New York trio, Hello Mary, began their ascent in 2019 after forming from a youth music programme in their New York City High school.
The band, vocalist/guitarist Helena Straight, bassist/ vocalist Mikaela Oppenheimer and drummer Stella Wave, have wasted no time, releasing their debut seven song LP, Ginger in 2020. A document of frayed, raucous grunge reverence that tapped into the same energy as fellow up and comers, Lifeguard, Horsegirl and Blimp.
Last year, the band followed-up Ginger with their self-titled LP, a turbo-charged alt-rock affair that saw Hello Mary take the most accessible parts of Goo and channel their inner Veruca Salt. It was this confidence that paved the way for Emita Ox – Hello Mary’s highly anticipated third album and second via the Syd Butler-founded Frenchkiss Records.
Emita Ox is Hello Mary’s biggest leap forward so far, showcasing a new confidence built upon an alchemy between the trio. The shift is evident from the opening bars of the dynamic Float. As the title suggest, Hello Mary turn it down a notch, and with new misty soundscapes, the band combine slow-motion atmospheres with flashes of white noise. It’s a key feature throughout Emita Ox with the likes of Knowing You and Footstep Misstep also possessing similar traits.
0% gnarls and bristles with a new energy where Hello Mary find a space between the Breeders and Le Tigre. Meanwhile, Three and Courtesy sees the band expanding even further, taking the melodic majesty of kindred spirits and current U.K. tour companions, American Football.
Then there’s album highlight, Bubble – a stirring, under-the-radar epic with soaring walls of sound that reach every corner of the room. In many ways, it represents what Emita Ox is: not only Hello Mary’s finest offering so far, but one that will see them expand on an already healthy listenership.
Having played two sold shows in London in between their dates supporting American Football, earlier this week the band took part in our latest 13 Questions feature.
1. What was the one key aspect you wanted to achieve with Emita Ox?
Stella Wave: “I think we wanted to use the studio to our advantage as much as possible for this album. It was definitely important to us to support each song as best we could. In terms of the songs themselves, they all unfolded naturally and weren’t informed by a desire for the album to sound any particular way.”
2. It feels like your most eclectic range of songs so far, with each band member really stamping their own authority on the songs. Is the writing and recording process generally a democratic one?
Helena Straight: “The writing process is highly democratic. We are all very honest with each other and quite opinionated. We all individually come in with ideas and then build them as a group which allows us all to have a vital role in every song. It is very fun.”
3. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the album title?
Mikaela Oppenheimer: “I think those words are just sort [of] satisfying and oppose each other in a way that reminds me of our album.”
4. The artwork is great, and reminds me of The Chameleons’ What Does Anything Mean? Are they big influences of yours?
SW: “No, we don’t know who that is, that’s really cool though. Maybe Clem, the artist that made it knows them…”
5. Float feels like one of your most aggressive songs. Was choosing this as the opening song a way of setting the tone of the album?
HS: “I’m glad to hear that. Yeah, I like it as the opener because it starts off really soft and calm, and possibly even becomes predictable because of the repetitive lyrics and ABAB form, and then it takes a sharp turn and kind [of] foreshadows the rest of the record.”
Hello Mary - Emita Ox6. The biggest shift for me is tracks like Three and Bubble which are the best songs you’ve written in my opinion. Can you tell us a bit more about these two?
SW: “Thank you! Bubble is one of my favourites, too. It’s sort of about my old apartment. I wrote it during a very weird time in my life where I felt pretty isolated and was spending a lot of time at home. My depression was definitely colouring my perception of the apartment. It became a depression pit of sorts… and the building was so old, that part of the ceiling actually came crashing to the floor one day – so there’s some literal meaning, too.”
HS: “Three was the first song I had written after a bit of a writer’s block, and it is now one of my favourite HM songs as well. This may seem confusing, but it was quite hard for me to play at first. I knew how I wanted it to sound in my head, but couldn’t quite play it on guitar, so I had to play it really slowly and sloppily until I got better at it. It was one of those songs where everything came to me fairly quickly. Originally, the piano part in the outro was a melody that I figured would be sung, but when I tried to sing it, it sounded extremely corny, so I figured it out on the piano. I think it’s the first HM piano part ever written?”
7. As a current recording artist, are you constantly seeking out new music and artists, or are you more rooted to your past influences?
SW: “I used to be way more rooted in listening to old music, but now it’s quite the opposite. I love discovering new music, there’s so much cool stuff being released right now. It’s really inspiring to see what our peers are putting out.”
8. How much of an influence do you think your current surroundings have on the music you make?
HS: “It’s hard to say. People ask this pretty often, but I honestly haven’t found an answer yet.”
Hello Mary (photo: Cooper Winterson)9. Some fun questions now: do you have any hobbies outside of music?
SW: “Nothing unique. I love making new friends and learning about different people’s lives.”
10. Do you see social media as a necessary evil, or is it something you enjoy participating in?
SW: “Kind of both. It can be fun, for sure. But it’s annoying to feel like you have to be a social media manager just because you want to take music seriously. Discord is a cool platform because it just provides a place for fans to interact directly with one another, instead of focusing on the ‘band image’ or whatever.”
11. Favourite records so far in 2024 so far?
SW: “I’ve been liking Wild Guess by Robber Robber.”
HS: Box for Buddy, Box for Star – This is Lorelei, Here in the Pitch – Jessica Pratt, Your Day Will Come – Chanel Beads, Wall of Eyes – The Smile.
12. Last book you read?
SW: “I am currently reading A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.
13. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. Any last words?
All: “Thank you!!!”
Emita Ox is out now via Frenchkiss Records. Purchase here.
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