The artist known as Moon Boots in the world of electronic music is Pete Dougherty an American beat maker with a passion for bringing feel-good music to the dance floor. A Moon Boots tour stop isn’t complete without his signature playfulness – a live performance might include elements of R&B, soul, jazz and even funk, all built on a background of tech-house music. And the name? “It’s just something from when h came across an old record that one of my bandmates had,” he explained in an interview with THUMP. “It had this somewhat rare old disco track on it from Orlando Riva Sound called ‘Moon Boots.’ Just really nice, happy vibes, and there was something about that record that I’d listen to it all the time when I started making my own stuff.”
Born in Brooklyn, Moon Boots was a devoted music fan from his earliest days. A youthful passion for the piano matured into an interest in keyboards and synthesizers. His musical taste further expanded as a teenager, when he became intrigued by such disparate artists as French electronic music duo Daft Punk, NYC hip-hop crew A Tribe Called Quest and electronic jazz legend, Herbie Hancock.
While attending Princeton University, Moon Boots decided it was time to pursue his real passion. He put his engineering degree on hold and relocated to the house music epicenter: Chicago. Inspired by legends like Frankie Knuckles and Derrick Carter, who regularly played Windy City venues, Moon Boots jumped in feet first. He tirelessly passed out demos and scoured the scene for like-minded people, eager to collaborate and share his music with the world.
A handful of chance encounters with experienced artists gave Moon Boots the lift he needed to make a name for himself in the industry. In 2008, a demo recorded with a synth-pop trio called Hey Champ caught the eye of hip-hop icon Lupe Fiasco, and the group subsequently went on a national tour with him.
After rejoining his solo DJ career at full steam, Moon Boots was fortunate to meet Perseus, a fellow fan of French House and R&B-infused dance music – and the founder of a new record label. The company, French Express, became Moon Boots’ first sponsor, and Perseus became a friend and mentor. French Express got Moon Boots out on the festival circuit, where he began performing on huge stages. Moon Boots tour dates have included stops at venues like U St Music hall in Washington DC in the past.
Although French Express ultimately disbanded, Moon Boots was later introduced to the noted Anjunadeep crew, the people behind the respected British progressive house act Above & Beyond. The Anjunadeep label released Moon Boots’ debut album, First Landing, in August 2017. Now based in New York, Moon Boots continues to make music and play for adoring crowds around the U.S.
Visit the Bimini Tour Page.
