Artist Interview: Q&A with Mae Simpson
We talked to this Twin Cities artist about her fiery live shows, her recently released debut album, and her strong ties to our local music community.
Mae Simpson. Photo credit: Brandon Lenzmeier.
Soulful Americana rocker Mae Simpson and her band have been tearing up stages in the Twin Cities and beyond for several years now, and they just released their debut full-length album, Chandelier & Bloom. We were excited to connect with Simpson to learn more about her phenomenal live performances and her excellent new record!
Carol Roth: Thanks for making time for us, and congratulations on your album release! Can you share some of your musical influences that have shaped your distinctive sound?
Mae Simpson: This is a hard question because I grew up listening to Patsy Cline, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, and the band members all grew up with their own influences. The best way I can see it is that in all of those influences, we found our own authentic sound. I can’t even pin it down. That’s the beauty of it, though. Music doesn’t need to be pinned or boxed in. It’s the art behind it, and if it makes you feel something, regardless of what genre it is, you write it.
CR: Your band is known for its electrifying performances and infectious energy. How did you pull together such a charismatic ensemble? How do you guys get ready to bring it every time like you do?
MS: I think for us it’s natural. We just have that connection. No one needs to pump each other up. Every one of us is a go-getter. We are truly just that into it! I really think the crowd sees the authenticity in that and we feed off of that kind of energy.
CR: Talk about the Twin Cities music community. From my perspective the Americana part of it seems really collaborative and supportive, and you span a lot of different parts of our scene. How has being a part of this community influenced your growth as an artist, and what are some of your favorite moments collaborating with fellow local musicians?
MS: I think being a local musician it’s super important to respect fellow musicians and artists who are pouring their hearts into what they do, just like we do. I love working with other artists, whether that be letting an act that may be unknown open for us because they deserve it, or working with bands like the Foxgloves because that’s one heck of a talented group.
I think community is how you thrive; it’s how you create something safe and inviting. I can’t speak for every artist, but community is everything, and we will always make sure to continue to grow within ours and support those up-and-comers. It shouldn’t matter how big in the scene you get. It’s about what you do with your platform to help others and to follow your dreams.
CR: Your single “Minnehaha Mama” makes me really happy. As a queer woman I feel very safe and accepted in the local music community but like there’s not a ton of LGBTQ+ representation on stage or in songs, so hearing a love song from a woman to a woman is just delightful! What are your thoughts about it? What’s your experience been like from an artist’s perspective of the scene?
MS: “Minnehaha Mama” was written by Jorgen Wadkins. I loved it so much because I saw the same thing you did. I write in a way where I’m always true to who I am. So when Jorgen showed me the song I knew how I would sing it. It’s the same way I sing any song: as a reflection of who I am. Being LGBTQ+ is something that means a lot to me. I feel very accepted by musicians (and fans for that matter) and could not be more happy or proud about that.
I’ve never had an issue being who I am and doing what I love. I think the music speaks for itself and that’s the way I believe it should be. So whether I’m talking about who I love or who someone else loves, I hope everyone understands it’s about what makes you feel good, what makes you feel love, and what makes you happy, and you can always be proud about being who you are.
Mae Simpson’s Chandelier & Bloom album artwork.
CR: I’d love to hear about the creative process behind recording and producing Chandelier & Bloom. What was it like recording your first full album?
MS: It was a wild adventure. We got to work with some incredible people. Brian Snowman Powers who was our producer/ saxophone player just understands how to capture the sounds he needs to make this all come together. From working with Tom Ganeau (who worked with Prince and so many others) who is not only a friend but set us up to really hit the nail on the head, to in-house work from the whole band, it took a village.
We understood what we wanted. Went in with a vision and captured it the way we think best showcases what we do and how we truly sound and want to be represented. I cannot say enough about the members of the band and those who helped us pull this off. All the love to Jorgen Wadkins, Aaron Silverstein, David Kellermann and Paul Pederson.
CR: Let’s talk about a couple other tracks. “Half Like a Shadow” is a surprise when it comes on, just an acoustic guitar, your voice dialed way down, and a folky-country melody. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind it?
MS: “Half Like a Shadow” came from me and Jorgen sitting in a room for 30 minutes. I said “Play me something emotional,” haha. A lot of those songs just come from sitting in a room with each other hanging out. Lots of times I’ll create the lyrics on the fly, but I wanted to tell a story, something people could relate to, whether that be a relationship or someone who passed, someone you can’t live with or without. Just homing in on that feeling of feeling like home with someone but understanding the hardships that come with it.
CR: Your song “Mountains” is so unique and different-sounding, in contrast to a lot of your songs that have a very recognizable link to classic music styles. Can you share the story behind this track and what message you want listeners to take away from it?
MS: Without getting too deep down the rabbit hole, “Mountains” is about seeing things for what they are and choosing to continue on: to grow, to love, to give yourself that space. I like to think that these songs are ours when we make them but that once you’ve done that, it’s the listener’s song. So I don’t like to put too much meaning on them; I want the listener to have their own meaning.
The Mae Simpson Band. Photo credit: Brandon Lenzmeier.
CR: How do you approach performing songs now that you’ve got an album out? Do you try to recreate the studio sound, do you have special live arrangements for the songs, or do you and your band improvise in the moment?
MS: These songs we like to play how they are on the record; we put all that work in to get that sound so it feels best that way. It’s not far off from what we do in live shows in general. It’s natural to continue to rock those songs in that light.
CR: Are there any local artists you’ve recently discovered that you’re excited to collaborate or perform with in the future?
MS: I think Minneapolis has so many talented musicians that are up and coming. The Get Together is just so talented. Nur-D is one of my favorites! The Foxgloves, Ty Pow and the Holy North … I’ve always got my eye out for new acts in the Cities. I’m sure I’ll have a whole new list by next year! Go out and see some shows, everyone. Minneapolis is pure magic.
CR: What’s next for you? Where can we find you if we want to see you live? Got anything else cooking?
MS: Next would be touring Chandelier & Bloom. And we’ll continue writing maybe some singles or, who knows, maybe album number two! We have a few shows coming up: CHS Field, Paramount, South Dakota and many more. You can find that on our website of course. We hope to see you out!
Carol Roth. Photo credit: Dan Lee.
Carol Roth is a full-time marketing copywriter and the primary music journalist and social media publicist for Adventures in Americana. In addition to studying the guitar and songwriting, Carol’s additional creative side hustle is writing self-proclaimed “trashy” novels under the pseudonym T.A. Berkeley!
