MorningBird interview
Hailing from northern Minnesota, MorningBird started out as a duo in 2020 with Rob Wheeler (vocals, lead guitar, harmonica, mandolin, stomp box) and Jill Burkes (vocals, guitar, violin). In early 2023 Rob and Jill welcomed Josh Palmi (vocals, upright bass) into the fold. They create music with natural resonances and at time cover rustic old time traditional songs as well. We had a chance to chat with Jill Burkes about the music and Morningbird’s new album, Echoes in the Meadow. Enjoy what unfolded.
Americana Highways: How did you decide to name your new album Echoes in the Meadow?
Jill Burkes: We were looking for a name that reflected our time on the road. Last fall when we were touring West, we were camped out in a canyon near Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. It was fall and the colors were peaking on the trees. We did some of our first writing together as a trio there- surrounded by meadowland grasses and vivid autumn colors. We knew we wanted the album title to have a nature vibe to it. We kept tossing around nature words together. Eventually we landed on Echoes in the Meadow. We liked the ring it had. We were making our own echoes in the meadow on that trip, and we also loved that the word echo doesn’t typically make someone think of a meadow landscape.
AH: Did any of the songs on the album come to you almost completely out of the blue? Which one / ones and how did it happen?
JB: “Thunder” was a song that we wrote together in that magic meadow last fall. All of us wrote some of the lyrics to that song and Josh found a sweet melody. It came together kind of last minute actually, as we had a rough idea started on the road, and finished it in the studio- You’ll hear this song on the album twice, the Reprise version is actually us running through the song for the first time in the studio, and Ryan Dermody (engineer and producer of the album) happened to record that take. We liked the rawness of it. But we also recorded another version with more layers and instrumentation added in to it.
Another tune that seemed to come quickly was “Nights of July.” This is a song that I wrote on a July night last summer. I love Minnesota summers so much, but they are just TOO SHORT. I was dreading winter in the midst of summer… and wrote about missing the hot nights of July, on a hot night in July! But it also relates to love and how magical it can be, yet that coldness and dread can still find a way to sneak in.
AH: When songs don’t come to you out of the blue, what’s your songwriting process like?
JB: We don’t really have a specific writing process necessarily- we tend to gravitate to a groove or a line or two, and then let it simmer for a while. Eventually it evolves into something- but it can’t be forced. It’s easiest when it kind of magically comes together. That said, it is helpful to have three writers in the group to be able to bounce ideas off of. We really look forward to being on the road again soon – it’s so easy to write together and work songs out when we’re living in the same space for an extended period of time.
AH: I see this is your debut release… How did you three come together as a band?
JB: Coming from northern MN, we have all worked together over the years in one music project or another. Rob and Josh have individual albums from past projects and have known each other upward of 20 years. I got into the music scene around 2018 and played in different line ups with the guys. Josh and I were in a band together and realized early on we had solid harmonies and enjoyed singing together. MorningBird started as a duo with Rob and I in 2018, and Josh joined in on the stand up bass the winter of 2023.
MorningBird has been our main music project now for the past year and a half or so. Adding Josh in on the bass and bringing in a stomp box for Rob to play has definitely changed our sound to feel more like a band than a duo, and we have fun working out three part harmonies together.
AH: If someone only had ten minutes, which 3 songs on the album should they listen to first & why?
JB: “Birds and Bees” – we love the message of living free.. it’s a little bit Rock and Roll. I wrote this song after my mom requested a toe tapper. If you listen closely you’ll hear some Tom Petty and Elvis inspired guitar work by Rob.
“Thunder” – we wrote this one together and love remembering that time and those adventures on the road. You’ll hear this one twice on the album as mentioned previously. When you look at the album cover, that image makes me think of this song and where we wrote it.
“Time for a Change” – this is a protest song (written by Rob) that kind of speaks for itself. Stand up and LOVE! I play the vibra-slap on this song which is a sweet percussion instrument that sounds kinda like a crash. We were playing a set before noon at a festival last summer, and one of our friends spit hashbrowns out his nose when I hit the vibra-slap… apparently that’s one instrument that shouldn’t be played too early in the morning! We still laugh about that!
AH: Were any of the songs on the album written by inspiration about an event and or place?
JB: “The Wind” is a song I wrote, inspired after a trip to New Mexico – how indigenous people were forced out of their hunter-gathering lifestyles and forced into Christianity – the wind still blows – corruption continues within our government, and History is still written by the winners.
“Reefer” is a song written by Josh and is semi-autobiographical. He had some buddies growing some grass back in the day… and they ended up throwing their whole stash in the river after paranoia got the best of them. Allegedly.
You’ll find 3 traditional songs on the album as well. “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” is an old gospel tune Rob brought to the group. I requested the “Swallowtail Jig” – a fun violin instrumental that gets the crowd clapping every time. And “Dig a Hole in the Meadow” (Darlin Cory) is an old bluegrass tune Josh brought to the table. All three arranged by MorningBird.
AH: What would you like fans to take away after listening to your music?
JB: Josh stated this perfectly in a recent interview, “hopefully they are humming, singing, or skipping along with one of our tunes in their head.” I agree! I also like the idea of people singing “thunderrrrrr” after a lightning strike! We’ve been hearing our friends and family say that they’ve been doing just that!! And we do it too- once you start, it just makes sense and you can’t stop! The usual response prior was “na na na naaa na na naaa naaa…” Move over AC/DC – MorningBird is coming!
AH: When you were a kid, who inspired you to make music?
JB: We all come from different musical backgrounds, Rob enjoyed playing air guitar to ZZ Top and Elvis as a kid, and then moved on to punk and rock licks on his first guitar. He was later drawn to old country tunes like his dad always said would happen with age.
Josh was drawn in by old gospel/blues tunes and really brings the soul vibe to the group.
I come in with a classical background on the violin- but I was actually inspired to play the violin after being told I couldn’t. I was born with a deformed left hand, and violinists use the left hand to finger the notes. Left handers are typically taught right handed violin, no exceptions. I had a few teachers tell me I would not be able to play the violin due to this deformity. Finally an instructor teaching Susuki method (shout out to Helena Pakola) said we could try it and string up a violin backwards. I was 9 years old when I had my first lesson. I learned by mirroring her and it never felt wrong to me. I also play guitar left-handed as well.
AH: What is next for MorningBird? Any big festivals and or tours coming up?
JB: This summer is packed!!! You can get our full schedule online but a few highlights include:
June 8 – We’re excited to be a part of Festival Rialto in Grand Rapids MN this year with a great line up: Wild Horses, Charlie Parr, The Foxgloves, Rich Mattson and the Northstars, Feeding Leroy, Molly Maher and her Disbelievers, The Fish Heads, The Spine Stealers, Dellwood, MorningBird, Bark Point, Ditty Wish, and GRHS Jazz Band (MorningBird playing 3pm). Prairie Pothole Music Fest July 11/12 -North Dakota – our debut playing as MorningBird at this fest (we’ll be on stage Thursday 7/11 from 7:30-9pm). http://www.prairiepotholemusicfestival.com
Montrose Music Festival July 26/27 -South Dakota – this is our 2nd time playing this festival we love so much, featuring song circles all weekend with a community focus. More at http://www.montrosemusicfestival.com
We also have a tour heading west end of June- mid July. Actually we will be on the road most of July too!
Thanks for chatting with us, Jill. More info can be found at http://www.MorningBirdsings.com