Minnesota based “Americana-newgrass” collective Maygen & The Birdwatcher have unleashed their debut album entitled Moonshine. The eight-track collection of songs elegantly fuses Americana, rock, soul, bluegrass and country for an intoxicating sonic blend.
In Moonshine, the band took influence and recounts timeless tales from nature, family life, love and loss. Maygen of the band confides, “we make Americana music that draws on folk, blues and bluegrass roots. It’s fueled by a drive to explore every angle of this life. Our music confidently straddles the line between seeking adventure and being perfectly at peace at home in MN, next to a creek or lake; between getting folk dancing and bringing a tear to their eye…providing the musical foundation to their rollercoaster of life’s emotions.”. Brought together by their love of music, sarcasm and the outdoors, Maygen & The Birdwatcher was recently formed by CMA nominated singer/songwriter Maygen Lacey and guitar prodigy Noah Neumann. Joined by Ethan & Jesse Moravec on upright bass, mandolin, fiddle as well as Nik Pellinen on banjo and lead guitar, the musical collective create lush sweeping compositions that resonate deeply with everyday life.
In “Dominé,” the song reflects on the push and pull dynamics of a passionate roller-coaster relationship. Noah of the band confides, “it’s about a relationship we’ve probably all had. It’s a relationship that starts off great but quickly gets messy. It’s easy to get stuck in that place and ebb and flow between the good and bad. You should call it quits but you know you just can’t. All you can do is throw your hands up and say “Dominé”. Featuring harmonious vocals, a brilliant heart-wrenching melody and expressive mandolin, the track is filled with a deep and soulful personality that connects with the pain, longing, and desire felt when the pieces of a relationship just don’t seem to fit.
“Jigsaw” is all about the importance of family. According to the band, “it’s an honest look at the dynamics of what family life really is. I know MANY families that were entirely shook by the pandemic and the new found EXTRA EXTRA time with only the people under their roof. You’ve got a number of individual humans with all their own wants/needs/quirks/triggers all living in the same space. It can be a PUZZLE to figure out how to keep everyone feeling loved, valued and heard. It’s important to continually shift and shape your unique family into something that can thrive no matter what life throws at you.” With a beautiful and vivid storyline, warm country vocals and layered bluegrass-laced soundscapes, it’s a song that will inspire you to go the extra mile for the ones you love.
Maygen & The Birdwatcher’s debut is a promising effort for this new collaboration between two very talented artists. Take a listen and let us know your thoughts by tweeting @celebmix now.