Moody Joody is leaning into the glitter and the delusion on “Fantasyland,” the latest single from the rising pop trio ahead of their debut album, Plain Jane, out October 30 via Photo Finish Records.

Built around shimmering synths, reverb-heavy production and an immediately catchy electro-pop pulse, “Fantasyland” taps into the optimistic, slightly melancholic indie-pop sound that defined the early 2010s. Think Passion Pit, Phoenix, and M83, but with a more self-aware twist.

For co-lead vocalist Kayla Hall, who also plays synths in the band, “Fantasyland” came directly out of a conversation with her therapist. She had been caught in what she describes as a toxic cycle with an ex when her therapist pointed out that she was essentially living in a “Fantasyland,” hoping the relationship would somehow become something different.

The title carries a deliberate double meaning. Hall says, “One of my favorite things about this song is the double meaning of the phrase ‘lying in my fantasyland’ because it’s both this carefree ‘oh I’m laying here with my head in the clouds la di da’ and also it’s a lie – I’m lying to myself.’

That tension between escapism and self-deception also shaped the music. Hall explains, “The song sonically feels that way to me too — this juxtaposition of shimmering, glimmering, fun with a very sarcastic, rose-colored glasses lyric.”

Kaitie Forbes, who handles guitar and co-lead vocals, connects the track to a particular strain of early-2010s nostalgia, calling it “Millennial hopecore.” She says, “While we didn’t totally know it in the moment we were writing it, this song takes us back to 2010 Passion Pit, Phoenix, The Naked and Famous, M83, a time of tumblr and musical optimism to cure existential dread.”

She adds, “It started as a line from Kayla’s therapist, and ended in our most dancey, get-lost-in-the-moment & dance-it-all-away track on the album. Best listened to under a disco ball wearing American Apparel with your besties.”

The song has already had its first taste of the live environment. Multi-instrumentalist and producer Andrew Pacheco remembers debuting “Fantasyland” during the band’s sold-out July show at New York City’s Nightclub 101. He says, “We danced in the crowd with everyone, and it was such a party that it made me even more excited to finally have this song out and part of our live set.”

“Fantasyland” marks the fifth glimpse into their forthcoming record, with each single accompanied by a music video, and the trio is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Alongside their upcoming album, the band is set to perform at The Maine’s 8123 Fest next January, following a run of shows with the band that has helped to establish them as a live act worth seeing.

The trio has spent the past year steadily building its audience through singles including “Suburbia,” “Little Blue House,” “Loretta’s Last Call,” and “OOPS!.” Their recent music has landed on SiriusXM’s Alt Nation and playlists including Amazon’s Breakthrough Pop, Spotify’s New Music Friday, All New Pop, and Pop Sauce.

Moody Joody has now surpassed 21 million global streams and picked up coverage from outlets including Rolling Stone, Notion, The Fader, MTV, and Ladygunn. They’ve also appeared at SXSW and Austin City Limits and toured alongside The Maine, Smallpools, Misterwives, and ARIZONA.

“Fantasyland” gives a glimpse at where Moody Joody is headed next, with Plain Jane arriving October 30 as the latest chapter in an already busy year for the trio.

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