Biography
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Members
- Allegra Weingarten
- Aron Kobayashi Ritch
- Etta Friedman
The band Momma is a four-piece grunge band whose sound is heavily influenced by the creative intuition of songwriters Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten. The two guitarists, who grew up outside Los Angeles, met in high school and began writing songs together, drawing inspiration from songwriters such as Kim Deal, Liz Phair, and Elliott Smith. Despite now living far apart while they finish college, the two continue to write together in the same way they always have, assembling DIY west coast tours and workshoping new songs during breaks.
Momma's debut album, Interloper, and recent Apollo 7" showcase the duo's dynamic song structure and gripping lyrics. For their second full-length album, Two of Me, Friedman and Weingarten crafted an ambitious concept album called "The Bug House," a fictional world where tragic heroes experience poetic justice in carnivalesque settings. The album deals with themes of morality, youth, and punishment, exploring the darker side of the self.
The album was recorded in Los Angeles with producer/engineer Aron Kobayashi Ritch, who helped the duo experiment with deeper and more distorted sounds. Drummer Zach Capitti Fenton and bass player Sebastian Jones made up the rhythm section for most of the album's tracks. The album's opener, "Bug House," sets the stage for the record with its expressive guitar tones and brooding mood. The album's more abrasive moments, like "Derby," are balanced by melodic ballads like "Double Dare."
Friedman and Weingarten each take a solo spotlight on their respective performances of "Ready Runner" and "Not a Runner," which feature tender instrumentation and introspective lyrics. The album's climactic closer, "Habitat," takes in the complex beauty of life and landscape before releasing a final deafening exhale.
Despite their many similarities, Friedman and Weingarten's creative compatibility on Two of Me is fueled by their appreciation for each other's differences. Their personal tastes and intuitions are valued and explored by one another equally, allowing them to create a record that feels both familiar and intriguing. Like a yin and yang symbol, they understand that nothing is made up solely of light or darkness, and confronting each part of oneself is the first step to seeing the whole picture.
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