Naomi Sparrow and Rob Stroup, the New Mexico-based duo known as Moody Little Sister, moved themselves from Portland, Oregon two years ago to rural New Mexico. They established themselves in the small town, gaining new friends and supporters, and found themselves nominated for the New Mexico Music Awards, with their song “Evelina,” in the singer-songwriter category.
Their new album, Great Big Mama Sunshine, has labeled the duo “Southwestern Americana Soul,” and features thirteen-track collection of roots-influenced pop songs. Great Big Mama Sunshine is the follow-up to their 2016 debut full-length album, Wild Places, and Great Big Mama Sunshine is their new foray into their new surroundings. The duo utilized a guitar over the piano.
“My new love for the desert is also coupled with my new love for the guitar,” comments Sparrow on the shift in sound. “All these tunes are guitar songs, instead of the power piano tunes we’ve always written in the past. There is also a stronger sense of definition; we have finally landed on our sound after almost a decade of making music together.”
Great Big Mama Sunshine was released on August 31, 2019 and continues their tradition of honest lyrics and heartfelt melodies.
The album’s first single, “711 Lucky Street,” which will have a music video following the album’s release, finds the duo delving into danceable blues-grit, keeping the soulful essence that permeates the album, and reeling you with a well-crafted, hooky chorus.
“‘711 Lucky Street’ was written right before we started recording so none of our fans had ever heard that song,” recalls Sparrow. “Our friends came into the studio to add background vocals and Rob left the mics on while we chatted and carried on. He left some of that chatting on the recording and I love the effect it has on the tune, it makes me smile every time I hear it.”
Listen to “711 Lucky Street”:
When asked if they’re happy how Great Big Mama Sunshine came out, Sparrow doesn’t hesitate when she says, “It came out way better! We knew these songs were strong, we knew we had the ability and talent to create good sounding tracks, but some extra sparkle and magic made its way on to this record and we still feel every time we listen to these tracks.”
A record about being yourself, being bold, and living and loving life boldly, Sparrow says the message of the record is to, “give this heavy world a run for its money with your joy and determination, and to stay open-hearted.”
“From a human perspective, Great Big Mama Sunshine is the musical antidote to the current climate of despair. With a world in crisis, and bad news on every corner, good people of the planet forget that joy is our best medicine to defeat negativity. Rather than writing an album that focused on everything that has gone wrong, this album brings all that is good about the human experience to light.
“From a musical stance, I think we are overdue for a strong female representation in Americana music. I think the Southwestern/soul sound of this album is a refreshing new take on some of our musical roots. And a little bit of girl power never hurt anyone either.”
Find Moody Little Mama on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & YouTube.
Source: Press Release
