Grand Rapids folk-rock band The Muteflutes talk about songwriting, jelling as a band and feta dips – while rolling out new songs for a small studio audience in this Local Spins session. (Story, video, podcast)
Intimate Show: The Muteflutes played and chatted at River City Studios during the Local Spins Live session. (Photo/Anna Sink)
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Every rock band’s journey invariably takes its twists and turns, moving in different directions as lineups change and jell.
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Honing Their Approach: Micah McLaughlin says the band’s third album has defined The Muteflutes’ sound. (Photo/Anna Sink)
So, operating with the same roster for nearly three years now, The Muteflutes feel they’ve hit their musical stride with their latest album, “Hideaway,” recorded last winter in Minneapolis.
“It feels like as the albums have gone on, we’ve gotten closer and closer to our sound,” said singer and guitarist Micah McLaughlin, who started the Grand Rapids folk-rock band about six years ago.
“We’re all very excited about this third album because it feels closest to our personality and who we are musically.”
With an eclectic ambience coloring this collection, the band – McLaughlin, guitarist Aaron Wildey, drummer Levi Gardner, keyboardist Marie de la Vega and bassist Adam Thompson – often found its songs traveling to unexpected places, testing various approaches during rehearsals.
In the end, the 11 songs recorded at Minnesota’s The Hideaway Studio are the most powerful and hopeful that The Muteflutes have ever produced.
“It’s way more upbeat than our other stuff, which makes all of us happy,” said Wildey.
VIDEO: HopCat presents Local Spins Live at River City Studios with The Muteflutes
Video by Brennan Heldt and the River City Video Team
As McLaughlin put it: “There are times to be serious and there are moments to stop and play and celebrate.” Consequently, both sides of life’s equation surface on “Hideaway.”
The Grand Rapids band brought that playfulness and intensity to River City Studios earlier this year for HopCat presents Local Spins Live at River City Studios, with band members performing several new songs in front of a small audience and talking about their project.
Check out the video above, with a podcast featuring the entire interview and studio performances below.
PHOTO GALLERY: The Muteflutes at River City Studios
Photos by Anna Sink
PODCAST: Local Spins Live with The Muteflutes
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