A fresh album from MojoMoma brings a great variety of rock, funk, blues, and more all performed with soul, heart, and shines with a live performance feel that stays with you long after the record stopped.
The We Are One album is ja packed with some genuine and tasteful guitar work from hooks to solos and it all flows with this rolling percussion and walking basslines that give the sound a funk undertone and deep grooves to dance to.
The album does have its rockers and they range a well but stick to this bright and edgy blues rock tone but there are tons of songs that have these killer jazz textures, chords and styles underneath everything and those really round out the record well because you get this authentic classic rock feel from it all together.
It's not only a well-rounded record but the energy on this thing is perfection. It does indeed have that live performance feel and that is due to the players in the band just feeding off of each other's energies and this builds throughout songs to give the album a unique and super genuine soundscape and vibe.
Vocally this release has tons of power and soul and that just boosts this albums depth and approach all the way to ten.
She's got a natural style and it feels like singing is something she was born doing.
She leads the vibe. The feel. The approach. She gives that added drive to take this thing all the way And it goes there.
With such an exciting and refreshing record full of this charm and aesthetic, we wanted to have a chat with the band to find out where this all came from.
Here's what happened.
RAG: So how did this all begin for you guys?
Paul and I meet in 2001 when he joined the band I was singing in , we hit it off and started writing songs together right away. We formed Mojomama with an original music focus mixed with cover songs that we love to play at live shows. We released the first studio album in 2003 Drivin’ and currently released We Are one , Mojomama’s 7th studio in June of 2022
RAG: Who is in your headphones right now?
I am jamming the new music by Tedeschi Trucks band called I am the moon and Paulo Nutini Last night in the Bittersweet RAG: Were you always a vocalist or is there an instrument that you started with first?
Singing has always been my true calling, I started voice lessons in first grade, I also played violin and piano as a kid. My identity as a singer is an intricate part of who I am. I am also a vocal teacher so I can pass on my knowledge and passion for singing and performing. Paul and I started a private music school called Mojos music academy in 2007 . We teach music for a living and create community through music education. We are band mates , business partners, and a married couple since we meet through music in 2001. RAG: What inspires you to write a song?
There are distinct experiences that need to be expressed that affect my songwriting. Worldly topics and injustice, personal heartache or struggles, joyful love stories, observations about the people in my life or just the world around me. When I sit down at the piano and play through the chord changes, I can feel what the music wants to say. Other times I am given a song idea to listen to and interpret the melody and write lyrics to finish another’s musical thoughts. My husband and Bass player ,Paul Rogalski and I write the majority of the songs for Mojomama. Paul is always jamming to his favorite bands and will come up with a riff or groove idea based on whoever he is listening to , it’s so fun to collaborate with such talented inspiring musicians. RAG: I'm hearing some great styles on this song. Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
Personally, I am influenced by the 70’s classic rock I grew up on like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Crosby Stills and Nash, Joni Mitchell, the Eagles and the Women rockers like Pat Benatar, Heart, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha Franklin, Etta James .
This Mojomama album is full of influences ranging from funky Blues of Albert Collins and Etta James , the Funky Meters , and the groovy soul of Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin . Rock n Roll of ZZ Top ,The Who and Pink Floyd , guitar jam bands like TTB and Santana . We didn’t relegate out sound to one genre or another in this album we covered the gambit of our musical inspirations. RAG: What are you all doing when you're NOT working on music?
I love to spend time in my garden, or making dinner for my friends and family, hiking with our dog Koko. I need quite time in nature, and of course going to see our favorite bands at Red Rocks. Paul loves to fish and play his bass , Bob enjoys golf and traveling, Collin hangs with his girlfriend and likes video games. RAG: Who are you all listening to right now?
The guys are listening to Everything from Tedeschi Trucks and the Meters to Steely Dan and Grateful Dead to Felix Pastorius and Robben Ford to name a few.
RAG: Would you say live performances are a big part of what you do?
Absolutely! The exchange of energy at our live shows is something we look forward to . I tend to write songs with my fans in mind, it’s a great feeling to see them singing along with our original songs . When the crowd responds with a big “Whooooooo” at the last beat of a song that’s a sweet moment! RAG: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
We are always writing new music and adding songs we hope will keep the fans interested and entertained. We are planning a CD release party in the fall to celebrate the new music . We are also working on new original music to share with our fans, the inspiration is all around us. RAG: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us over the last 20 years . To those who come and dance away their worries, who play the songs loud and jam out in their cars or while making dinner at home. I hope the music helps you feel more connected to the world around you and find some peace in the crazy life we share together, We are one !