You can spot a Moods beat from a mile away. Long before the explosion of Boogie Angst debut ‘Love Is Real,’ there was a familiar tenacity to the soulful yet razor-sharp musicianship that Nick Lubbersen, now a beloved musical export Rotterdam, commands.
Where Moods has made a mark is in his ability to stay true to form whilst growing exponentially. Uncompromising in his sound and creative focus, the road since ‘Love Is Real’ has been hallmarked by a consistent gauge of quality, soul, and substance from the producer-turned-artist, a focus often ditched at the first sign of success. Adored by tastemakers, sought after by artists, and streamed more than 50m times globally, there’s an eager yet unpretentious energy to the movements of Moods that continues to make him one of the more intriguing players to emerge from the Netherlands over the past decade.
His loyalty to Dutch peers and longtime label partner Boogie Angst has not stopped the Dutch producer from extending his musical scope exponentially. Sampled by Logic for single ‘Ordinary Day,’ and extending his scope to releases for the likes of Chillhop, early international live tours within Europe, Asia and North America have shown a significant taste for his fusion of R&B, contemporary electronic, and alternative influences. A sought after remixer and studio hand, the line of people seeking his touch in the studio grows longer by the month.
Zoom Out, the Dutchman’s debut LP for Boogie Angst, was the perfect embodiment of the rapid development and maturity of his sound. A seamless fusion of modern R&B, soul, and electronic influences, the album collected a who’s who of international rising vocal stars, including Pip Millett, Sam Wills, Beau Nox, Malia, and Damon Trueitt. Receiving strong critical, tastemaker, and DSP acclaim, the album was a true statement piece for an artist who showed no signs of resting on the laurels of his earlier success.
With subsequent marker singles alongside rising alternative R&B duo Two Another and NYC’s Nic Hanson, the pandemic presented a whole new wave of opportunities for Moods. With touring taken away overnight, Lubbersen saw the unelected downtime as the perfect excuse to embark on the ultimate passion project.
Cue Music Ruined My Life, a live instrumental LP recorded in Leiden alongside a six-piece band. Focussing on the delicate R&B, soul, and jazz influences that have hallmarked the various landmarks of his recorded career to date, this eight-track offering marked a point of creative clarity for the talented producer, replacing the hooky vocals and soulful chops for plucked guitar riffs, mellow keys, and those signature beats we know and love him for.
