Hello Mary – Emita Ox
Today, New York City’s Hello Mary – the trio of Helena Straight, Stella Wave, and Mikaela Oppenheimer – released their long-awaited album Emita Ox via Frenchkiss Records. With a sound that finds a balance between intense distortion and ethereal atmospheres, Hello Mary’s latest LP broadens their unique world of fearless, masterful alt-rock. The band co-produced the album alongside Alex Farrar (MJ Lenderman, Indigo De Souza, Wednesday, Snail Mail) in Asheville, NC.
Speaking on Emita Ox the band said: “We are proud to finally release this album. In many ways, it feels like a debut, since it’s a departure from the songwriting and production styles of our other released music. We wanted Emita Ox to be cohesive, but our first focus was to give each song the specific attention it required. The songs being somewhat different from one another is something we may have shied away from previously, but now it feels the most true to our tastes and vision.”
Speaking on the recording process behind Emita Ox Hello Mary said, “Alex’s production and our desire to build out the songs with new instruments allowed us to achieve the sounds we envisioned before going into the studio. Some of the songs on this album date back years, while others were written only a couple of weeks before recording. In other words, Emita Ox spans our band’s existence. It is a heavy album to us. It’s special to have the people you’ve grown up with help you turn experiences into art.”
Along with the release of Emita Ox, Hello Mary have also shared a music video for the LP’s “Footstep Misstep.”
Speaking on the lyrics behind the track drummer and vocalist Stella Wave says: “I’ve been practising following my intuition rather than adopting what other people want me to think.” She continues, “It’s been a prominent recurring theme for me this year, so I was trying to encapsulate the way that feels for me in these lyrics.”
“The instrumental parts are pretty involved and satisfying to play,” says Hello Mary. “Fleshing the song out in the studio was really fun since there are so many different interweaving parts.”
Speaking on the music video Hello Mary say, “The video concept was brought to us by the director and producer Isaac Roberts and Evan Arbic as a way to expand their previously created goblin universe. We loved the idea and basically let them take the reins with it.” Watch “Footstep Misstep” here:
Hello Mary will be playing songs off Emita Ox and other fan favorites as they hit the road in support of the new album. Finishing a run in the UK this weekend which included two sold-out headline shows in London, they return stateside for a Fall of North America with dates kicking off October 4 in Seattle, WA and concluding November 2 in Houston, TX. They play at Los Angeles’ Troubadour on October 10 and New York City’s Bowery Ballroom on October 24. Additionally, the band is confirmed for Las Vegas’ Best Friends Forever Fest October 11 – 13 a show at Warsaw in Brooklyn on October 26 supporting American Football, and Austin’s Levitation Festival on November 3.
Hello Mary tour dates
Sept 13 – Bristol SWX – Bristol, UK %
Sept 14 – Roundhouse – London, UK %
Oct 4 – Barboza – Seattle, WA *
Oct 6 – Polaris Hall – Portland, OR *
Oct 9 – Brick & Mortar (Popscene) – San Francisco, CA *
Oct 10 – The Troubadour – Los Angeles, CA *
Oct 12 – Best Friends Forever Festival – Las Vegas, NV
Oct 14 – Marquis Theatre – Denver, CO *
Oct 16 – Raccoon Motel – Davenport, IA *
Oct 17 – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN *
Oct 19 – Schubas Tavern – Chicago, IL *
Oct 20 – Lager House – Detroit, MI *
Oct 21 – The Garrison – Toronto, ON *
Oct 24 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY *
Oct 25 – Ukie Club – Philadelphia, PA *
Oct 26 – Warsaw – – Brooklyn, NY %
Oct 27 – Songbyrd – Washington, DC *
Oct 29 – Pinhook – Durham, NC *
Oct 30 – Masquerade-Purgatory – Atlanta, GA *
Nov 1 – Andy’s – Denton, TX *
Nov 2 – White Oak Music Hall (upstairs) – Houston, TX *
Nov 3 – Levitation Festival – Austin, TX
* denotes headline
% denotes support for American Football
#hellomaryband