Welcome to My Blue Sky documents the tumultuous and emotional experience of Momma’s tour in the summer of 2022. How much and what kind of vulnerability and intimacy can listeners expect to hear on this album?
Allegra: This is definitely our most vulnerable album yet. There really wasn’t anything off limits—we kind of bare it all. It was really scary to write about our own shortcomings and flaws. There are definitely a lot of moments on this record where we recognize how selfish we both were during that time and how we ended up hurting people we really loved and cared about. That was definitely the hardest thing to write about.
You’ve mentioned trying to write catchy songs in previous interviews, and catchy hooks and choruses are definitely a staple of Momma’s music. How do you balance vulnerable songwriting with memorable melodies and lyrics?
Allegra: That’s a really good question. I think we’re very hook driven as songwriters, so without tooting our own horns too much, it does come naturally. But I would say the poppier songs on this record, while they are still vulnerable, are about happier times and have a more positive outlook, so it’s easy to write a good hook or a catchy chorus that captures that feeling. The more melancholy songs, like “Take Me With You” and “My Old Street” are a little more free-form and not as hook focused. I think “Welcome to My Blue Sky,” the song, captures the balance between catchiness and vulnerability the best. If you’re writing from the heart and being honest 100% of the time, it’s easy to find that balance.
Etta: As much as finding the balance between vulnerability and catchiness can feel natural when the content of the song you’re writing also toes that line, I think we also very much look up to lyricists who do that quite well—Joni Mitchell and Elliott Smith are two examples.
Were there any major differences in how you approached making Blue Sky as compared to previous albums? How has your songwriting and the band evolved over the last several years?
Allegra: Yes. I would say the biggest difference is that Etta and I wrote a lot of these songs together on an acoustic guitar. That gave us the freedom to really focus on the lyrics and made these songs feel a lot more intimate. Our songwriting has definitely evolved a lot over the years, but the core of Momma is always going to be the connection that Etta and I have as friends and collaborators. That will never change.
Etta: Agreed. The process of writing the record so intimately really felt like we were tapping back into how we used to write songs when we first met each other. Our relationship to each other in life and in music is so symbiotic. I don’t think that can ever change regardless of the personal growth we may experience individually. I think that is really beautiful.
What was your favorite part of making the album? What was the most challenging?
Allegra: My favorite part of making the record was definitely the songwriting stage. Going into the studio and recording a record is really stressful and exhausting. But when you’re still in the process of writing, things still feel new and fresh, and you still have that spark in you. The most challenging was probably recording vocals. That always takes a toll on you, and if you’re not feeling it one day it’s really hard to push through.
Etta: Recording vocals is always the most stressful part of making the album! This time around we kind of got into the swing of understanding how each of our voices fare throughout the day, though. On the flipside, my favorite part of making the album was probably beginning to understand that we have good intuition during the writing process. So, like Allegra, I would also say the writing process. We were just really good at not harping on one idea for too long. I think it is super easy to let yourself snowball by picking at something for too long. As soon as an idea didn’t feel good – or didn’t feel “right” – we tabled it. We didn’t really put that into practice on previous records.
There’s been a lot of comparison between Momma and ’90s grunge bands, like Veruca Salt and Nirvana. You’ve stated in previous interviews that these comparisons are getting old. What are the most significant ways in which you feel your music and style deviate from these bands?
Allegra: As much as we love those bands, we really hate those comparisons. Especially to Veruca Salt. Louise Post and Nina Gordon are huge huge inspirations for us. We’ve actually gotten to know Louise over the years, and she is a gem of a human—so sweet and supportive. But the comparison is starting to feel really tiring. I hear it more in Household Name, but there are so many production flairs on Welcome to My Blue Sky that I think are really different from anything in Veruca Salt’s discography. I think in general we are just a lot less grunge-sounding than people make us out to be, and the songs that are heavier on this record sound way more emo to me than grunge. Veruca is known for their shredding guitar solos, and there’s not really a lot of that on this record. There’s also a lot of acoustic guitar. People just hear two femme voices and make that comparison right away, but it’s so frequent that it’s starting to feel a little misogynistic. We have very different writing styles, and the production is very different as well.
Who or what are some of your current inspirations, and where or how does inspiration usually strike you?
Allegra: Hovvdy is the best contemporary band out there right now. I also love Narrow Head, Deadharrie, and Alex G. Inspiration almost always strikes when I’m dealing with romantic upheaval. I just find it really easy to write about, and I really enjoy the feeling of writing a song for someone knowing that they will hear it one day, and they’ll finally get to hear exactly how I’m feeling.
Etta: Hovvdy, Alex G, Feeble Little Horse, This is Lorelei, and Snail Mail are all bands that I would consider inspirational just due to their songwriting skills, their skills in production, etc. It’s super interesting to me to see how different people in your field tackle writing a song, or going through a release cycle or tour.
As bandmates who have known each other since high school, how would you describe the way making music together influences your relationship and vice versa? Do you often find yourselves in conversation with each other (or others in your life) through songs?
Allegra: Yes, “Bottle Blonde” is a great example of that. We are talking to our past selves, but also talking to each other. We are so close outside of writing music together, but being able to have a creative relationship as well has made our bond so much stronger. It feels like we speak a secret language.
Etta: A secret language is the best way to describe it, in my opinion. Both creatively and personally understanding someone to the point of being able to finish each other’s sentences feels like a pretty good definition. I guess I’m not too sure how else to describe that closeness because it feels very rare.
What are you most excited about for your upcoming tour? Are there any stories, inside jokes, or moments from past tours that are special to you?
Allegra: I’m really excited to see what shenanigans we get into. We always manage to have a fun time on tour, even if the tour is not going so great. We just really enjoy each other’s company and make each other laugh all the time. We have inside jokes from past tours that are canon in our communication now. We’ve only ever done this on support tours, but we might make a Tour Bingo for this headline. It’s mainly dares and different goals you have to meet, and whoever gets BINGO first receives everyone’s buyout for the night.
What have you been listening to as you prepare for the tour?
Allegra: I’ve been listening to a lot of Graham Hunt. I’m bumping Wishy and Brennan Wedl, who we’re bringing out with us and will get to see every night. I’m always listening to Tom Petty. I also just found this band called Ex-Pilots and they’re amazing.
Etta: Wishy and Brennan for sure! Lately, I have had a pretty weird range of artists I’m listening to…the three I’ll highlight are: Doechii, Neil Young, MBV. Oh, and Kim Deal’s new record!
Welcome to My Blue Sky is out April 4th and available for purchase here.
