Momma's sound is a unique blend of grunge and indie rock, with catchy melodies and tight harmonies that have been building buzz and a fanbase with each successive release.
Formed in Los Angeles in 2013, Momma started with classmates Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten, two self-taught guitarists who grew up with a deep love of music. They connected over their shared musical interests and began writing music together. After cycling through several drummers, Zach CapittiFenton later joined the band for recording and performances.
Their debut album, Interloper, was released in 2018. On the album, they capture the melodrama and mundanity of teenage life and reduce it to its bones. Filled with the contemplative and wry emotions of being an outcast in a world that shuns people who step outside the norm, the lyrics showed maturity to the young band.
A full band enabled more ideas to be tossed around in the studio, which happened when they recorded their second album, Two of Me (2020), with bassist Sebastian Jones and producer-engineer Aron Kobayashi Ritch.
Two of Me is an experimental album set in a fictional world built through Friedman and Weingarten's expressive lyrics. Populated with tragic heroes from their imagination, it tells the story of an alternate reality known as the "Bug House" where the scenes deal with youth, punishment and morality.
Momma's third studio album, Household Name (2022), reveals a fresh new chapter in the band's personal and artistic development.
According to the band, the familiar tale of rock stars' rise and fall inspired the tracks' lyrical theme, referencing indie and grunge rock icons -- including Nirvana, Pavement and Smashing Pumpkins -- while weaving in their perspectives and experiences. The album's heavy riffs, deep emotions and inviting sound work together with perfect poise.
The musical influences are clear when you listen to the band's sound, often coming up against the comforting glow of '90s alt-rock. Their devoted following revels in the sweet notes with a melancholy undertow, a sound that resonates with the youthful disaffection so prevalent in teenage angst.
You can feel their energy and passion on the stage -- musicians who want to rock out and perform, getting lost in the moment. The audience gets lost in those performances, going on a journey with the artist and arriving on the other side changed.
So make sure you take a ride with Momma the next time they perform live.
