Some songs play in the background. Others demand you stop what you’re doing and pay attention. Moon and Aries’ new single “Closer to You” falls firmly in the second category: a three-minute-and-41-second noir-pop experience that feels less like a track and more like the opening sequence of a film you can’t look away from.
Released on October 10th, the song channels the sultry intensity of a James Bond theme filtered through Tarantino’s aesthetic lens. It’s moody, hypnotic, and unapologetically cinematic. The kind of music that makes mundane moments feel like they’re happening in slow motion with perfect lighting.
The track sits at a deliberate 86 BPM, creating a pulse that’s more seductive than urgent. From the first bar, there’s a tension that never quite releases. Bold keys courtesy of Tom Aries layer over Peter Mitchell’s magnetic live guitar work, all brought to crisp clarity by mixing engineer Chris Kung and mastering engineer François Rocheleau, both based in Canada. The production has weight to it, every element placed with intention.
What stands out is how the song manages to feel both retro and futuristic at once. There’s trip-hop coolness in the beats, alternative rock noir in the guitar lines, and something distinctly modern in how it all comes together. Jordana Moon’s vocals anchor the whole thing: warm, hushed, intimate. She’s not just singing; she’s pulling you into a story, whispering secrets in a dimly lit room where anything could happen.
The sound draws comparisons to Shivaree’s “Goodnight Moon,” Nancy Sinatra’s “Bang Bang,” and the atmospheric work of Portishead and Goldfrapp. There’s Lana Del Rey’s melancholic glamour in there too, along with echoes of Dusty Springfield’s timeless soul. But Moon and Aries aren’t copying anyone. They’re synthesizing influences into something that carries their own stamp.
Lyrically, “Closer to You” operates on different planes. On the surface, it’s about desire and connection. Dig deeper, and it becomes almost metaphysical: a journey through layers of reality to reach something or someone that represents truth or transcendence. Moon uses repetition to create a sense of descent, peeling away barriers between two souls. “Under the glass, under the sheets, under the water” strips away the physical world layer by layer until what’s left is raw emotion. The recurring question “Oh, what will the world do / When I am closer and closer to you” suggests that finding your person changes everything, possibly even reality itself.
The song’s motif of movement (“to the circle, to the room, to the door, to the city, to the world”) suggests two people chasing each other through dimensions, searching for the portal where their connection can finally exist. It’s romantic but also slightly dangerous, like the best noir always is.
Moon and Aries formed in 2021, with Jordana Moon in Canada and Tom Aries in Germany. They’ve built their entire collaboration across time zones and borders, which somehow fits the themes they explore in their music: distance, connection, the space between people trying to reach each other.
Their approach isn’t typical. While many artists chase trends, Moon and Aries are working toward what they call “elevating consciousness” through music. It sounds lofty, but what it means in practice is they’re making songs with intention, blending melody with deeper meaning. They’re not trying to be mainstream, and that’s the point.
Since their formation, they’ve released three full-length albums: “The Arrival” in 2022 (which racked up over a million Spotify streams on the title track), “Break the Matrix” in 2023, and “TRANSCENDENCE” in 2024. Their track “FIRENIGHT” hit number one on official DJ-pool charts in the US, and “Traffic” landed in the GOA CHILLOUT ZONE VOL. 13 compilation, which cracked the top three on Amazon’s bestseller charts in both the UK and Germany. They also took home “Band of the Year” at the OGIMA Music Awards in November 2023.
Jordana Moon brings influences ranging from Joni Mitchell and Lauryn Hill to Portishead and Massive Attack. She’s a singer-songwriter and vocal coach who writes lyrics that explore consciousness and empowerment. Tom Aries, a classically trained pianist and electronic musician, has experience scoring video games and films, drawing from Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, ABBA, and classic ’80s sounds.
What makes “Closer to You” worth noting is its obvious sync potential. It’s built for those heightened moments in film and TV: relationship turning points, psychological thrillers, spy dramas, romantic montages. There’s a reason the duo is focused on attracting music supervisors and sync licensing companies. Their music has that cinematic quality that can elevate a scene from ordinary to unforgettable.
Looking ahead, Moon and Aries are working on a live album they plan to record in North America soon. For a duo that’s only ever collaborated virtually, the live format will be a new chapter.
Their message is simple: good music doesn’t have an expiration date. Most artists are chasing whatever’s trending next week. Moon and Aries are making retro-futuristic tracks built to last. “Closer to You” proves the approach works.
Find the new single on Spotify. More from Moon and Aries at moonandaries.com, with music available on Spotify, SoundCloud, and YouTube. Follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and X.
