"Such talent comes once in a blue Moon."

Think a little bit of soul. Then a little bit of jazz and a margin of funked-up blues. What do you get when you mix the lot together? Ed Moon. At just 18 years old, this Padua College Year 12 music student grew up on Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder with a mum who loved to tinkle on the piano. Music has been in his blood since, he says, “inception”.

“I was born in NSW, but Mum and I moved to Victoria when I was six. We came to the Peninsula not long after that when she met my stepdad. There was music in the house constantly and I was always encouraged to do what I love, which is to perform and play. There’s never been anything else I wanted to do.”

Ed’s voice is like honey. It moves sweetly from key to key as his guitar gently spurs it along. Music seems to pour out of him with a thirst for tugging at the heartstrings. He plays the piano and trumpet, loves covering Annie Lennox tunes and writes his own songs. He’s performed plenty of solo gigs at local haunts around town and a few more with drummer Louis Di Sera too. He’s also been the support act for Jack Jones. He continues: “It’s easier to get your music out there with social media these days but harder in a way because everyone can do it. You’ve just got to keep at it, which isn’t a problem for me as it’s the only thing I do besides school.”

Like many of the up-and-coming musicians on the Peninsula, Ed has visions of gigging around Melbourne after finishing school. This winner of the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice awards at the Peninsula Busking Festival last April also wants to further his musical studies at university. Any spare time is spent op-shopping, having coffee with friends and going on long drives now he’s got his driver’s licence.

A self-confessed addict of popular culture — he loves a bit of RuPaul’s Drag Race because “it celebrates diversity and all things different” — Ed can’t wait until school is over so he can focus full-time on music and continue to be up on stage where he belongs. “There’s nothing like feeding off a crowd and feeling the appreciation for what you are doing. Mornington Peninsula people are very supportive.”

-Liz Rogers, Mornington Peninsula Magazine