The layers of instrumentation and rich vocal harmonies and interplay between Ryan, Molly and Jasmin are often as introspective as the lyrics, as Mother Mother ventures deep within to heal from the inherent suffering that is part and parcel of the human condition. The goal was to infuse the songs with a living, breathing energy, and the focus was more on how the album should feel, rather than how it should sound. Redekopp worked with the band on their first two albums, including the band’s 2007 debut Touch Up and 2008 fan-favorite O My Heart. But since that wasn’t an option, I set about a different kind of travel, one more inward and personal, exploring different types of therapies, meditation, and journaling as a means to unearth songs from a deeper, interior place.”Īfter several months of writing and recording demos in his home, Ryan and the band- which includes singer/keyboardist Jasmin Parkin, drummer Ali Siadat, bassist and multi-instrumentalist Mike Young, and Ryan’s sister, singer/keyboardist Molly Guldemond (who also handles all of the band’s design and creative direction)- joined producer Howard Redekopp in Afterlife studios’ expansive live room in Vancouver last June. I love that process – it’s almost like you’re in collaboration with the world. “Usually, I like to venture out and find guidance from an external, interactive narrative-travelling, people, serendipities etc. “The world stopped, and all of sudden I had a lot more alone-time on my hands, which isn’t necessarily conducive to songwriting,” Ryan says.
Written during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Inside sees band frontman and songwriter Ryan Guldemond seeking inspiration through self-discovery and reflection. The old adage “It starts from within” takes on a whole new meaning during a global pandemic, a poignant theme that threads through Vancouver indie rock band Mother Mother’s eighth full-length album Inside. When the world prevents you from going outside there’s no other choice but to lean inward.