Q&A: BODHI Sets the Stage with “This Little Dove” Ahead of Their Debut Project
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY SHEVON GREENE ☆
WITH THEIR NEW SINGLE “THIS LITTLE DOVE” — BODHI invites listeners into a quiet storm of healing, grief, and everything in between. The 23 year-old singer-songwriter from Bridgeport, Connecticut recently signed with Nettwerk and draws inspiration from a wide range of artists—including Hozier, Lauryn Hill, Joy Oladokun, and more—resulting in a genre-fluid, emotionally resonant sound.
“This Little Dove” is the cathartic lead single from their forthcoming debut project, written during a personal low point. Structured as a slow-burning emotional release, the track unfolds similar to a journal entry, taking listeners through BODHI’s inner world of vulnerability and reflection. It marks the beginning of a larger narrative—one that explores healing, self-realization, and the power of letting go.
BODHI also has a busy summer ahead, with upcoming performances at CMA Fest in Nashville and Mile of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin.
The Luna Collective sat down with BODHI to talk about the story behind “This Little Dove,” their journey to healing through music, and what to expect from their debut project. Read on to learn more.
LUNA: For readers meeting you for the first time, how would you describe who BODHI is, both as a person and an artist?
BODHI: As an artist, I'd say BODHI is a space of healing, growth, and community. Community is my end goal—building a space around my music and what I love. My goal is to be there for people the way the artists I look up to were there for me.
As a person, my music is an extension of myself. I'm not as sad as I seem—my music is—but I want to be who I am in my music.
LUNA: I think it’s powerful when music brings people together, and it's cool that community is one of your goals. You recently signed to Nettwerk and are preparing for your debut project. What has this new chapter felt like so far?
BODHI: It's been good. It hasn't felt too different on my side. I know there's more going on behind the scenes now, but I aim to not make it feel different. I signed to Nettwerk because of what I was already doing, so why change it? I'm still making music—and that's the focus.
LUNA: "This Little Dove" is such an emotionally layered track. You've described it as beginning at your lowest moment. What was the writing process like?
BODHI: It was one of the first songs I made, and once it came together, I knew it set the tone for everything. I started the album in the summer last year. I was going through a lot—my house had burned down, I was grieving about my family, and I hadn’t really processed any of it. I felt like I needed to start over, and that’s where the lyrics came from.
LUNA: I’m so sorry to hear that. I imagine channeling that pain into a creative outlet like this song is healing in its own way. The build in the instrumentation feels so intentional—can you talk more about how that mirrors the emotional arc?
BODHI: The droning intro is meant to feel ominous, like something’s coming. Then the lyrics come in—“save me,” “help me.” When the guitar hits during the break, I’m thinking and processing. The second verse brings more instrumentation, and the lyrics feel more aggressive—like I’m rejecting what I’m going through. As the song progresses, the emotions build, and so do the instruments. They reflect how upset I'm getting.
LUNA: It really gives listeners a glimpse into your thought process. What made “This Little Dove” the right introduction to your upcoming project?
BODHI: The album is a cycle of growth and realization. “This Little Dove” is me realizing everything happening, but I haven’t processed it. The songs between this and the last track are about internalizing, and the final song, “Live or Let Go,” represents the choice—you either grow through it or let it consume you.
LUNA: Your music is often described as genre-defying. Who are some of your biggest influences, musical or otherwise?
BODHI: Right now, probably Hozier and Bon Iver. I always say Lauryn Hill—she’s been one of my biggest inspirations. Even though I used to make R&B, I still play with rhythms that echo that style. I also really like Joy Oladokun. Lately, I've tried to stay in my own zone and cultivate a unique sound, but it’s hard not to listen to others when you love music.
LUNA: A lot of artists say identity informs their storytelling. How have your experiences as a queer Black artist shaped your music?
BODHI: I think I always reference my Blackness in my music—it’s part of my everyday life. I walk down the street, and everyone knows I'm Black, even if they don’t know I’m queer. So I’ve always felt the need to speak on that.
My queerness hasn’t come out as much in my songs, but I share that part of myself with fans. I want to make a project centered on queerness, but I had other things I needed to process first. Growing up in a private Catholic school, music became an outlet for me.
LUNA: That leads perfectly into my next question. How did music become a space of healing for you in a predominately white Catholic school?
BODHI: My choir teacher was huge for me—he was a flamboyant gay man and my biggest supporter through middle and high school. He had a piano room he’d lock during the day, but he let me go in there during lunch. Lunch wasn’t always easy, so I’d go write or play and let my emotions out before going back to class. That’s when I really started taking music seriously.
LUNA: I love that. Those small moments can shape our whole creative lives. You’re playing CMA Fest and Mile of Music later this summer. What are you most looking forward to about those shows?
BODHI: Performing. That’s what I did in college, and it’s what I love. No matter the size [of the show], I’m equally excited. I’m also playing with a few of my band members, so I’m looking forward to that time together. And hopefully meeting people who’ve been listening and looking forward to seeing me.
LUNA: What do you hope people take away from your live shows—especially a song like “This Little Dove”?
BODHI: I want people to take away whatever they need. Everyone interprets songs differently. Someone might feel something from “This Little Dove” that I didn’t intend, but it’s still true for them—and that’s valid. I just want people to feel heard and seen. If we can sing together and feel something, that’s the goal.
LUNA: That’s beautiful. What else can you share about your upcoming debut project? Any themes or sounds you’re excited for listeners to experience?
BODHI: I’m really excited for everyone to hear it. My co-producer Zach Golden and I worked really hard on it. It’s literally just my thoughts being put into the world. It’s confusing, but I hope it helps someone grow and heal the way it helped me. Making it helped me move on from a lot, and I feel refreshed.
LUNA: What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself during the making of this project?
BODHI: I learned that I hold in my emotions until I can get them out on paper. I don’t always know how to express them until I write. It’s something I’m working on.
LUNA: Expressing feelings is already hard—putting them into music makes it even more vulnerable. I can imagine it’s scary, turning a journal into an album for the world to hear. But people will connect with that vulnerability.
BODHI: That’s what I keep telling myself. Once it’s out, it’s out—and hopefully it makes someone feel good.
LUNA: Exactly. Last question—what’s a lyric of yours that means the most to you right now?
BODHI: From “This Little Dove”: I’m alive until the chains off. Lately, it’s really resonated with me—personally and with everything going on in the world. After this album, I want to create something centered around social justice, because it’s something people need to hear.
