the drums. It was one of those tunes where no words were scratched out or erased and each riff played was a riff laid.”
Mickey Moone loves what he does. Loves what he sings about. Loves what he plays. Passion abounds and this artist is ‘all in’. He mentions that “Take is Easy” comes from the first place he discovered rock and roll—hits of 50’s blasting through his dad’s boom box in the 80s. Moone has played all over Canada and the United States over the years and will be performing and promoting “Take It Easy” from Ride Alone throughout 2025. Shows will include solo performances and full band arrangements with the Murder.
Hi Mickey! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers?
My name is Mickey Moone, I’m a DIYer. Everything you hear from me, I’ve created myself from conception to post-production. Punk rock is in my heart, I love all music and I’m comfortable projecting any style that I’m inspired by. I am a first-generation Canadian, born in an American/Italian family, the passion for creative artistic expression was absorbed daily. From the accordion squeezing tarantella sessions to the snake handling hoedowns in Appalachia country. Both my parents are artists, and my earliest memories of great music came from them, and my sister.
Your latest single, Take It Easy, has a distinct ’50s vibe. What drew you to that era of music, and how did you go about capturing that sound with modern technology?
I grew up listening to that stuff, it was always on in the background. There’s an undeniable charm in those nursery rhyme types of melodies. When I hear that music now it’s like the stages of life. You never forget it, you always love it, and those songs, when they come on now, everyone in the room is singing along, from every walk of life. That flavour has always appealed to me, the sound, the cars, the fashion. I found a cassette tape my Dad made for my Mother in 1966 performing a song he wrote for her. He sent these tapes to the U.S.A. from North Bay until they would meet again, and marry in 1973. I listened as a man, to my father who was a boy singing his heart out, and It created a chain reaction of inspiration. I wanted “Take It Easy” to feel like that. As most artists today, I have a home rig running the status quo applications, but I did a lot of stuff old fashioned, things my Dad said he did, like miking instruments in the bathroom, and doing vocal takes in the longest hallway of my house. In most cases I created the sonic effect live in the environment, using tech to capture the moment. Layering is a huge component to the wall of sound style, I had been aware of, but not tried things like doubling the electric bass with an acoustic upright.
You played every instrument and handled production on Take It Easy. What was that process like, and do you enjoy the control of being a one-man band in the studio?
I recorded it alone, one instrument at a time starting with the drums. It’s a blessing and a curse. I am thankful to have the ability and resources, but I do wish I had enough “resources” for a full-time engineer. Recording alone is not always ideal, sometimes when the inspiration happens I hear everything all at once the complete song is in my head, the melody, the bass riff, the kick. In a typical band scenario, those ideas can be difficult to communicate. In the solo setting, you just do it, even if it takes 1000 times in order to be able to do it.
You mentioned hoping your music leads people to discover artists like Buddy Holly and Evelyn King. Who are some of your biggest influences, and how do they shape your songwriting?
I feel like both those artists mentioned make perfect music, and have defined a structure that’s easy to follow for anyone who is writing music. Those rudiments are in everything I do no matter the scope, they are in every part of rock and roll, and everyone knows it.
What’s next for you after Take It Easy? Can we expect more releases from Ride Alone, and what’s your vision for the project moving forward?
The next track from Ride Alone is called “Blue & Lonely”, It’s a satirical country punk song. The grit is back on this one as far as the vocals go, and there’s lots of crunch. The video will be something I’ve never done before, a digitally animated cartoon. I’m currently putting the finishing touches on that when there’s time. Over all Ride Alone will have that roots feel. I will be promoting this project as much as I can, performing as a One Man Band operating a makeshift drum rig with my feet while playing guitar and singing.