For The Golden Mic Season 1 by Raps & Apps Made possible by a $20,000 grant from the Coastal Bend Community Foundation and supported by the Texas Commission on the Arts.
There’s a certain kind of band that doesn’t just perform songs they create experiences.
Animal Mood is that kind of band.
You can hear it in their sound restless, colorful, alive but you really understand it in the moments they leave behind. Like the night someone walked up to them after a Valentine’s Day show and said their music was the soundtrack to asking someone to be his girlfriend and she said yes.
That’s not just a good show.
That’s impact.
A Sound Built From Everywhere
Animal Mood isn’t easy to label and they’re not trying to be.
Call it dance punk. Call it indie. Call it art rock with Latin undertones.
None of it fully captures what they do.
Because their sound is built from everything.
Josh grew up around guitar and drums, shaped by family musicians. Jose’s roots pull from Mexican heritage and Latin influence. Gilly’s background spans salsa, rock, blues even Afrobeat. Together, those influences don’t compete they collide in a way that feels intentional and fresh.
The result?
Music that feels modern, but nostalgic at the same time.
Music that doesn’t sit still.
Energy First, Always
If there’s one thing Animal Mood agrees on, it’s this:
Their music has to move.
“Our sound… I would say is very energetic.”
That energy isn’t just sonic it’s emotional. Their catalog swings between upbeat, danceable tracks and slower, more intimate songs, but underneath it all is a consistent thread:
Connection.
A lot of their songs revolve around love not in a cliché way, but in a way that feels human, messy, and real.
They’re not writing for a niche audience either.
They’re writing for anyone who’s ever felt something.
The Power of the Scene
Being based in Corpus Christi has shaped Animal Mood in ways they don’t take lightly.
The scene isn’t massive but that’s part of the strength.
It’s tight-knit. Immediate. Honest.
“You get to put your art out there and get immediate feedback.”
That kind of environment forces growth.
You can’t hide behind hype. You can’t fake connection.
You show up, you play, and the community tells you exactly where you stand.
And right now, that community is evolving more experimentation, more collaboration, more artists pushing boundaries.
Animal Mood fits right into that movement.
A Band Built on Chemistry
There’s something deeper happening within the group itself.
This isn’t just a band it’s a network of musicians who have played across multiple projects, learned from each other, and built a shared language over time.
Josh and Jose’s connection goes back to early jam sessions. Gilly’s musicianship adds another layer entirely harmonic depth, musical range, and technical precision that elevates everything they touch.
They push each other.
They inspire each other.
And you can hear that in the music.
No Formula. Just Feel
Ask Animal Mood what they sound like, and you won’t get a clean answer.
Because there isn’t one.
“We don’t really subscribe to any particular sound.”
That freedom shows up in everything they do from indie textures to punk energy to moments that lean into Latin rhythm or jazz-inspired harmony.
It’s unpredictable in the best way.
And that unpredictability is what keeps it alive.
The Stage Is Where It Happens
For Animal Mood, the studio matters.
But the stage?
That’s everything.
“The stage… that’s where it’s at.”
Live shows are where their music breathes where the energy becomes tangible, where the audience becomes part of the experience, where anything can happen.
No click tracks. No shortcuts. Just real-time music, played by real people.
That commitment to authenticity is part of what sets them apart.
Looking Ahead
With a new EP on the way including a standout track described as a “salsa punk jam” and their first Spanish-language release Animal Mood is stepping into a bigger version of themselves.
Not changing who they are.
Just expanding it.
Being part of The Golden Mic Season 1 gives them a platform to take that next step to reach new listeners, connect with other artists, and build momentum beyond the local scene.
And that’s the point.
Programs like this exist to give artists the opportunity to grow not just creatively, but sustainably through education, exposure, and community support.
What They Want You to Remember
If you ask Animal Mood what they hope people say about them a year from now, the answer is simple:
“Damn… they did it.”
No overthinking. No overcomplication.
Just proof that the work paid off.
Final Word
Animal Mood doesn’t chase a trend.
They build from their influences, their culture, their community and most importantly, their chemistry as a band.
And in a world where so much music feels manufactured, that kind of authenticity stands out.
Because at the end of the day, they’re not just making songs.
They’re creating moments.
The kind people remember.
If you want to support local music in the Coastal Bend please consider donating to fund the next season of The Golden Mic.
