Winter has arrived in the high desert, and with it, cold nights and the thought of last year’s fleeting snowstorm. Our December New Moon Spotify playlist focuses on the ethereal, hypnotic harmonies of San Francisco duo Magic Magic Roses. Kate Sweeney and Sarah Simon have been making music together since 2008, releasing a string of shimmering albums showcasing a deep songwriting and vocal chemistry. The new single “River” is no exception, and feels like a welcomed evolution to their signature sound.
Featured Artist: Magic Magic Roses
Q: “River”, feels like an evolution for the band in some ways. The driving percussion, bass line, and the rich vocal production really suit the song. Was there an intention in finding that specific recorded sound?
There’s been a slow build within our music over time. Our first couple of albums were intentionally stripped down but in recent years we’ve let go of that control and become interested in a more layered sound. River is actually one of the first songs we’ve written together, so that made us even more open to what other musicians might bring. When we brought the song to bassist Jeff Mohler and drummer Sam Berman the groove really came to the surface. Our producer James Riotto then added more layers once we got to the studio. So, that sound was not intentional from the start, but the recording was very much the result of saying yes and letting a more collaborative sound find us.
Q: Your harmonies are gorgeous. Was that something that clicked instantly when you two started playing together, or did it take some time to tune in to the other’s vocal nuances?
Things clicked in a pretty amazing way from the first time we got together to sing. But we’ve been working together for over ten years now and each of us has grown vocally in our own way, which has made it even more fun to sing together.
Q: The album art selection for your catalogue seems very intentional, often featuring notable fine artists. Do you have that imagery in mind while you’re working on a song, or does it come afterward, once you’ve had a chance to digest and reflect on the completed song?
For both of us, when we’re working on our songs, there’s always some kind of imagery that comes to mind, whether it’s a memory or a landscape or some other kind of scene. Over the course of putting together an album, themes usually emerge among the songs and those themes then lead us to the final imagery. We are also just very lucky to have a lot of incredibly talented artists in our lives and it’s really fun to collaborate.
Q: We spend a lot of time outside gardening, hiking, and simply soaking in the surroundings. How does the natural world play into your songwriting process?
The natural world is a huge influence and inspiration for both of us. There have been times when we are writing an album and we are like, okay, we can’t use the word canyon anymore. Or whatever landforms or weather patterns are popping up a lot for us during that time. I feel like different phases of our music and lives have connected to different landscapes. It’s fun to see how that plays out when our songs come together.
Q: What’s next for the band? Is there a full album in the works featuring these new songs?
TBD! We are both really busy in our grown-up lives these days but we also love the time we make for making music together. In order to write the songs for the River EP we ended up renting a cabin and escaping from society for a few days. It felt like the only way we could make it happen. We would both love to do that again in 2020.
About the New Moon Playlist
On the New Moon, the earth, moon, and sun align making us unaware of the moon’s presence in the sky. Without the visual presence and glow of the moon, other celestial bodies typically hidden now shine brighter. Our chances of seeing the sky clearly are heightened on this day, making it a day of clarity and new beginnings. Creatively it’s the perfect time to set intentions for a new cycle of dreams and goals, and ways of manifesting them.
To honor this monthly opportunity for fresh starts and creative beginnings, we’ve asked our friend and musician we admire, Chase McBride, to curate a seasonal New Moon Spotify playlist.
Follow The Joshua Tree House on Spotify and be the first to hear new playlists. Last season’s New Moon Spotify Playlist featured artist Melaena Cadiz.
Hi! I just wanted to let you know thst your spotify plugins are gone :(. Having a hard time finding one for my website as well.
Love your work!