Little Moon

Little Moon pairs lithe, articulate lead vocals with an indie folk approach that shifts between lush textures and pastoral restraint, framing explorations of love, loss, comfort, and dreams. The debut album, Unphased, arrived in 2020 and evoked full moons, handwritten valentines, and wood sprites, while the follow-up, Dear Divine, broadened the palette in 2024 with synthesizers, electric guitars, and extra orchestral elements to create arty chamber pop.

Initially launched as the solo project of Utah singer/songwriter Emma Hardyman (previously credited as Emma Huntington), Little Moon later grew into a collective that added her husband Nathan Hardyman on guitar and bass, producer and multi-instrumentalist Bly Wallentine, guitarist Grace Johnson, harpist Bridget Jackson, drummer Chris Shemwell, and a rotating cast of string, brass, and woodwind musicians. The first release nevertheless remained a romantic, nature-centered, and comparatively intimate affair shaped in part by the experience of being newly married; Unphased appeared as a self-released effort in early 2020.

Over subsequent years Hardyman enlarged the instrumental resources, incorporating synthesizers alongside the growing roster, yet preserved a signature lilting melodic style that prompted comparisons to Joanna Newsom. The fourth submission earned Little Moon victory in NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2023. The performed track, “wonder eye,” blended gentle folk with churning indie rock and drew from taxing personal episodes, among them visits to her mother-in-law in hospice and her departure from the Mormon church. That song appeared on the more robust second album, Dear Divine, issued in October 2024 as the project’s first release on Joyful Noise.