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 If you aren’t familiar with [Moxie Raia](https://www.instagram.com/moxieraia/?hl=en), prepare to fall in love. The pop and R&B songstress exudes both inner and outer beauty, boasting one of the most down-to-earth personalities paired with a girl-next-door aura that shakes any room she walks into. Originally from the East Coast but currently residing in sunny Los Angeles, the rising star returns better than ever… this time on her own terms.  Having been through the ropes of the music industry, previously signed to Capitol Records and Def Jam, Moxie arrives back on the scene eager as hell to be opening this new chapter. Rebranding herself with the release of her newest single and visual “Love Language,” Moxie sings her heart out about the trust and complications that comes with relationships, inspired directly by real-life experiences.  Additionally, legendary producer Timbaland recently called her out to do a song with him and 2 other girls. Of course, she said yes.  _Flaunt_ caught up with Moxie at her single release party at 40 Love on La Cienega in Los Angeles, a city she calls home for the past 8 years. Read below as we discuss the inspiration behind “Love Language”, shooting the visual, her take on true love, response to Timbaland, goals, and more! **How does it feel to be here tonight celebrating your new single, “Love Language”?**  It feels really, really good. I'm extremely grateful. I'm a little shocked and amazed that we pulled it off. We shot this video 7 days ago. We had to turn it around really quickly, so I'm very grateful that it happened. I'm so happy to be around my friends because I’ve been working and not seeing anyone.  **How does it feel to have the world opening back up?**  It feels really, really refreshing. I feel calmer than I felt before. I’m much more grateful to see people I love. I’m sitting and hugging my friends, it feels so refreshing to do again. \[laughs\] **Who or what inspired “Love Language”?**  I wrote it with an artist named Beam, and another guy Simon Plummer. Beam is awesome. It's about being confident and self-assured, very trusting of your partner. Being focused on work, but your partner is always worried about what you're doing, even though you're working. He keeps saying, “This is my love language, I'm possessive over you.” And I'm saying, “That love language makes me worry.” Because you know when people are super possessive over you? That means they're probably doing something... \[laughs\] It’s a complicated song, and it’s a real life instance.  **Is this inspired by a boyfriend?**  No, this is inspired by past things that I've learned from where you have to trust people if you decide to be in a relationship. You can’t be this toxic and not trusting anything.  **What can we expect from the music video?** I'm upside down for the first half of it. They had me spinning on this thing for over 20 minutes, I almost threw up at the end. There's a lot of choreography, a lot of fashion. I’m really into finding different designers on Instagram. I found this Vietnamese designer. I found this German designer, got clothes shipped in the past 8 weeks from all these little designers I found on Instagram.   **How would you describe your fashion sense?** I've always been into fashion, but I really fell in love with it the past few years finding all these little designers on Instagram. Before that, I didn’t know. I’d go to the regular Forever 21 or those places, but not be able to know where to find all these different designers. Instagram has been this place where I find them all day long. I really am into it. I reach out to designers every day.  **I saw Rhude just said hi to you!** I've known Rhude for 8 years, he’s one of my first friends. We were in a studio, Travis Scott was in one room and I was in another. He came to bring these paisley shirts to Travis. I was in the hallway and said, “Ooh, those are so cool! I want designers to come to my studio session to bring me clothes.” We became friends, that’s 8 years.  **What was a young Moxie like growing up in New York/New Jersey?** Young Moxie was always the same honestly: very focused, to myself, but very friendly. I’ve always been on this mission and really work-related. I grew up in New Jersey until I was 13.  When I was 13, I moved to Manhattan with my sister. My parents let me move with her because they knew I was so focused, that I wasn't gonna do anything. They said, “Yeah, you can go to the city. You’re not gonna do anything.” \[laughs\] **When did you know you wanted to be an artist?**  Little. It’s always been. I don’t have a waking memory of not knowing, which has been a blessing and extremely torturous. I late bloomed a little bit. I’ve been through a lot. I was signed to Capitol, I was signed to Def Jam. I've been through a lot of situations, but each one, I grew from it and grew from it and grew from it. I'm so happy it's happening now. Anything that's happening, I'm grateful that it’s happening now because I'm in a place where I can be creative. Handle it, process it, be grateful. **Are you doing everything independent?**  I'm signed to a distribution deal with Human Re-Sources. \[It’s been\] really good. I love them. They gave me so much creative support and control, it's been awesome.   **You've toured with Justin Bieber and Post Malone, how’d that happen?** Scooter Braun was my manager for a while, so I opened for Justin and Post. It was amazing. I’d never played a big show before, so it was Learning How To Tour 101.  **Were you nervous?**  I was. It was a learning experience. We were on tour for 7 months, but each night was rehearsal still. I was learning, but it was amazing. I met so many amazing people, so many amazing girls that have grown up together the past 3 years. **What can we expect from your new project?**  There's definitely going to be more features, not everything’s confirmed yet.  **Is there a name for the forthcoming project?**  I have this superhero, alter ego character, animated girl that I made up. Her name is Carbon, she's from the year 2989. The name of the EP is _2989._ By that time, humans will have tapped into more of their full potential. **How did you come up with that year?** It just sounded good. I've only smoked a few times. At that time, I was actually really high. I was like, “What number sounds good? 29… 89.” That was the one! I've spent so much time thinking about \[what life’s going to be like then\]. I have mood boards, all sorts of things back home. We could levitate if we wanted to, or telekinesis or telepathy. Self-healing. **Are you spiritual?**  Yeah, very. I really think anything we can imagine is possible, we’re just trained to believe that it’s not. For example, dolphins use telepathy, so it's a real thing that exists. They communicate with telepathy. Why can’t humans? We do in certain ways, like you’ll think of someone and they’ll call. It’s energy.  **Do you meditate and all that?**  I definitely take time for my mental health. I don't know if I meditate correctly. \[For self-care,\] I love quiet time honestly.   **Are you an introvert or extrovert?**  Introvert, unless I’m in my light, which is tonight. I’m in my moment. But if it's not my party, I'm in the corner. I’m in a hoodie. I had my birthday a few weeks ago, everyone was so excited. I pulled up in a big hoodie, big baggy pants. They said “This is what you wear to your birthday?!” You didn’t have to get dressed up tonight! I’m not, sorry! **Do you believe in true love?**  I do. Love is definitely a feeling, but also a decision. To love somebody unconditionally is a decision. They’re not always gonna make you happy, it's not always gonna feel good. You have to decide: this person is worth me loving them. Even things I hate about them, I’m going to love.  **How does it feel being a beautiful female in the industry?**  You’d think maybe, but not really. I'm very reserved, and I don’t get hit up really. I don’t really get hit up in my DMs to be honest. **What's your relationship with Timbaland? I heard he requested you on one of his tracks.**  Yeah, that was completely random. I’d never spoken to him. He posted, “I need to hear Moxie Raia on this,” and another girl. Savannah Re. Random, never spoken to him. I didn't even know he knew who I was or anything. I DMed him like, “Send me the details!” **Anyone you want to collaborate with that you haven’t with yet?**  I do really want to work with Don Toliver. There’s a lot of people. Honestly, I'd be happy to collaborate with so many different people, it just depends on the song. Post again, for sure.  **Do you have any goals for yourself?**  Definitely this is the big one, to get this first single out. We have two more this summer, an EP coming out. So one step at a time, executing all that. Getting on tour next year.  **How would you describe your sound now? Because I’d imagine you went through phases.**  So many different phases. Right now, I'm obviously really inspired by Carbon the superhero character. I bleached my hair to be like her because I have dark hair. She has platinum, translucent hair. I’m inspired by her futuristic looks, it looks like you could either be a stripper or fight somebody.  This (gestures to fit) is the top I wear in the video. The white outfit, but I dyed it black last night. My friend Amy taught me how to do it. She said “You gotta heat this up on the stove, almost boil it. Put this dye in, stick it in for 30 minutes, spin it for 40 minutes.  **Anything you want to let the people know?** Really to check out the video I've released, excited to hear what people think.