Entering the ‘Dreambell’: Live and Local with Island Moons!

Entering the ‘Dreambell’: Live and Local with Island Moons!

From Chapelboro.com by Chapelboro.com

June 12, 2026 · 36 min

About this episode

Brandon Harwood of Island Moons discusses his debut album 'Dreambell' and the inspiration behind his songs.

Island Moons (Brandon Harwood) stopped by Live & Local this week, ahead of the release of his debut full-length album, “Dreambell.” Follow Island Moons on Instagram. “It’s been years in the making, if not a lifetime,” Harwood says of the album – which can also be read as two EPs, the more heavily-produced “Dream” followed by the mostly acoustic “Bell.” Both sides, in different ways, capture the hazy, folky, almost psychedelic vibe that’s implicit in Harwood’s writing, songs that capture the feel of half-recalled memories. In fact some of his songs are directly about half-recalled memories – like his latest single, “Madeleine,” which was also the last track added to the album. “I knew I had four that I wanted to record (for side B), but we had five songs for side A and I kind of liked the idea of symmetry… (so) I was like, ‘what is the fifth one going to be?’” he says. “And that summer I had my high school reunion, it was my first time being back home since a classmate of ours (had) passed away, and I was at this reunion and (a friend) said something about her – and it brought to the forefront this memory that I had written a song right after she passed away. And just…

People in this episode

Guest: Brandon Harwood

Topics covered

  • music
  • album release
  • songwriting
  • memories
  • folk music

Keywords

  • Island Moons
  • Dreambell
  • Brandon Harwood
  • album
  • songwriting
  • memories
  • folk
  • psychedelic

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Pour House

Books & works: Dreambell, Madeleine

Places: Raleigh

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