Sweetbreads On Avoiding Escapism And Embracing Your Community In New Single “Open Mic”

Moving voice. Diary-entry-level lyrics.

This is what comes to mind when we think of New York’s own Sweetbreads. Now she’s back with new single “Open Mic,” and hitting the road to bring it to fans in person on her new tour.

We sat down with Sweetbreads to talk about “Open Mic,” her upcoming album Punisher of Love, and more!

How did you come up with your stage name Sweetbreads?

S: “I had first heard of sweetbreads from an Andrew Bird song and learned that, as a food, it means different things in different countries but – it’s basically guts. “Sweetbreads” is my name because the songs I write sound sweet but it takes a lot out of me to write them. I like the idea that, if you don’t know what sweetbreads are, you assume they’re cake and donuts, but the reality is more gruesome. I aspire to make music that is easy to listen to, but when the songs are digested for a while longer, they twist you up and make you feel something deeper. And, of course, every song is a little piece of me.”

Congratulations on your new single “Open Mic”! It’s a genuine nod to the common mental health struggles the world is facing today. What would be your advice to listeners who are battling with addictions and obsessions of their own?

S: “Thank you! I think that sitting with yourself and truly feeling your emotions is the most powerful thing a person can learn to do. Avoidance makes us all escape into destructive patterns. I’ve been working a lot on feeling through uncomfortable emotions, then trying to identify my needs to express them clearly to the people I love. It’s not a perfect practice. I’ll probably be working
on it my whole life. But it is really amazing how much that one skill alone can transform a life. I think it helps a person find community and affirms the idea that most people you care about care for you too. Asking for help in clear, direct ways is an isolation killer. It opens you up to community and can get you through the worst of times. For anyone battling addiction or
obsession, I hope you can find an outlet, like journaling or therapy, to process your thoughts and emotions… and then talk about them honestly with the people closest to you. Talking it out with others is a crucial step in my opinion!”

We are obsessed with these claymation-esque artworks for your recent singles! What inspired this artistic and fun choice?

S: “I love them too! They are handmade toys by my friend Benn Gabriner. (ig: @lifemachine.co) I love his design style and use of color. I thought his work could make really distinct, graphic images that would catch the eye and fit well with my aesthetic. I basically sent him the album and told him to make whatever he wanted. I couldn’t be happier with his work!”

We’re just a few weeks until your album Punisher of Love! What can you tease about what fans can expect?

S: “You can expect a lot of lush tracks. I am a music maximalist, after all! We also have some incredible music videos coming down the pipeline. The Sweetbreads universe is expanding and I hope y’all come along to enjoy the ride.”

You are always announcing a live performance! What do you enjoy the most about performing your music?

S: “The community aspect! I love running into friends and meeting people at shows. If you spend a long enough time playing and going to shows in NYC, every venue feels like a house party. It’s the best.”

This may be hard, but if there’s one song you’ve released thus far that you think perfectly encapsulates the sound of Sweetbreads and the perfect first-song for new listeners, what would it be and why?

S: “I’d say my new single “Open Mic” is the song that puts all the stuff that encapsulates the Sweetbreads sound into one big stew. I wrote it with my dear friend and collaborator, Nick Watt, who was one of the first people to really encourage me to keep writing songs and working on music in the NY scene (I also met him at an open mic). We are both so proud of it. Quinn Devlin, my producer, really helped to get the sound and vibe right when it was time to record. We got an amazing band together in the studio and it all came together. Jordan Wolf’s powerful drums, James Woodall’s intoxicating pedal steel and banjo, Margaux Bouchegnies’ dynamic bass and the beautiful backing vocals sung by Molly Gainly, Hayley Rose Harrington, Kait Pelkey and Sarah Trabue all swirl together to make something pretty dang tasty in my opinion!”

Make sure to stream “Open Mic” available now on all music platforms, and catch Sweetbreads live on her “Open Mic” tour!

Photo Credit: Sandy Honig

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene Magazine, back in October 2020. When not helping her team and working on their print issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral TikTok recipe.