With their new album, they’re aiming to become a ‘Household Name.’
For player , there are a quite a little of varying degrees of success . When you ’re a DIY group commence out , it could be a first - ever headline tour or a series of reviews that gives you a sense that you ’re on the up - and - up . Levels of rock stardom , though — like perpetual tuner bid or bowl appearance or festival headlining slots — can feel few and far between .
With guitar music just entering the mainstream again , it might be hard for ring to imagine rock ‘n’ roll superstardom . But for Brooklyn - based duoMomma , that ’s not a job : The group already knows what their most shameless pipe dream is . guitar player / vocalist Allegra Weingarten delineate it as the moment " when you ’re on stage and sing the countersign , and then you pull in back for a 2d and everyone is babble it with you . " She says , " That ’s No . 1 , " and fellow guitarist / vocalist Etta Friedman check .
Momma is at the helm of Friedman and Weingarten ’s friendship , which began when they were in high school together in Calabasas , and has since grown into a full - fledged indie rock projection , featuring the addition of manufacturer and multi - instrumentalist Aron Kobayashi Ritch . After releasing the underrated concept albumTwo of Mein 2020 , they relocate to NYC and this year caught the attention of bloggers and nostalgic fans likewise — not to mention indie rock favesWet Leg , who they joined on tour of duty — with each ' 90s - inspired garage rock’n’roll single drop . Now that their LPHousehold Name(out via Polyvinyl Record Co./Lucky Number ) is here , their pickle - out - worthy air will likely become an on - repeat , summertime album for indie fans . Its monolithic strait and the dance band ’s unabashed ambition tojust go for itwith this loss , though , feel like the catalyst that could make their starry - eyed careen dreams feel not so far off .
Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten|Design by Mallory Rosten for Thrillist / Photo by Sophie Hur
It ’s right in the statute title what Momma is going for onHousehold Name , and they ’ve catch the phone to match — draw from ' 90 acts like Smashing Pumpkins and Veruca Salt , in conjunction with their own sly composition , head - banging crescendos , and joyful claw . Weingarten says they were always " gung - ho about the melodic theme " of making a record with big arena vibraharp and industriousness theme ever since the dismission ofTwo of Me , which they mat up was rushed and did n’t inevitably sound as intended . She say , " We knew going into [ Household Name ] that we wanted it to be really brassy and really big . During the demoing and songwriting cognitive operation , there were fourth dimension when [ our producer / bassist Aron ] would be like , ' I retrieve it ’d actually be coolheaded to have a quieter Sung , ' and we ’d be like , ' Nope ! That ’s not what we require it to fathom like . This is what we want ! ' "
That grandeur and its bountiful hooks , not to mention many on - the - route , pickup reference book ( " speed 72 , " " Motorbike " ) , make the record album the perfect windows - down driving record album — not unlike many sway favorites that come before it . It give sense then that that ’s how Momma envisions fans playing it . " To me , [ the best way to listen toHousehold Name ] is drive in your booster ’s car at night or in the twenty-four hours — but a long drive where you canreally listento it , " Friedman enounce . " That is such a meaningful way to connect with , not just the music , but also the people around you , and I feel like that ’s what this record ’s about . "
That sentiment is something they ’ve long recognized , grow up in LA and lead route trip throughout the west together . The two can rattle off memories of specific drive and the records they heed to , from the first time they get wind Alex G’sRocketas they went parsimony stock hopping in their hometown to playingSoccer Mommy’sCleanwhile cruise through mountain ranges . ( In addition toRocket , El Doradoby Electric Light Orchestra , Jail Breakby Thin Lizzy , andAha Shake Heartbreakby king of Leon are some of their all - metre pet drive albums . ) see songs as major as " Medicine , " it ’s not unvoiced to imagine cars full of new people route - tripping to lakeside cabins with the track on blast , just like Friedman and Weingarten used to do .
Momma key their passion for euphony as a " hyper - fixation " and what unify them in the first place . At the sentence , Friedman wanted to make something more personal than what they were with their saturnalia grrrl band , and Weingarten feel jaded because the music she was hear to from the now - defunct Burger Recordsproved to get along from a toxic environs . " When the scene imploded , I was likefuck DIY , that shit sucks , and then when Etta and I started playing , it was likewait , no , DIY is everything , " Weingarten say , noting how she and Friedman started drop a line two weeks after they became friend , with dozens of previous nighttime talks turning into songs .
Just writing songs together was enough for Momma then as much as it is now , but it certainly is fun for them to think about their rock’n’roll whiz phantasy — even if they do n’t want to " put money " on them . ( It is , for example , a nervy and self - depreciate joke on their song " Rockstar . " ) " I think [ the rock star dreams are ] feasible , but we have a mountain to wax , " says Weingarten . " We have hooks and our birdcall are attention-getting , but I do n’t see anyone selling out stadiums with heavy guitar . So I cogitate it ’s feasible , but we ’ll just have to see if mass are down for that . "
With HAIM selling out sports stadium and name likeMitskiand Phoebe Bridgers being star in their own right , rock candy stardom seems alert and well , even if it ’s evolve . So , perhaps the world could employ a heavy group in the mix . For now , the striation is take aback just thinking about the construct of their lyrics about connection and desire resonate with hearer , as the record did come out of a break up Weingarten went through that coincided with a Nirvana rabbit hole . ( " If hoi polloi relate to it , my job is done . I think any musician feels that way . " )
It may be a strain about coping with loneliness , but the way they babble , " I can fill up an auditorium " on " No stagecoach " feel both like a authoritative statement and a promise to themselves . So while they wait for stadiums to sing back their songs to them , at least Momma can count on their medicine blasting from cars full of kids who are looking for record that are as magnanimous as all that they ’re feel , too .
Momma|Photo by Sophie Hur
