From Indian Lakes & Queen of Jeans discuss their favorite songs on each other's records

From Indian Lakes and Queen of Jeans both released very fine new albums this year, the synthy and atmospheric Dimly Lit and the folky If you’re not afraid, I’m not afraid, respectively. Queen of Jeans singer Miriam Devora sings on two songs on the new From Indian Lakes album, and the two bands are on tour together as we speak. While out on the road, Miriam and FiL’s Joey Vannucchi talked to us about their three favorite songs from each other’s new album. Here’s how it went down…

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JOEY of FROM INDIAN LAKES on QUEEN OF JEANS

“Not A Minute Too Soon”

I instantly fell in love with this song. I grew up listening to The Cranberries, Sixpence None The Richer, Camera Obscura, and this song makes me feel the way those artists do. Nostalgia I was not prepared for. I probably listened to it every day for at least a month.

“On Your Shoulder”

When the album gets to this track I’m always excited and usually think about how many good songs there are on the record. It’s a perfect rock/love song and the progressions and melodies showcase a real strength in songwriting.

“Tell Me”

I’m always trying to learn from those whose experience is different than my own and I appreciate the lyricism in this song. Love the time change and the melodies. The music being so great creates an overall tone thats impossible to ignore.

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MIRIAM of QUEEN OF JEANS on FROM INDIAN LAKES

Can I preface this by saying it’s extremely hard for me to pick just three songs! I’m kinda mad about it. I have listened to this album so often since Joey first shared it with me, and have heard different mixes along the way, so I feel very connected to them all at this point and get super giddy thinking of everyone listening to it now that’s it’s out. But anyway, since I have to pick…

“A Bad Dream”

Every single melody in this song is so good, so it gets stuck in my head often. It caught me immediately at first listen, and lyrically, it’s quite dark but there’s such a sweet vulnerability and desperation there that’s captivating, and I think Joey conveys this beautifully in his performance. When the two main melodies overlap each other towards the end… honey in my ears. I think I also just love dancing to a sad song, and this one makes you move for sure.

“Garden Bed”

Who is the girl in this song, wow her voice I’m…just kidding. Honestly, I feel so lucky to have been asked to sing with Joey. But even without being a part of it, “Garden Bed” has such a beautifully haunting vibe that is mesmerizing so it wasn’t super difficult to feel inspired when recording. I just hope I was able to do the part justice, because the song felt important to me from the start. Joey has an effortless way of writing heart-wrenching love songs using metaphoric imagery that I really admire. He’s probably going to read this and think I’m being sarcastic but I’m not. Okay??

“I’m Right Here”

This song feels like the perfect album ender; it sums up so many of the emotions of the album for me. It makes me think of the cycles of relationships and how people grow together and apart, and even in the ebb of connection there’s that willingness and desire to be available for the other. I also suspect that this song is about Joey’s puppy Bess.

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The From Indian Lakes/Queen of Jeans tour hits Austin tonight (11/25), Dallas on Tuesday (11/26) and then heads to the West Coast in December. All remaining dates are listed below.

From Indian Lakes / Queen of Jeans — 2019 Tour Dates
11/25 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda
11/26 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
12/3 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
12/4 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
12/5 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
12/7 – Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge
12/8 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
12/10 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
12/11 – Seattle, WA @ Columbia City Theater