The Violet Mine is a masterful collaboration between singer-songwriter, Meredith Minogue and songwriter-guitarist, Jim Barry. Their latest single ‘White Night’ is a catchy, hook-driven song that combines folk rock and indie pop. The single exemplifies The Violet Mine’s distinctive writing style with its energetic rhythm and enigmatic lyrics. The instrumentation includes vocals, guitars, piano, bass, drums, and percussion.
‘White Night’ originated in a dream which might explain some of the surrealistic imagery. Meredith dreamt that she was stuck in a well singing “came to pay the spirit guide’. When she woke, she could still hear it and quickly wrote the line down. The rest of the lyrics followed very quickly in an almost stream-of-consciousness way. As Meredith says, “I don’t sit down and say I want to write a song about x. It usually begins by being influenced by a word, feeling, chord or vibe and I don’t know what it means until later. Looking back, the theme seems to be about deception, vulnerability and being preyed on by those who abuse their power. I’m interested in the human condition and how people (myself included) absorb and reflect their external experiences. What is an illusion or a lie? What is the “agreed upon” illusion? What are we responsible for and what do we let go of?
The chorus, which says, “home is where the heart is…you got what you wanted” is set against major chords, which belies the darker lyrical content of the verses. To give a clue about the meaning of the lyrics, they named the tune “White Night” (taken from a phrase used by master manipulator Jim Jones).
‘White Night’ demonstrates The Violet Mine’s developing songwriting and recording maturity. From a production standpoint we try to sonically create an environment for each track and this one called for something live, spontaneous and organic. According to Jim, “This is definitely the most straightforward pop track. The groove on this song makes me feel so good. Rob Draghi (drums), Skip Ward (Bass), and Joe McGinty (piano) really created something special. The guitar was challenging because it called from a style I wasn’t fluent in. When Meredith brought it in, I did some research and dug into some 1970s deep cuts with players like Jesse Ed Davis and Wayne Perkins. I wanted that spontaneous, joyful feel. The solo was overdubbed on one of the last days of our album recording and we already had one ‘in the can’. I was able to just let go and it came right out.”
To achieve the lush layered harmonies they brought in Meredith’s sister and fellow musician Annie Minogue to contribute vocals. “This was the first time Annie and I ever sang together on record as I usually do all the background vocals myself. When people who are related sing together, it almost sounds like one voice.”
The Violet Mine’s latest offering ‘White Night’ comes ahead of their ten-track compilation, of the same name, which expertly combines folk-rock elements, unique guitar melodies, engrossing synth work, and intensely personal lyrical content. Their music resides within the bittersweet areas of life. It is a captivating musical voyage that highlights their development as artists.
ABOUT THE VIOLET MINE
NYC-based band The Violet Mine is Meredith Minogue (singer/songwriter/guitarist) and Jim Barry (songwriter/guitarist/multi-instrumentalist). Their sound is drawn from rock and roll, folk rock, 70’s singer-songwriters, new wave, country blues, and dream pop. It’s a bit like The Pretenders, Neil Young and Nick Drake having a drink while checking out a Marc Chagall exhibit. Originally named Violet, they recorded two full-length albums, We Both Know It’s Out There, and The Last Cathedral, both of which were produced/engineered by Adam Lasus (Helium, Clem Snide, PJ Harvey, Yo La Tengo).
Performing Songwriter Magazine called their debut “lyrically ambitious and texturally complex” and “one of the best independent releases of the year”. They have appeared on CD compilations created by Magnet Magazine, Pop Culture Press, and Jarmusic’s Coast to Coast, which included tracks by the Cowboy Junkies and Ani DiFranco. The band has played at The Loft at City Winery, Rockwood Music Hall, Webster Hall, Knitting Factory, and CMJ.
The Violet Mine’s forthcoming album, White Night, produced and engineered by Reed Black (Karen O and Vampire Weekend) is a collection of ten songs that includes flashes of contemporary folk-rock mingling with guitar riffs, swirling synthesizers, and intimate lyrics.
