Out Now: Mandy Moore Traces the Bonds of Love, Family and Connection on New Record ‘In Real Life’ (Listen)

In Real Life, a new studio album from Mandy Moore released today, May 13, comes during an especially eventful period in the singer/songwriter/actor‘s career.

Not only did Moore and husband Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes welcome their first child in February of 2021, but her run as one of the leads in the beloved NBC hit This Is Us will end soon as the program nears its emotional series finale.

These have been transitionary times for Moore, both personally and professionally — not to mention the global pandemic that we’ve all been dealing with for the past few years. All of this contextual heaviness is a prime focal point for earnest and emotional songwriting, which Moore (and Goldsmith, a heavy contributor to this new record) channel into some truly affecting material.

“Heartlands” sums up the album’s emotional core and how we have to read the careful balance between good times and the bad:

When you’re flying a bit too high
When you’re driving with no hands
I won’t say how to live your life
But I’ll be here when your heart lands

In Real Life was produced by Mike Viola (Andrew Bird, Ondara, Lori McKenna) and is Moore’s follow-up to 2020’s Silver Landings, a reflective album that sounded a bit inspired by the iconic Laurel Canyon scene of Los Angeles.

Click here to pick up In Real Life on CD from our Rock Cellar Store
Click here to pick up In Real Life on LP from our Rock Cellar Store

 

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Just as Silver Landings did, In Real Life features collaborative input from Goldsmith, as well as his brother/bandmate Griffin Goldsmith, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius, keyboardist Lee Pardini (The War on Drugs, Aimee Mann), and bassist Sebastian Steinberg (Sharon Van Etten, Phoebe Bridgers).

The result is even more realized version of the dynamic soul-searching that made Silver Landings such a strong listen — with Moore adding motherhood to her repertoire, a list of accomplishments that already included growing well past “teen pop star” territory into respected singer/songwriter and, more recently, emerging as a championed actor.

“So much of this record came from future-tripping on the next chapter of my life and what it might look like: what parenthood would feel like, how it would change everything, and all the excitement and trepidation that comes with that,” said Mandy Moore in a statement. “At the same time it was about celebrating and acknowledging where we were at the moment and really trying to be completely present in the everyday—which is maybe the hardest part of the human condition.

“To me it’s all about staying open, staying aware, staying sensitive and empathetic to the people around me,” she added. “There’s something about expressing myself through lyrics and melody that makes me feel whole, and I see it as a privilege to have that outlet. And even though this album is very specific to me and my experience—there’s songs about my baby, my husband, my father, my friends—I hope everyone’s able to see their own lives in it. I hope they’re able to come along on the journey with me, and put themselves in the driver’s seat.”

Take that musical journey below.

Catch Mandy Moore and her In Real Life backing band on the road soon in her first tour in over a decade:

Friday, June 10 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
Saturday, June 11 – The Charleston Music Hall – Charleston, SC
Sunday, June 12 – The Carolina Theatre of Durham – Durham, NC
Tuesday, June 14 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
Wednesday, June 15 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
Friday, June 17 – The Lawn of the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg – Williamsburg, VA
Saturday, June 18 – Music Box at the Borgata – Atlantic City, NJ
Sunday, June 19 – Royale – Boston, MA
Tuesday, June 21 – The Ridgefield Playhouse – Ridgefield, CT
Wednesday, June 22 – The Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON, Canada
Thursday, June 23 – Roxian Theatre – McKees Rocks, PA
Saturday, June 25 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
Wednesday, July 06 – AT&T Performing Arts Center – Strauss Square – Dallas, TX
Thursday, July 07 – The Heights Theater – Houston, TX
Friday, July 08 – The Paramount Theatre – Austin, TX
Sunday, July 10 – Uptown Theater – Kansas City, MO
Monday, July 11- The Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
Tuesday, July 12 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
Thursday, July 14 – The Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO
Friday, July 15 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT
Sunday, July 17 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA
Monday, July 18 – Aladdin Theater – Portland, OR
Wednesday, July 20 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
Thursday, July 21 – Belly Up – Solana Beach, CA
Friday, July 22 – The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Sunday, July 24 – Newport Folk Festival – Newport, RI