Angie McMahon Shares a Sister Record to Light, Dark, Light Again With New Light Sides EP

Last October, Australian singer-songwriter Angie McMahon dropped her critically acclaimed album, Light, Dark, Light Again, and today, Sep. 13, she concludes that part of her healing journey with the Light Sides EP.

The album followed Angie's deeply personal journey of self-discovery, and the EP's five new tracks were written at the same time, serving as a sister record of sorts and completing the picture of that process. It's been a busy time for Angie, who recently wrapped shows across Europe and a North American tour following a performance at Glastonbury, but we got the chance to chat with Angie to get the inside scoop on the new EP in the interview below.

Sweety High: What does the EP name Light Sides mean to you? Why did that title feel like the perfect summation of this group of songs, especially in juxtaposition to Light, Dark, Light Again?

Angie McMahon: It's a play on B-sides, because the songs were the extra tracks that didn't end up on the album tracklist, and Light Sides felt like a way to signify that this is the little sister record to Light, Dark, Light Again. These five songs are the extra pieces, they're five stepping stones to the final place of healing that I was arriving at through the process of making this music.

(Light Sides via Gracie Music)

 

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SH: What do you feel are the overarching themes of the EP? What kind of feel do you hope fans take away from it?

AM: In their own way, each of the songs is kind of about this cycle—fall down, get clean, expand. There's a lot of accepting inevitable failure and pain, and trying to release a need to be in control or keep everything the same, and then this voice across the whole journey which is encouraging self-compassion and reassuring that everything will be okay. Ultimately, it's painful to be alive and love people, and I think the EP carries over the album journey of navigating that pain with your eyes and heart open.

 

SH: How would you describe the EP's sound? Production-wise, how did you go about bringing these tracks to life?

AM: They're all made in different places with different people, which gives them their unique song personalities, and they were also recorded pretty swiftly, without too much fretting over the tiny details, so I hear some freedom and sweet looseness in them that reflects that. "Beginner" was made in L.A. with Jonathan Rado and Emma Louise, and mixed by Jonathan. "Just Like North" in North Carolina with Brad Cook, "Untangling" in Melbourne with Alex O'Gorman and my touring bandmates, and Alex mixed both of those two. "Interstate" was made in Castlemaine with Anna Laverty, mixed by Lars Stalfors. "Take Up Space" was recorded and mixed in Nashville with Jeremy Lutito. I had fun throwing ideas at the wall for all of these, and watching each of these talented people add their colors in.

 

SH: How do you feel that these songs represent where you all are in life right now?

AM: This EP is a way to wrap up the chapter of Light, Dark, Light Again, which has just happened in my touring life too, as we've just played our last headline shows of the album tour. This year has brought so much richness to the world of the album through all the beautiful people who have let it into their lives and come to shows and connected with the songs, and this EP is an opportunity to add the final pieces to that universe. As with the shows, the release is only possible because of the people who make space for this project in their lives. It is so special to have a few extra songs to offer and a final piece of the puzzle fall into place, while I fall into a little heap at the end of a big twelve months of live shows!

(Photo credit: Young Ha Kim)

 

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SH: What's your favorite song on the EP? Why?

AM: I think my favorite is "Take Up Space." It feels like watching a calm ocean, then a wave rises up and crashes, then it is calm again. It's the same feeling that I had with the final track on Light, Dark, Light Again ("Making It Through"). I like choosing the energy to close a record with, and I love the melody and energy behind this song. It was inspired by a songwriting prompt from a very talented writer, Mimi Gilbert, who encouraged me to write from a new perspective. The song just feels honest and peaceful and real to me.

 

SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

AM: It's such a blessing to have the opportunity to put these songs out and also a funny thing to do while I've been on the road! I haven't had much time to dedicate to the visuals, or make videos for the songs, because of the touring schedule. I'm looking forward to seeing people post the songs with whatever is happening visually in their world and see what kind of places these songs land in!

 

For more on our favorite music out today, click HERE to read our interview with Hayden James on his new album, We Could Be Love.