13 Questions with Silvermoon

Over the past four decades, Jonny Copley has drifted in out of the Liverpool music scene.

Playing music alongside Jane Weaver in the ’90s, the pair vibed out on a mutual love for esoteric psych pop, and following his involved with several local bands, Copley then drifted away from music in 2000s, until the idea of Silvermoon came together in 2017.

A regular fixture of the annual Smithdown Road Festival, with new songs taking shape and at the advice Weaver, Copley entered Eve studios to record what would be his 2022 debut album, Algebraic Means.

Released on Ali Horn’s Loominance Records label, Algebraic Means contains the kind swirling atmospheres that turn boring car journeys into exciting ones. With Weaver’s cosmic echoes providing a strong influence (Jump Into the Void, Man With No Name), there’s also Copley’s psych pop worship that takes the genre to fun places (So Soon). The bookends to Algebraic Means prove strong, too, with Animals and Something Else arguably the album highlights.

Copley continues the momentum on the back of Algebraic Means with Silvermoon’s latest single, I Dream Desires. A sweeping psych pop swoon that captures the best moments of Jason Lytle and Granddaddy.

Last week, days after the release of I Dream Desires, we caught up with Copley who was kind enough to take part in our 13 Questions feature.

13 Questions with Penny Kiley

1. It’s been just over 12 months since your LP, Algebraic Means. How’s the last 12 months been in the life of Silvermoon?

Jonny Copley: “To be honest, pretty rough. I lost my mum, both me and my wife then had cancer scares! Chuck a bit of nasty COVID in there too. However, on a far brighter note I had already decided to slow down gigs and concentrate on writing and recording the new album. And that’s been my anchor to cling onto in the storm! I’ve also got a super band together and they, apart from being lovely people, Paul Edwards (drums), Tom Sumnall (bass), Tom Garfitt (guitars), are on my new recordings which has been great. And I should mention newbie, Jack Cotton (synths/ guitars).”

2. Can you tell us about the history of Silvermoon?

JC: “Yeah sure. Silvermoon was born from basically starting to write again after a few years of stopping music altogether. I’d written some songs that were far more poppy and obviously influenced by the decade I was brought up in.

“My friend John loved them and Jane [Weaver] told me all about Eve studios. So, John and I went there, and it remains some of the happiest moments of my life. I actually finished the album before lock-down, and then that was that! After life went back to near normal, Ali Horn gave me the opportunity to release on his Loominance label so that’s what we did.”

3. Your new single, I Dream Desires is out. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind it?

JC: “For me the music always comes first and then I tap into the feel of the melodies to create the ‘about’ lyrically. I Dream Desires is really about how to keep your life vital and creative as you get older. For me this is a moment that’s right now as I’ve found myself doing all this again at over 50 years old. Some of lyrics are also inspired by Emma, my wife and it’s great that a photo of her that we took on a shoot for the record has ended up as the cover.”

4. You played in Jane Weaver’s band prior to Silvermoon, and I hear that cosmic psych vibe in your song, but oddly enough, I Dream Desires reminds me of Granddaddy! Are you fans of theirs?

JC: “Ha! Absolutely and I’m delighted you heard that. I’m an absolute sucker for old battered synth sounds backed up by ringing guitars!

“The end of Kill Laura (Jane’s first band) did point to her cosmic future, but we got really frustrated as everyone wanted us to be like Britpop and we didn’t!”

5. As a current recording artist, are you constantly seeking out new music and artists, or are you more rooted to your past influences?

JC: “I think getting back into all this has given me the appetite back to search out and enjoy new stuff! I missed quite a lot for a while there. Doing gigs and meeting so many talented lovely people since the release has been a treat. I was a little nervous as sometimes I feel so old, but no one ever treats me any differently. And I’m really glad about that.”

6. You’ve been around the Liverpool scene for years. How much has it changed over the years, and how do you see the future shaping up?

JC: “Ah! When we were young it was like two worlds that mixed but were very different. ‘Arty’ bands like Jules Verne, Clinic, Living Brain on one side and the more straight up guitar bands like the Reallies, Rain, Space etc. I had a great time in those days!

“As I’ve stepped back it’s a lot more diverse now. Great to see so many women involved and places like Quarry and Future Yard putting on really challenging shows. We never had festivals like Smithdown either which is awesome, and hugely valuable to the community. And I don’t think my recent collaboration with the Liverpool Indie Choir would have ever happened in the early ’90s. I think the indicators for the future are super bright, as long as we continue to support each other.”

7. Some fun questions now: do you have any hobbies outside of music?

JC: “Yeah, I study and practice Kendo which is Japanese fencing. I’ve done Japanese martial arts since I was in my teens. I also run. A lot. And I’m a member of Mikkeller Running Club Liverpool that meets at Black Lodge in town.”

8. Tell us a story.

JC: “I recently got admitted to Alder Hey as a patient after fainting when taking my son there for an operation. Very embarrassing but family and friends think it’s hilarious!”

9. Favourite boxset over the last 18 months?

JC: “Stranger Things and Cobra Kai. Guess again what decade I grew up in!”

10. Favourite records so far in 2023 so far?

JC: “Ohhhh, I love The Big Moon’s Here is Everything, Cacti by Billy Nomates, Bathwater by Pet Snake, and Polly [Jean] Harvey’s latest.

“Also a big shout to my label mates Zetland and Simon Paul Crabb on their releases this year. Super sonic stuff!”

11. Vinyl, CD or streaming?

JC: “I love vinyl! When I was 50 my friend bought me Bowie’s Low on orange vinyl. I just stare it!”

12. What are the plans for the rest of the year?

JC: “Mainly recording. It’s great having a band that performs so well, but I engineer the sessions myself and it’s pretty painstaking. Sometimes I just give up and have to go back after some time off. But it’ll get done and when it’s going well I remember why I love this so much. Also, [it’s] been great having Matteo Tondi mixing the new stuff too. He’s fantastic and isn’t shy in telling me to be more ambitious! We’ll probably do a couple of shows towards the end of the year too.” 

13. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Any last words?

JC: “Never take music for granted. It’s everywhere but such a special thing. I had to kind of lose it to find it again and I am so pleased I did. And thanks so much to people who keep coming to my shows and listening. Means everything to me, that.”

I Dream Desires and Algebraic Means are out now via Loominance Records. Purchase here.