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March 29, 2024


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INTERVIEW: Mary Timony
Ex. Helium Lead Singer Discusses Her Second Solo Album (Matador Records)

By: Alex Steininger

Ex-Helium singer-guitarist Mary Timony established herself as a solo artist with the release of her debut solo album, Mountains, in 2000. Her sophomore effort, The Golden Dove, once again finds her in fine form, crafting 60s psych folk, experimental electro grooves and lengthy prog-rock guitar jams.

"The Golden Dove is more fully realized than Mountains," Timony tells me. "Mountains is more skeletal, whereas The Golden Dove is more produced. I like the songs better on Mountains," but is was recorded lo-fi and The Golden Dove was recorded at a bigger studio, so the songs sound better."

Producing The Golden Dove was none other than Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous, who also backs Timony on several tracks.

"It was nice to have Mark Linkous there," Timony says of the experience. "He was only there about half the time, though. Al Weatherhead, who engineered the record, was there the whole time and helped out a lot."

Timony, who appreciates the structure and focus that working with Linkous and Weatherhead gave The Golden Dove, says she ultimately wants to record herself at home when she has the right equipment. She is currently stuck with only a four-track, which she uses to demo songs before entering the studio.

"There was a couple of years between Mountains and Golden Dove," explains Timony. "I wasn't working on the album the whole time, which is why it took so long. Once we were ready to hit the studio, we only spent three weeks recording the record."

And how does Timony feel the record turned out?

"The record turned out pretty similar to the way I thought it would, which was nice. It came out a little different, but I'm quite happy with it."

A video for the album's first single, "Dr. Cat,? was recently filmed in New York with director Brett Vapnek. "It's about getting out of bed at night and going to a conference room," Timony says of the video.

Timony recently embarked on a tour across the U.S. in support of The Golden Dove, and will be supporting Sonic Youth on some of their summer dates. Look out as she and her five-piece band bring The Golden Dove to life on a stage near you.

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