The cinematic alt-rock group Magnolia Memoir has been garnering plenty of praise for their bold artistry and unique compositions and a sound that has been compared to The Black Keys and Florence and The Machine. With a new music video (“Odds and Ends“) featuring the band and guest appearances from some comedy favorites, and the September release of their third studio album, Pale Fire, it seems like the sky’s the limit for Magnolia Memoir. So I was thrilled when front woman Mela Lee joined me for my podcast Whine At 9 to discuss the band’s fascinating history, Magnolia Memoir’s unique style, and her thoughts on musical success.
Magnolia Memoir’s story is an unusual one. Says Lee, “We [Alexander Burke, Aron Forbes, Gordon Bash, Keith Crutchfield] came together in late 2008 to do a session. I had written some songs while I was unemployed, actually—from banking. I thought I would write some songs and record them and give them to my father’s family. He passed away when I was a little girl. Unemployment gave me an opportunity to go back to Mississippi and Louisiana and meet his friends and write down stories that they were telling me. Because they tell very different stories when you’re a grownup than when you’re a kid.” This experience ultimately led to the creation of the group and even its name. “I found a journal on the side of the road at a truck stop with magnolias on it. I called it the ‘Magnolia Memoir.’”
Listen to Pale Fire here.
“It was a life-changing trip for me,” admits the singer/songwriter, who initially thought the group would record the songs and then go their separate ways. “Our first recording session was supposed to be a gift for my father’s family and my father, but it ended up being a gift for us. There was an unbelievable chemistry between all of us in the studio. It was kind of our first time recording. We got a publishing deal right away and then had the second album. This third album, instead of it being really my story, I think you can really feel our story as a band.”
Lee’s vocal style has been compared to Etta James, Billie Holiday, Gwen Stefani, and Adele, and she couldn’t be more grateful. It’s hard to believe that the compelling singer with a five-octave vocal range received no formal vocal training and never intended to pursue a career in music until Magnolia Memoir happened. “I didn’t know it was possible, so I’m pretty excited that it is.”
Magnolia Memoir’s music video “Odds and Ends” showcases the theatrical, sometimes dark, and intermittently humorous style of the group. With guest appearances by Everybody Loves Raymond’s Doris Roberts and Saturday Night Live’s Will Forte, the playful video was a refreshing labor of love. “We had 21 set changes in 8 hours,” notes Lee, who teases that the video may be the only place you will find Doris Roberts “dirty dancing.”
The countdown to the release of Pale Fire coincided with a dark time in Mela Lee’s life as she recovered from serious injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Today she anticipates a full recovery, and believes that the energy put into the new album has helped her move forward in a positive and healing way.
What advice does she have for those who want to pursue their creative dreams. “I think the best thing that I’ve learned is that I didn’t know better. I didn’t know how hard it was supposed to be, because I wasn’t dreaming of what we’ve become. And I think that’s helped us. We became passionate about the story and our own story and creating art out of real relationships. And I think everybody has an extraordinary story.” Adds Lee, who seems ever-so-wise for her years, “I would tell anybody, whether a musician or not, ‘This is your memoir. And your story is worth telling, and knowing, and leaving for the world.’”
Watch the music video Odds and Ends here.
Listen to Nancy’s interview with Mela Lee here, on iTunes, or Stitcher Radio.
Nancy Berk, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, author, comic and entertainment analyst. The host of the showbiz podcast Whine At 9, Nancy digs a little deeper as she chats with fascinating celebrities and industry insiders. Her book College Bound and Gagged: How to Help Your Kid Get into a Great College Without Losing Your Savings, Your Relationship, or Your Mind can be seen in the feature film Admission starring Tina Fey and Paul Rudd.
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