This week, we caught up with Thundermoon. We chat to Lorna, K, and Shaz and dive deep into their urgent themes of environmental action and personal resilience in their latest EP We Can Do Better Than This. Through dark synth anthems like “Ritual” and energetic tracks like “Perfect Chaos,” they explore the impact of politics, toxic relationships, and self-discovery. Recently signed to New Teeth Records and receiving support from BBC Introducing and The Skinny, Thundermoon continues to evolve, bringing raw energy and authenticity to both their music and live performances.

Check out our Q&A below:

1: How did Thundermoon originally come together as a trio? What drew each of you to the project and to the sound you’ve created together?

Shaz: We’ve been pals for years throughout various life realms. K and Lorna had started some fun music-making together and eventually hatched a plan that they would invite me to the mix. As soon as they mentioned the idea of 80s synth vibes, I was in! I’d played piano/keys and sang for years in sparse groups, and always had a distant dream of diverging into electronic waves.

Lorna: I’m just easily influenced, but this is one of the good impulsive decisions. Those two both have more musical backgrounds than me so I like to think I keep them grounded and away from going too avant-garde. Putting all our own influences together can be tricky, but I think we’ve figured out the formula. I grew up in a musical family, so doing something like this feels natural.

K: I basically accosted Shaz at a friend’s birthday party, and here we are lol. Electronic vibes is the Venn diagram that brings us all together. I never imagined it would work as well as it does – we’ve worked at that, though. We share the songwriting completely equally, and I’m proud of how we do that.

2: Your music has this great blend of 80’s synth, 90’s dance, and that DIY punk energy. How did this unique style come about? And which artists or influences have really shaped your sound?

S: We’ve spent a lot of time listening to bands that inspire us, like LCD Soundsystem, CHVRCHES, Underworld etc. I’ve been given “song homework” to study varied creations and imagine the integration within our sound. We’re also inspired by Edinburgh synth bands that are smashing it, like Maranta!

L: I find inspiration from a lot of 80’s and 90’s video games, old memes, and folk like Ivor Cutler. We all have very different musical tastes, and the end result is Thundermoon.

K: We listened to bands like Meursault when we were writing this EP because we love the DIY sounds and of course the Scottish influence. The list of artists that inspire us could go on forever, but Underworld, Bronski Beat, and Daft Punk are up there too.

3: Your new EP, We Can Do Better Than This, dives into some deep themes of hope and resistance. What inspired you to tackle these subjects, and why does it feel important to share these messages right now?

S: It felt like our life experiences and beliefs naturally paralleled the themes for this EP. We wrote the foundations of our three singles together, we totally share the writing process, which involves a pile of multi-coloured sharpies. Getting our collective themes across effectively involved some fun jamming to find those magical wee earworms. Music is a powerful way to protest and build invaluable communities. This is important now, before and forever!

K: The idea for the EP title came up when we were away writing it on what we call ‘the retreat’. We brainstormed some lyrics based around the themes we had in mind and “We Can Do Better Than This” was one that stood out and felt particularly relevant right now. It’s a reminder that there’s a better way to do all of this / there’s a better way to build the world.

L: We’ve got to work together if we want to change anything, and music is an obvious way to do that.

4: How do you think We Can Do Better Than This compares to your debut EP, We’re Still Here? What’s evolved in your sound or message since that first release?

S: This time around, we’ve honed our sound a bit more, and our message is more urgent, but within a conscious energy of hope. Through hard work and many deep breaths, we have also honed our recording skills and refined our songwriting processes. For this EP, we wanted each song to intentionally align with a more established theme than our previous EP, where each song felt a bit more like it’s one message.

L: Yeah, the retreat helped. We were way more organised, and going away to spend a few days intensely writing together kept it concise and intentional. The first EP we were still reading through manuals to get the drum machine to do what we wanted it to do; it still has a mind of its own though!

K: This EP feels more intentional than the first one, it feels like we poured more into it and thought more collaboratively and deliberatively about it. With this EP, when we went away up north for a few days to write it, we were really able to hone in on what we wanted to say and how we wanted it to sound.

5: “We Can Make It” is such an anthem, with that catchy, sing-along feel. What inspired this track, and why did you decide to open the EP with it?

L: Sometimes you just need a reminder that even though you’re not a kid anymore, you can actually still have a movie sleepover with your pals. We really wanted to start with a little magic and fun, rather than some of the darker themes in the other singles we released. The sing-along do-do-do’s happened by accident when I was trying to explain a melody and Shaz thought that’s what the words were and it just stuck.

S: When you can chant along to a song as you’re writing it, you know it’s the one that folks will have fun singing along to. It felt natural to make this our first single, with its nostalgic adventure vibes like “Wild” and its evolved solutions to existence.

K: This one’s about knowing you can do anything as long as you have your chosen family around you. We wrote it as a queer love letter to the days gone by that have helped shape us, both good and bad. The intro synth riff is based on old-school 80’s / 90’s movies like Neverending Story, and there’s a wee throwback to Gremlins in there too!

6: With “Perfect Chaos,” you touch on some big themes around politics and the environment. How did you go about writing a song with such urgency, and what message do you hope it leaves with listeners?

S: It might have been the rolling momentum of the arpeggiator riff or the way the chord patterns shift, but the song’s message unfolded instinctively. Political influence in today’s environmental conversation is something we’re all deeply aware of. We hope listeners can channel their climate concerns through this song, and take the hook line as a mantra: “We Can Do Better Than This!”

L: When K played that arpeggiator riff, it immediately gave us that feeling of space. The movie Interstellar really captures where we might be headed (no spoilers, just watch it) – and the overlap between the song and that concept felt natural.

K: This was the first song we worked on at our retreat. That synth riff made us all stand on our tiptoes the moment it came together. It adds to the urgency of the track, especially with the “Oh, Oh Oh’s.” From there, the lyrics just kind of fell into place.

7: With “Perfect Chaos,” you touch on some big themes around politics and the environment. How did you go about writing a song with such urgency, and what message do you hope it leaves with listeners?

S: It might have been the rolling momentum of the arpeggiator riff or the way the chord patterns shift, but the song’s message unfolded instinctively. Political influence in today’s environmental conversation is something we’re all deeply aware of. We hope listeners can channel their climate concerns through this song, and take the hook line as a mantra: “We Can Do Better Than This!”

L: When K played that arpeggiator riff, it immediately gave us that feeling of space. The movie Interstellar really captures where we might be headed (no spoilers, just watch it) – and the overlap between the song and that concept felt natural.

K: This was the first song we worked on at our retreat. That synth riff made us all stand on our tiptoes the moment it came together. It adds to the urgency of the track, especially with the “Oh, Oh Oh’s.” From there, the lyrics just kind of fell into place.

8: “Ritual” is described as your darkest synth anthem yet, diving into themes like forgiveness and toxic relationships. What inspired you to write it, and what does the song mean to each of you?

S: Breakups are hardcore and ripple through day-to-day life. They’re intense, important, and awkwardly force us to grow. This song helped me vocalize things I was processing internally during a tough relationship change. It’s funny how that darkness resonates with so many! Now, every time I listen to or perform “Ritual,” it reflects where I’m at in the moment and keeps helping me forgive and understand my own changing reality.

L: It’s a brutally honest look at how we act in breakups. We tend to respond in ways we might cringe at later, but it’s what you do with that reaction that counts.

K: It’s a song that creates space for a personal apocalypse – when it feels like your world has ended, even if it’s just for the dreams and hopes you’d built around a relationship.

9: You’ve had incredible support from outlets like BBC Introducing, BBC Rapal, and Amazing Radio. How has this recognition impacted your journey, and what does it mean to have these platforms behind you?

S: It’s epic! We’re so grateful for the support. We’ve worked hard from the roots up, and every bit of recognition feels like a big achievement. Working with a local, musician-run project like New Teeth has helped us stay true to our values. Growing from here feels like a huge positive, especially knowing that these platforms resonate with our music.

K: The support for our last EP was fantastic, and the response to this one has been even better – we’re over the moon. Each single has had amazing radio spins on BBC Rapal, BBC Introducing in Scotland, and more. Plus, we’ve had consistent support from The Skinny, Resonate, Wide Days, Alive and Amplified, and were awarded The Scotsman Artist of the Week for the EP release – which was incredible.

L: Sometimes it doesn’t even feel real; I’m still surprised people enjoy our music! I’m so proud of what we’ve created, and this recognition makes me see the potential to keep going.

10: You’ve performed on some amazing stages, like Kelburn Garden Party and King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut. How have those live experiences shaped you as musicians and performers?

L: We’ve had an absolute blast this year! We’ve met so many awesome people – not just performers, but sound techs, organizers, and the audience too. I’ve been inspired by how creative people are on stage. Shaz and I are always in the back talking about techniques, picking up on the synths and keyboards other musicians are using. Watching Karys was a treat, and our New Teeth pals Doom Scroller too.

K: This year’s live shows have been incredible. We were honored to play The Skinny’s Pyramid Stage at Kelburn, and we played King Tut’s the same week, which was our Glasgow debut! Our first festival appearance was at Knockengorroch in May – a memorable experience (especially because of the midges!).

S: Every performance is unique and a chance to learn. We always try to bring positive vibes and fully embrace each performance. It’s been a privilege to play on such legendary stages, and we’re lucky that our music adapts to different scenes and sits well with other incredible artists.

11: Joining New Teeth Records has been a big step this year! How has being part of that roster influenced you, and what’s it been like working with New Teeth?

L: Our meetings are in the pub and often end with us watching ’90s episodes of Power Rangers – couldn’t ask for more! Community is crucial, and New Teeth has brought us into a collective of amazing musicians. We’re so grateful to be a part of it.

S: It’s been amazing! They really support us and share our ethos. New Teeth is such an inspiring label, with a bold collection of alternative artists.

K: New Teeth is awesome. They’re perfectly aligned with our values, and they’re genuinely great people. We’re so thankful to be part of the community – everyone should check them out!

12: What’s coming up next for Thundermoon? Are there any new directions or projects you’re especially excited to explore after We Can Do Better Than This?

L: We’re in the middle of working on a couple of top-secret collaborations, but they probably won’t be ready until next year.

S: I can’t wait to get back to writing and building on the vibes of our unreleased tracks from this EP.

K: Playing more shows would be amazing. We’d also love to make time to start writing new material for those secret projects.

13: Lastly, what advice would you give to new artists out there trying to find their unique voice and make their way in the industry?

S: Be true to yourselves. Trust that you have something valuable to share. People are drawn to honesty and raw emotion, so let your beliefs and passion shine through in your music.

K: Having fun with it is key. There’s a community waiting for you, and you’ll find your people if you put yourself out there.

L: Be weird – stay wild. Don’t let anyone define your music for you, and make as many friends as you can handle.