Hear It First – The Honeycutters, ‘Me Oh My’

Based in Asheville, North Carolina, the Honeycutters live the roots life all the way through… even releasing their upcoming ‘Me Oh My’ LP on Organic Records. With singer/songwriter — and, now, producer — Amanda Platt at the helm, the group puts their own spin on an old form. Sure, there’s a timeless quality to honest songs done up by a bunch of great players; but when Platt, Tal Taylor (mandolin), Rick Cooper (bass), Josh Milligan (drums), and Matt Smith (pedal steel, electric guitar, and dobro) come together, there’s also a freshness to it.

KM: Along with folks like Claire Lynch, Nora Jane Struthers, and Lindsay Lou, you are the female leader of an otherwise all-male band. It wasn’t that long ago that Hazel & Alice broke that particular glass ceiling. What’s it take to wear that hat well?

AP: I’m definitely still learning! I’m not someone who particularly relishes the leadership position…it’s been a good experience for me because I’ve had to get a lot more definitive about what I want. It’s taken me a while to realize that the pure democracy model doesn’t always work that well in a five-piece band.,, sometimes someone just needs to say what’s happening and go ahead with it. Some days that’s me.

You even stepped into the role of producer on this one. How’d that feel? And will you do it again in the future or for other artists?

I would really love to do it for other artists. I hadn’t thought much about that. But I think it would be fun to play that role in a situation where it wasn’t necessarily my voice and my music being produced. I did enjoy making this record. I was working with a group of people (Jon Ashley, our engineer, and the guys in the band) who I really trust and who are all supportive and uplifting. So it felt safe. Also, I just felt like I know these songs better than anyone else and that made me the best person to decide how they’d come to life.

You’ve said that you feel like you’ve found your voice with this record. Did you notice any specific breakthrough moment or internal shift that happened? Or was it a more natural, gradual arrival?

I’m not sure… I think it was pretty gradual. I’m not usually one to have big flash-of-light epiphanies. I don’t love change, and it usually takes me a while to adjust and realize the good that’s come out of it. The summer before we hit the studio was full of change and some pretty big emotional moves for me. I think that the air really started to clear when I was recording my vocals and I realized that I had survived all that turmoil and there was a new calmness in my voice. I just felt more in charge. Also, I think that this particular group of songs is more honest for me. I always blend truth and fiction when I’m writing, but I feel like I stayed more personal here.

Asheville seems to have a fairly flourishing music scene. Tell me a bit about that community and how you guys fit into it.

It does have a very flourishing music scene! So much variety. It’s been that way a long time, and I think something that keeps it really community-oriented is that no one really moves here to “make it” like you might find in bigger cities. Plenty of folks, myself included, come here for the music and to pursue a career in it, but there’s not really a strong sense of competition. Everyone in the Honeycutters plays in other bands, and it’s not unusual to find two or three of us hanging out at a friend’s open mic on a Monday. There’s just a lot of great people and great music and great beer.

How much does geography factor into your music? Do you think you’d be the same artist if you lived in, say, Florida or North Dakota?

I’m really not sure. I think I’m definitely inspired by the traveling aspect of my job.. seeing the contrast around this country is pretty amazing, both geographically and culturally. I’ve never been to North Dakota. I think that and Alaska are the only two states I haven’t visited, at this point.

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‘Me Oh My’ will be released via Organic Records on April 21. You can pre-order HERE.