With the recent release of their newest single, upcoming album and an abundant list of performances coming in the next few months (including a date tonight at the Ready Room), it is no wonder that The Mowgli’s life and music is filled with excitement and good vibes. But after a phone interview with lead singer Colin Dieden, I could sense that the love that fills their music is anything but temporary. As they spread their genuine optimism to St. Louis for a few short hours, I encourage you to break from the humdrum of a Monday night and assuage the anxiety of impending finals to briefly hear The Mowgli’s message, joining an audience of waving hands and happy, song-filled hearts.

While on the tour bus from one gig to the next with the rushing expressway in the background, Dieden took some time out of the band’s busy schedule to answer a few of my burning questions.

When asked about the origin of their work’s optimistic focus, Dieden iterated their desire to transcend the common music scene and give their sound the power of social influence.

“We wanted to do something different, something that would make people feel good,” Dieden said.

While the band originated in Southern California—where the positive atmosphere may run more rampantly through warm beaches and open markets—the band members’ attitudes, building off of their varying hometowns and backgrounds, are the core stabilizers of this message. When asked what particularly inspires their work, I was told that this answer was hard to pin. With so many varying interests and histories, each member knows what makes them move and adds their flavor to the group’s unique musical and personal harmony. United by the desire to inspire happiness, this blend of personalities and interests shapes the songs and sounds we love.

Curious about just how these hit songs are made and whether the positivity they inspire pervades even the most intense of songwriting sessions, I asked Dieden to run me through the typical collaborative writing experience. Using 2013 hit “San Francisco” as an example, Dieden explained that it all depended on the song. Written in the back of their car after walking around an alley of the city they were slowly falling in love with, “San Francisco”’s story cannot compare to that of others, as each distinctive moment that each song describes gains inspiration from a mood and a message of its own.

Living largely in a moment-to-moment lifestyle, The Mowgli’s seem to believe in the mentality that one cannot be sad for fear of missing life’s great opportunities. When asked about the band’s favorite song to perform, Dieden immediately named its newest single, “Bad Dream.”

“It helps people recognize all of the amazing and beautiful things in life, even when it may be difficult to see,” Dieden explained.

When asked whether or not the band saw itself as a band for social change, Dieden was quick to answer “absolutely.” Although the band members may not be presented to the extent of impactful social musicians of years past, this band encourages the optimism that isn’t always so instinctive to human nature. Its lyrics remind society to see life from a constructive perspective and their melodies encourage people to continue dancing their way through life as opposed to sulking, head down, from small indecencies. By cultivating a more positive social climate, The Mowgli’s use music the way it is meant to be used: as a force for unity and the happiness that would fill a loving society. The Mowgli’s and their music prove that life is anything but a “Bad Dream” if you keep your head held high and your smile wide.

So take a break and come out to see The Mowgli’s tonight at 8:30 p.m. You may just make a memorable, song-worthy moment of you own.