Elizabeth’s move from Iowa to Chicago played a huge role in shaping both her songwriting and her sound. While she still holds onto those Midwestern roots, Chicago’s creative scene opened up new possibilities. Working alongside producer Spencer Tweedy proved to be the perfect match, with Tweedy keeping Elizabeth’s voice front and center while giving the songs a vintage-inspired feel that sounds fresh instead of nostalgic.
Fresh off her performance at Chicago’s Solid Sound Fest, Elizabeth has released the video for her latest single, “Renaissance Man.” The track takes on the point of view of what she jokingly calls a “Chicago f*ckboy,” turning a frustrating dating experience into an infectious, sing-along anthem.
Elizabeth says,
“This song is dedicated to the many people who inspired it and to the people who learned the hard way by trusting them.
I wanted to write something that I’d hope people would want to sing along to real loud in the car. It’s fun, cheeky, and a song to heed the warning of or find solace in after a bad situationship. Good luck out there this summer! It’s the Renaissance Man’s (or woman’s or person’s) prime season I fear!
This character song is written in the perspective of the many individuals who inspired it. Though the epidemic of F*ckboy is not constricted to the confines of Chicago’s city limits, there seemed to be, especially in my twenties, a considerable amount of them in town. The one time they admitted the truth was when they’d say “I’m a bad idea for you, really”. Lesson learned that if someone says that to you, RUN.
Spencer, the drummer and producer of the recording, did a great job of capturing the energy of Renaissance Man by intentionally keeping the production pretty raw. I had a great time recording this song with him in his studio and it’s been so fun to sing live. Gus, who tracked the backing vocals, and I have a blast screaming out the oh’s at the end. Tristan, my guitarist, shreds the solo and I find myself laughing off mic from pure joy when we play this one. This song was definitely one of the first songs I wrote with the clear intention of having a more upbeat live set.”
Producer Spencer Tweedy comments,
“We all have pests in our lives. Unfortunately, they often come riding in on a high horse. In this song, Elizabeth assumes the role of a garden-variety, modern-day sadist to reveal just how absurd it is to waste your life trodding over other people. It also shows off Elizabeth’s unbelievable vocal talent, which you’ll hear more of all over her forthcoming record.”
Throughout her music, you’ll hear hints of artists like Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams, Brittany Howard, and others who blend strength with vulnerability. There are moments that may remind listeners of the warm, organic production found on Waxahatchee’s Tigers Blood, but Elizabeth’s voice, songwriting, and perspective make these songs entirely her own. The result is music that feels deeply personal while remaining easy to connect with.
Website: https://www.elizabethmoen.com/
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