SONG PREMIERE: Scranton indie folk band Sweetnest takes time to ‘Heal’ hearts and minds
Everyone needs time to heal. For Sweetnest, it has been over three and a half years.
The indie folk duo of vocalist/ukulele player Amanda Rogan and guitarist Matt Malone has continued writing music since the release of their split EP with fellow Scranton band A Fire With Friends in early 2020, but the same struggles that can inspire songs can also prevent them from being finished.
“We wanted to find our own time and not rush the process. We had to pause on and off while coping with some mental health issues. I went into a bit of a writer’s block or more ‘avoidance.’ I had to try to get back to basics. I had to focus on taking care of myself, spending time with my animals, friends, and family. At times, the vision with music is unclear – we write but then find no clear path to releasing material. I always say that writing comes easy; music is core to us. Expression is as well. Developing a sound is enjoyable. However, when it comes to branding, promoting, that is where the difficulty lies. That is where many roadblocks tend to pop up. On top of that, naturally, doubt can set in and send you into freeze mode, ultimately resulting in nothing musically coming to light,” Rogan explained.
Then along comes “Heal,” the therapeutic new single premiering today exclusively on NEPA Scene with an animated lyric video that visualizes its soft, dreamy qualities driven by the steady beat of a mending heart in contemplative recovery. It is also available now on all major streaming platforms.
“‘Heal’ is a song about growth overall, taking it back to sayings like ‘Time heals all wounds,’ etc. The inspiration was a thought that I had one day at work. I noticed that being good to those around me, being even more kind, was healing me. It was difficult to show up for others – this was a serious challenge. As I began to look more inward, I jumped in and began to get deeply honest with myself. Again, the concept is growth,” she recalled.
“‘Heal’ is shiny and bright, but when I was writing the song, I was absolutely desperate for healing. It was a plea, in a way. As the song states, if it heals me, I will wait. I will wait to feel better, lighter. I will wait to see the people I have loved that are no longer physically here. ‘Time heals all wounds.’ Well, in that case, I will wait. What other option do I have?”
In the meantime, she and Malone have been “writing and creating, both individually and as a band.”
“We have developed a different process in terms of writing, and we have gotten very ‘real’ and direct with the content of our writing. We also teach music at Rockology Music Academy [in Wilkes-Barre], which has been wonderful and keeps us in touch with our musical inspirations,” Rogan noted.
“Our sound is becoming more dynamic, more intense. It’s grown. We’ve grown, personally and musically. We’ve both experienced tremendous loss that we’ve had to face since our last release, and I think the songs we’re working on show that struggle – the process, the healing, the unexplainable emotions that go hand-in-hand with grief. They tell stories that are very human, raw, and relatable.”
After years of penning deeply personal songs, Sweetnest debuted in 2018 with the full-length album “Until Now,” followed by the graceful single “Baby” and the “Bearings” EP with A Fire With Friends, which both premiered on NEPA Scene in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
“‘Bearings’ was received with open arms, especially from the local scene which we were grateful for. We were more than happy to be able to work with [singer] Dan Rosler and members of AFWF. I look up to Dan as a songwriter, creative, and the like. We – Dan and I – have had plans to create another musical project, separate from our current ones. I’m hoping we can possibly get something in the works before 2024,” Rogan revealed.
Consistently in demand as a guest vocalist, the 31-year-old artist has also been busy contributing to songs by University Drive, Ed Cuozzo, Jermaine Kroon (Maine the Medicine), John Clawson (TySoul), James Barrett, Black Hole Heart, Any Anxious Color, and AFWF.
“As a singer, lending vocals to an artist’s work is the biggest gift and honor. I have always been one to collaborate and work together to execute anyone’s visions and desires creatively. It brings me so much joy to sing with other musicians that I adore and respect.”
Sweetnest, however, never fully stopped behind the scenes, building up a strong cache of new songs and recording intermittently at JL Studios in Olyphant.
“We wanted to work on a backlog of songs because we never had that. Now we do have that, and we can pick through the ones that we have to include on the [next] album. Neither of us have truly stopped doing anything musical. I typically write as expression or for a release of some stagnant emotional energy, or I have a melody in my head. Matt is more disciplined when it comes to his craft. He seems to be constantly looking for something to change his sound or learning new guitar techniques to mold into Sweetnest ideas,” Rogan noted.
“We have been working on this unreleased material for years now, on and off. Recording at JL is always a great experience. We have recorded/mixed/mastered all our Sweetnest catalog there. [Engineers] Joe [Loftus] and Jay [Preston] have always been instrumental in helping us execute our sound. As for our process, Matt and I differ greatly when recording anything. Personally, I like to have the songs mostly written and have a general idea of what I want to do. Matt is quite literally the opposite. When he goes to JL by himself, he starts with nothing particular in mind and comes out with full songs recorded, nearly every time. We balance each other out. We always have and it works. It keeps the creative process interesting and is the driving force behind our dynamic songs.”
“Heal” was written on baritone ukulele with basic melody vocals, which is how the pair typically begin tracking their songs.
“We will also initially throw in acoustic guitar and bass from the jump and then allow the song to sit as is for a little bit. We don’t listen to it for sometimes a week or longer and we begin to layer. Matt and the team at JL balance out the songs by adding countermelodies on guitar and keys that tend to ‘dance’ around each instrument, including vocals,” Rogan continued.
“Joe and Matt wrote bass, where Joe played it. Joe, Jay, and I collaborated with any keys you hear. Matt did his noodly guitar thing. Finally, Jay – who is also in Esta Coda – gifted us with his amazing trombone skills, which was exactly the vibe we were going for with this upbeat single.”
This is the first track from their next album, an LP that will feature many changes for the group.
We’re shooting for early 2024, but we want it to be done when it feels done, so we’ll see. You’ll have to really stay tuned for more. It will be very different from previous releases in many ways. There are a few songs we’re super proud of that we want people to hear and experience,” Malone said.
“We’re still fine-tuning the album, and we’re getting ready to announce another member of the band.”
Sweetnest has also played at a few local events this year like Carve 4 Cancer at Montage Mountain Resorts in Scranton and Record Store Day at Gallery of Sound in Wilkes-Barre.
“We totally loved playing them. Anything for a good cause, you can always count us in when it comes to playing. Record Store Day was an easy ‘yes’ too – we got to play with some of our best friends at Joe Nardone’s Gallery of Sound. Who wouldn’t want to do that?” Malone emphasized.
“Carve 4 Cancer was a huge event and allowed us to meet many new people, again, for a good cause.”
Rogan will be singing with James Barrett and his own indie rock band this Saturday, Aug. 12 at Good Things Are Happening Fest at the Scranton Iron Furnaces (159 Cedar Ave., Scranton), and Sweetnest will be performing next Saturday, Aug. 19 at Burning Roses Music & Arts Festival at Nay Aug Park (500 Arthur Ave., Scranton), with more shows to be announced.
In lieu of any further plugs, in their characteristic humble nature, they asked to leave things off with an acknowledgment of everyone else who helped make the release of “Heal” happen today.
“The push for this single required so much effort from everyone involved. Our single album artwork was done by the amazing artist Sierra Borden. Our magical lyric video was done by the super talented Jen Lunsford, former vocalist for Eye on Attraction. Exceptional write-ups and playlisting done by the brilliant James Jaskolka. Photography by our dear friend, the beautiful Sommer Kosko,” Rogan listed.
“We send a whole bunch of love to anyone who has shown their support over the years, as none of it goes unnoticed. Every kind word, share, etc. goes a long way and pushes us further along this path. We are forever in your corner, rooting for you too.”
Watch Sweetnest’s full set from Gallery of Sound’s 2023 Record Store Day, including a song with James Barrett, below:
Photos by Rich Howells/NEPA Scene
