After finding enormous success for her previously shared efforts ‘Mysteries’ and ‘I Have Always Been In Love With You’, which garnered thousands of streams upon release as well as heavy circulation on UK and Australian radio, US singer and songwriter Sweaty Lamarr returns once again with her brilliantly infectious new single ‘Abbey, I’m Sorry I Stole Your Man’.
Sweaty Lamarr is a versatile artist whose music spans a wide range of styles, keeping her listeners on their toes. Now she returns with an Americana-driven offering ‘Abbey, I’m Sorry I Stole Your Man’. The new single sees her play the part of Jolene from the Dolly Parton classic. Underneath the warm production and captivating vocals is a true tragedy, the story of a fallen woman who was deceived into believing she found her forever. Sweaty Lamarr’s innovative and thoughtful songwriting style is evident in this unique approach to the response track.
In this interview spotlight, I chat with Sweaty Lamarr about the new project, motivations, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
What’s something you’d like readers to know about your latest project?
I think I’m going to get pegged as a country artist for this EP, and that couldn’t be further from the truth, a truth I am still figuring out. I really don’t think I’ll ever settle down into just one genre. My two releases before this were atmospheric, produced by Lucy Dacus’ guitarist Jacob Blizard. I have a totally 80’s pop song in the works with a producer in LA, and an Against Me!/Titus Andronicus ripoff that I’m developing with a friend of mine. I’m as excited as my three fans are to see what’s next.
How does this project compare with your other release(s)? What did you learn from this process?
This is my first completed multi-song release, which is deeply exciting, and wound up being quite educational. I really learned to say “no” with this EP. In my first two releases, I had no clue as to what I was doing in the slightest, and said yes to anything proposed because I figured everyone around me knew best and I knew nothing. It sounds cheesy, but I learned to say no while making this record and say yes to myself. The team that I worked with, Lovegrove Studios, never proposed anything that felt entirely against my sound or my mission with each song, but as happens, sometimes I didn’t love a riff or had to insist that the lyrics be phrased a certain way even if it created a long bar. I feel more prepared to work on a full-length, where I’d be bringing in even more creators, instrumentalists, vocalists, and producers and defending my needs for each song while still accepting feedback, collaboration, and limitations.
What motivates you to create music?
Conversations. Nothing sparks a lyric quicker than a conversation and yes, sometimes that conversation is a scenario playing out in my own head to hurt my own feelings. The opening line from an upcoming song called “Dorothy No More” goes as follows: “you left your keys on the floor; is that what you think of me?” That came from a conversation with a friend who was telling me about her former roommate, and how the roommate in fact left her keys on the floor the day she moved out as an insult. I had been searching for the perfect opening line for that song and some girl from Michigan who left SEVERAL pizza boxes full of crust in her bedroom on move-out day gave it to me. Thanks, bish.
In terms of why I actually make music in the first place…art is the ultimate exercise in self-hatred as we all know, I was raised Catholic, I’m the oldest child and the only daughter, I don’t know. Take your pick.
What’s one of your first or most powerful music memories? Did that play any role in driving you to create?
I just want to take this moment to tell high-school Tara, who was secretly writing lyrics to songs she never thought she could or would ever sing, that she did it. I remember her, I wish she had it easier, and I hope I’m someone she would like. She would definitely feel solace in knowing that time has not made me cool so there was really no hope for her, but would probably be mad at me for continuing to date musicians as someone with a whole pre-frontal cortex.
If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.
These are easy: Bruce Springsteen, Laura Jane Grace, Patrick Stickles from Titus Andronicus, and my friend Avery over in Little Hag (https://www.littlehag.com/). Most of these are Jersey legends, and then I just have a huge crush on Laura. No one, and I mean no one, does it like her. Laura, come sing me under the table on a track!
Oh! I wrote a song about Carly Rae Jepsen and I’d die to have her do a remix.
What was the last song you listened to? And who is one of your favorite all-time bands/artists?
As of writing this, I am coming off a high from the one and only Carly Rae Jepsen retweeting me out of the blue (this is a very Carly Rae-themed piece; go stream Dedicated Side B). I didn’t even tag her! Why is she so obsessed with me?! So I just got a major case of the fee-fees listening to “Your Type” maybe three seconds before starting to write this. My taste in music is as eclectic as my celebrity crushes (a list in which Chris Evans and Jack Black are constantly competing for first place), so favorites range from Springsteen to Robyn to Danzig. Harry Styles is, as I often call him, my son. My karaoke playlists make not one lick of shared sense. You need a cohesive answer though, so I will tell you that I expect my albums of the summer to be the new David Knudson record and Minus the Bear’s Omni.
Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?
I’m on Instagram way, way too often for someone who should be taking in some sunsets before the imminent end of the world. I’m there on @sweatylamarr, as well as Facebook (facebook.com/sweatylamarr) and Twitter for those who can handle my spicy political takes and Stanley Tucci thirstposting. You can check out my music on Spotify, Apple Music, whatever the hell Deezer is, Tidal, and Bandcamp (sweatylamarrmusic.bandcamp.com)!
I really appreciate Your time. Anything else before we sign off?
Dude, these were some really difficult questions. As someone who taught herself how to lick her own elbow, I appreciate a challenge. Thank you!
