One of the best selections of indie music in the country can be found year in and year out at Audiofeed. These artists may not have pull yet, but you can be assured that the majority of them are making moves and will probably be at that point within a coupe of years.
The Mailboxes are one of them. They are an indie duo that have been at it for awhile now. They march to the beat of their own drum. You can catch them in purple hiking their way between shows this summer, and that’s not a figurative statement.
My first impression when hitting “play” on their new album Inside Outside is that they sound like a mix between Julien Baker and Copeland. Their sound doesn’t stay that chill all the time, but they maintain an unassuming vibe all the same. Their songwriting is honest yet matter of fact.
Tuned Up is sponsoring a block of bands playing Audiofeed this year, including The Mailboxes. Catch them in the Radon Lounge on July 6th (4:45 PM). While your listening to their music to prep (wink wink nudge nudge), check out their answers to the 2019 Tuned Up Audiofeed Q&A below:
Tuned Up: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Jillian: Chocolate ice cream, but I’ve been addicted to any ice cream with cookie dough in it this year.
Logan: I don’t think I have a favorite ice cream. I like to change it up.
If your music was a cocktail (or other liquid concoction), what would it be?
Jillian: Non-alcoholic cold beverage. A little sweet, a little sour with a fancy cherry and probably some seltzer in it and a sprig of rosemary. Drink it with a reusable straw.
Logan: Lavender mint boba tea from Birch Tree Boba. It’s comforting, refreshing, and sweet (but not too sweet) and gives you something to chew on and is fun to drink.
What’s a memorable live show you’ve played?
Jillian: One of the most memorable shows we did was a couple years ago when we brought this humongous cardboard box on stage. Like it was so huge it was comedic. We wrote “Magic Box” on the front in crayon and put it in between us on stage and had all these magical things come out of it like bubbles, balloons, paper airplanes, oversized drum sticks for Logan to use. The different objects matched up with our songs and during one of the songs the “box” was supposed to be annoying me with a big fake arm and I grabbed it and threw it into the crowd, and it could have really hurt someone or our gear if it had hit anything. Thankfully it didn’t. It was memorable though.
Logan: I really enjoyed playing in Denver at The Walnut Room a couple years ago. I felt like the audience was really aware of what we were doing, and I felt like I had genuine interactions with a lot of people there.
What music has really impacted you this year? Why?
Jillian: Rubblebucket’s new album Sun Machine has been life-changing. I just love it so much and think it’s so beautiful and makes me want to dance and run and get in my feelings.
Logan: I’ve been listening to a lot of rappers this year. Recently, I’ve been really into Tyler the Creator’s new album IGOR. I think it’s because there’s something inherently punk rock about what they’re doing, and I think it’s something the recent punk genre is lacking. Also it’s important to hear what minorities say and feel.
What books or films have impacted you in the past year? Why?
Jillian: Avengers: EndGame made me weep like a little baby and for that I am grateful. Game of Thrones was super fun just because of how everyone on the internet and in real life was talking about it, and I enjoyed being caught up in that mess of disappointed GOT fans and talking to everyone about it and their opinions. I just watched Call Me By Your Name and can’t stop thinking about it or the soundtrack. I would like to watch it again. It was super sensual and beautiful and made me feel a lot. I also just watched the first season of Shrill and enjoyed it so much. It made me question a lot of the ways I think about my own body and other people’s bodies as well, and I appreciated it for what it taught me and thought it was well done and enjoyable to watch. I love film that is cathartic or teaches me a new perspective.
Logan: The movie Icebox. It’s just about a Honduran boy that is coming to the United States to seek asylum, and it just upset me deeply and made me want to adopt all the Central American children.
What is your one weird thing you never tour without?
Jillian: Throat coat tea, honey, and my KeepCup travel mug! Gotta keep those vocal chords healthy.
Logan: I always bring a pee jug so I can pee in the car while we travel or at night so I don’t have to get up out of the van.
What is that don’t-miss spot in your hometown?
Jillian: The Chattanooga walking bridge is where it’s at. A fun place to walk around any day and enjoy the city by being outside, and there’s lots of cute shops on either side that I love.
Logan: The Greenway in Cleveland, TN—we walk on it all the time.
Besides Audiofeed, what is a don’t-miss festival?
Jillian: I really want to go to Rubblebucket’s Dream Picnic Festival; it’s my dream to either go there or play there. But, alas, I have not been yet. It looks amazing.
Logan: I haven’t really been to a lot of festivals.
What is the most exciting thing happening in your world right now?
Jillian: We just released our new record Inside Outside and made all this lavender gear and clothing to go on tour with and hike the Appalachian Trail with, which has been so fun and crazy. We got nicknamed “The Purple People” on the trail and made some new best friends. Now we just bought a new Ford Transit tour van, and I’m freaking out about it because it’s always been my dream to have a van like this and renovate the inside so touring is more homey and fun. We are touring all through July and have some weekend runs in August coming up as well. I’m just excited to keep following my dreams.
Logan: Being “The Purple People”
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