About That Song: Molly Maher
About That Song #81
In our special series, singer-songwriter Sarah Morris interviews artists about the songs that shaped them.
Hi! I’m Sarah Morris. I’m wildly in love with songs and the people who write them. There have been a few songs in my life that have been total gamechangers—songs that made me want to be a songwriter and songs I’ve written that made me feel like I am a songwriter. About That Song is a space where I can learn more about those pivotal songs in other writers’ lives.
In the 81st installment of this series, I was excited to chat with Molly Maher, a fantastic Minnesota singer-songwriter also known for her multitude of collaborative efforts as a bandleader and festival organizer. We talked about songs and song-making experiences that have made a big impact on her musical journey thus far.
Molly Maher. Photo credit: Ilia Stockert Photo+Cinema.
Sarah: Ah! Molly! Over the years, I've witnessed your talents as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and one of those rare humans with a gift for bringing people together for musical events and festivals—yes, festivals PLURAL. You have a distinctive way of lifting others, whether leading your bands (Molly Maher and the Disbelievers, Molly Maher and the Gilded Quadriga, supergroup QUATRO!) or ensuring that your fellow artists shine. Often called to join performers like Erik Koskinen onstage, you've also spearheaded the Lutsong Music Festival and the Lakeside Guitar Festival, and you co-direct Music Mission—a nonprofit supporting communities throughout the Americas in creating and sharing their music.
Between these festivals and performing in your various ensembles, you've got a busy, beautiful summer ahead. This feels like the perfect moment to explore your musical journey and the songs that have brought you to where you stand today. Do you remember the song you heard that made you want to be a songwriter? Tell us about that song.
Molly: “I Ain’t Blue” as performed by Bonnie Raitt (written by Spider John Koerner) from her first record struck me. The whole record did—there’s these beautiful tunes mixed with grit and groove. It clicked with me because I’m not a delicate musician with an angelic voice, and here was this powerful woman showing me all her sides, the sunny and the shady. Relatable.
Songwriting is an ongoing quest for me, but assembling a top notch band of players helps tremendously. For me the musical conversation I get to have with these giants comes from years of time on our feet together. That’s almost more important than the words themselves. With all that trust, I stumble around while they safely get me to the finish line.
Sarah: Ah, I love all that trust, the stumbling, and the getting there. I think of it as the leaping, and knowing you’ll be caught. I did not know this Bonnie Raitt song until you brought it to my attention, and oh … yes. I can see how it would grab a young heart and say “you can do this/be this.” Thank you for sharing.
Once you began writing, did you feel like a writer immediately? It took me a few years of writing before I believed it—was there a song that gave you that “a-HA! I AM a songwriter!” moment? Tell us about that song.
Molly: “Ghosts of My Town” I felt I’d grasped key songwriting techniques. Hook, minor chords, bridge, and perspective. It was the title track of my first record. While the folks who played on the record were fabulous, I was such a green musician that I don’t love my performance and song choices from that era. Recently, I dusted it off and it’s part of the Gilded Quadriga’s annual set.
Sarah: It’s such a lovely thing to reconnect with songs that have disappeared for a bit for one reason or another. I first encountered you through a copy of your 2011 album Merry Come Up, which had been kindly offered by Hotel Donaldson in Fargo, ND, as something I might want to listen to while I was staying there. Thanks, Hotel Donaldson! That record contains the swanky wonder that is your song “Cry Baby.” Can you tell us about that song?
Molly: It’s a cautionary tale. Be careful what you wish for, because you may get it and find out you’re still not happy. I’d been digging deep into Dan Penn and Spooner Oldlam who wrote some seminal soul tunes, so I wanted that ’60s doo wop feel. Tim O’Reagan from the Jayhawks is such a stunning singer so I bribed him to come and elevate the tune. I rediscovered it and found it had grown a bit in its timeout.
Sarah: Ooh! The second song in this interview to come back from a timeout! I’m into this …
Molly: The bridge came from my own “timeout” I had while working on that record. What if I’m out of circulation, what will I miss? Will I still be relevant? Kinda stewing in the projection. Now, I understand none of it really matters. It’s just a perception of whatever reality station you’re tuned into. Find gratitude in the present if you’re able. I’ve been enjoying playing it again with more of a smirk than carrying the weight of it all. Especially at a recent song circle up at the Lutsong Songwriters retreat where we had a 20-person singalong on the outro!
Sarah: That moment was something! Follow, your third album, came out in 2020. After receiving my copy in the mail, it sounded like freedom to my ears, in the middle of a moment where I was NOT LEAVING MY HOUSE (maybe you remember this time?). I’m thinking specifically of the song “Run, Run, Run”—can you tell us about that song?
Molly: The first A & B part came to me at a yellow traffic light (where most of my songs appear). Another car was in much more of a hurry than I was so they swerved around me, and I said out loud “Run run run!” I thought perhaps I’d stolen the melody or phrase from Dave Simonett (Trampled By Turtles, Dead Man Winter). I asked him if that was the case. It was not! So he chipped in and helped shape the song while my husband Ryan helped with the bridge. When it came time for a video I was seeing more of a salmon or trout run. So with the blessing from Trout Unlimited, Koskinen put together a sweet video for it.
Sarah: That’s amazing. And bonus, now we know that you are a considerate driver. Perhaps if a certain interviewer, who shall remain nameless, slowed for more yellow lights, there would be yellow light song ideas!
“Bird Song (I’ll Follow You)” makes frequent appearances in your live shows. With its impossible-to-resist chorus, it invites everyone within earshot to sing along. What can you tell us about that song?
Molly: I was asked to contribute a song for a House of Mercy compilation recording about the significance of birds in the Bible. Erik, Frankie, and I wrote it in about 7 minutes using some biblical passage as a launching spot and recorded it right then. I decided to re-record it for Follow as it had taken on some new life after playing it for so many years.
I sent the tracks to a brilliant musician, Iraida Noriega of Mexico City, to add harmonies. When she sent them back she added a verse in Spanish that came to her about these beautiful weavers in Chiapas Mexico. She had some other vocals on her track that we “recycled.” In the new tracking of the tune, with that great band, we felt it needed a new lift, so we added a third part (which included my mentor and the reason I lean towards a resonator guitar, Gabriela Sweet). It was important to me to focus on Gabriela and Irida together for the outro.
Molly Maher. Photo credit: Ryan Beadie.
Sarah: That story is a brilliant encapsulation of the way you weave people together, lift people up, and make fantastic music in the process. Brava. Next month, you will be co-leading the 4th annual Lutsong Music Festival in gorgeous Lutsen, MN. Can you tell us about that … festival?
Molly: Lutsong Music Festival is a growing groovy fest that stems from years of gathering around campfires, sharing songs. I love getting our lists together, thinking about how the flow of the weekend will go. Like making a mix tape for someone you really want to impress and being able to see it come to life. Personally, I love the collaboration and community that happens around the campfire/guitar pull. There’s something sacred that happens with music and fire.
I adore your hike in concert, Sarah, taking folks for a gentle walk and then standing amongst the trees and rushing river with your voice suspending us for moments in that grand cathedral of pines. The Stone Bridge Singers are spinetingling. Overall I get excited for attendees and musicians to connect, some meeting for the first time, some reconnecting on that heavenly hill.
Sarah: Oh, I look so forward to that weekend, too! Molly, thank you so much for taking some time to talk with me About That Song. And about That Collaboration. And more. Also, thank you for being my third Molly in a row (see last week’s interview with Molly Dean! And the previous interview with Molly Brandt!). It fulfilled a dream of mine that I didn’t even know I had, until I realized our music scene happens to have an abundance of magical Mollys!
I know you have a busy summer of shows, and I’m wishing you a beautiful one! Any shows in particular that you’d love to see us at?
Molly: Super excited to play the Hewing Rooftop on Father’s Day June 15 with Erik Koskinen band. It’s a gorgeous location and perfect day to either celebrate your dad or not! Anytime I get to play with “and Her Disbelievers” is a good day for me. Best ride at the fair.
Go see the amazing Molly Maher as soon as you can! You’ve got two chances coming up: 7pm on the Hewing Hotel rooftop this Sunday, June 15, and at Lutsong Music Festival July 10-13.
Listen to “Bird Song (I’ll Follow You)”
Follow Album Credits
Produced by Molly Maher & Erik Koskinen
Engineered and Mixed by Erik Koskinen at Real Phonic Studios
Mastered by Tom Garneau at AudioActive
2020 Real Phonic Records
Players on Follow include Erik Koskinen, Todd Clouser, Noah Levy, JT Bates, Chris Bates, James Anton, Gabriela Sweet, Josh Gravelin, Paul Bergen, James Tyler O'Neill, Anastasia Ellis, Krissy Bergmark, and Iraida Noriega.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Morris. Photo credit: Tom Smouse.
Sarah Morris is a superfan of songs and the people who write them, and a believer that certain songs can change your life. A singer-songwriter / mama / bread maker / coffee drinker who recently released her fifth album of original material, she’s been known to joyfully sing with people in her Big Green Bathroom.
