North Texas Daily

A small chicken farm in the middle of Rio Vista, Texas may not seem like a conventional source of musical inspiration.

However, political science senior Aaliyah Moore found the countryside setting to be a fitting muse for her latest release, “Farmville.”

Moore, who produces music under the name “AALI MOO,” has been writing songs since she was 12 years old. She released her first EP on Jan. 21, after working on the project for eight months.

The artist originally started writing songs for the project as a way to process the lessons, growth and experiences she underwent throughout 2022.

“I had just gotten out of a relationship and I was just so depressed and I didn’t wanna be rotting in my bed,” Moore said. “So I was like, ‘Okay, let me just do something with my time.’ So I chose to just write songs about it.”

After Moore’s breakup, she was homeless due to the fact that she had previously been living with her ex. She then began hopping couches and dropped her stuff off at her mom’s farm.

Credit Alexis Johnson

“I decided to name it ‘Farmville’ after I sat down and realized that I wrote all these songs [at the farm] every time I finished a show that summer,” Moore said. “I’d come back [to the farm] and recoup and I just was inspired by a lot that was out there [because] I’m like an hour and a half away from Denton. […] It was just a really good space to come back to myself.”

In comparison to her previous songs, Moore feels her writing in regards to this EP was more meaningful and well-rounded, and hopes listeners take notice.

“I think I got really intimate and clear about storytelling with this EP cause it really is just like a story that you listen to,” Moore said. “I put a lot of time into the lyrics just trying to make things that convey an image, a feeling.“

Moore’s bandmate and piano player Joshua Cowan has been making music since he was 16. Cowan helped Moore put together the music for “Farmville.”

“I took her ideas and I kind of laid them [out] bigger,” Cowan said. “She had concepts she would record herself at home, and then she came to me. I basically just intensified her ideas.”

Cowan said he likes how Moore places such an emphasis on singing from the heart.

“What she’s trying really hard at is letting people know how she feels, and I think that’s admirable,” Cowan said.

Moore’s friend Jade Bailey, also known by her artist name “Gumball,” said it has been exciting to watch her friend make such a big accomplishment by releasing her own EP.

“It’s been awesome, we’ve been waiting and waiting for Aali to drop [the EP],” Bailey said. “I’ve just been happy seeing her progress and grow.”

Releasing “Farmville” has made a lasting impact on Moore. She said it has helped her have more fun with music, be less insecure about her own music and open the door to new opportunities.

“It’s making me […] have more desire, more ambition […] to grow, do better and keep going,” Moore said.

In the future, Moore wants to book many more gigs and to perform more. She has been performing since 2021 at venues across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She hopes to continue to express herself musically and continuously grow through her creative outlet.

“Hopefully I can release another project maybe this year,” Moore said. “Fingers crossed.”

Moore considers “Farmville” to be her proudest release to date. She feels she has truly grown, as both a human being and an artist, through the ability to share her sound.

“At first, I was doubting myself and thinking that there’s no way that I’ve grown since my last project,” said Moore. “At the end of the day, I do see my growth and that makes me the happiest of all. […] I was able to do something that I’m proud of and that helped me see my value.”

Credit Alexis Johnson