Episode 63: Mimi Naja of Fruition

Seth and Rob sit down with Mimi Naja of Fruition at the Electric Forest Festival in Michigan and initially talk about what it's like to be playing traditional instruments at a primarily electronic music festival. Mimi ends up explaining the thinking behind the band's decision to bring into the studio the rock feel of their live shows and their decision to go with producer Tucker Martine. Martine taught the band many things, helped them add layers to their sound and he is the chief reason that Mimi decided to play some baritone guitar on the record. The result is by far their greatest record to day, "Watching It All Fall Apart." The trio also discuss how the band's breakup songs contain elements of hope and accountability. We hear a bit about Mimi's days as a Georgia youth and explains her decision to leave Georgia and go to school in Portland. She would leave school and then clicking with a group of musicians while playing Marley and Sublime tunes. These folks would end up becoming Fruition. We learn about the band's the early days, and some of the antics that went on as the band grew (like "song-bombing" Vince Herman). She also talks about how she used to leave pronouns out of her songwriting because of all of the homophobia in the world, but that she has more recently eschewed this approach and been forthcoming with her sexuality. Mimi also explains specific reasons why Atlanta-based musician Janelle Monelle is an inspiration to her, and the fluid nature of sexuality in the music world. Speaking of inspirations, the discussion most certainly gets to stories about Greensky Bluegrass, Elephant Revival, The Infamous Stringdusters and other of Fruition's "Crazy Uncles and Aunts." She also expresses love for her own band's fans, which she calls the "Fruit'y Freaks." Seth and Rob then wrap up the show catching up the listeners on show news during one of the few times they were together last month. Speaking from a coffee shop in Black Mountain, NC they also discuss North Carolina in general, and specifically their day together there. The show ends with more Fruition music including Mimi and band mates Jay Cobb Anderson and Kellen Asebroek sitting in with Railroad Earth and performing Fruition's "Mountain Annie" at the idyllic Red Rocks.wTnS is Produced by Rob Turner and Engineered by Josh Thane of Wonder Dog Sounds Studio.www.joshthaneproductions.comwww.wonderdogsounds.comAll social media management, promotion and website maintenance/building done by Harris Sullivan.wTnS is a proud partner of the Osiris Podcast Network. Osiris is a global community connecting passionate music fans with podcasts about music, artists, and culture; currently consisting of 15 link-minded podcasts and more can be found at www.osirispod.comwTnS Sponsors:Polay + Clark21st Century Accounting (Don't wait till April and get screwed, get Polayed)www.polayclark.comInside Out w/ Turner and Seth: insideoutwtns.comTwitter: @InsideoutWTNSInstagram: www.instagram.com/insideoutwtnsFacebook: www.facebook.com/insideoutwTnS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.