As seen in
Guitar Girl Magazine Issue 22 – Winter 2022
The South is known for its many amazing singers and songwriters. It’s hard to walk down the street without bumping into someone that is in the music business. No one knows the music scene of the South more than Larkin Poe, the sister duo that creates some of the best roots rock music of this era.
Sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell are known for their strong Southern harmonies, slide guitar, and heavy electric guitar riffs, and the duo has even been called “the little sisters of the Allman Brothers.” Not to mention they have toured with legendary acts like Elvis Costello, Keith Urban, and Kristian Bush of Sugarland.
Larkin Poe has a lot going on these days. First of all, they own and operate their own record label, Tricki-Woo, which gives them the freedom to really make their music their own. Additionally, Larkin Poe released a new album, Blood Harmony, that just came out in November. They excitedly claim this album is “made for the stage” and invites their fans to really rock out with them. Lastly, this sister duo is about to go on a huge tour coming up in 2023, and they are not planning on slowing down any time soon.
We caught up with Rebecca and Megan to get a feel for their new album, tour, and record label.
Talk a little about Larkin Poe; what’s the story behind the band?
RL: Well, “Larkin Poe,” the person was our great, great, great, great grandfather, and he was a distant cousin of Edgar Allan Poe. Larkin Poe, the band, is us, two sisters from Georgia creating roots-rock music together!
We wanted a raw, energetic feeling for this album . . .
Your new album, Blood Harmony, is out now! I read that you used a bit of a different approach to recording this one than previous albums. Can you talk about that a bit?
ML: We approached Blood Harmony with the intention of marrying our live onstage sound and our studio sound. We wanted a raw, energetic feeling for this album, so we brought in live drums and stripped back the recording process. These songs are made for the stage.
What was the songwriting process like for Blood Harmony?
RL: We collaborated very closely with one another on Blood Harmony, and we took some big leaps forward together on this project, both creatively and spiritually. We always endeavor to be more and more vulnerable with each album we record. I think that our vulnerability as sisters can be heard on Blood Harmony; we really stripped ourselves back to the roots of who we are and wrote and arranged these songs together in the weeks leading up to going into the studio.
How has being born, raised, and situated in the South influenced your sound in general and on Blood Harmony?
ML: The Southern collection of states has born some of the most incredible and influential music of all time, and being raised here surrounded by roots music has left an indelible mark on us. Living in Nashville for the past seven years has also been hugely inspirational; you can walk downtown, spit, and you’ll probably hit an incredible musician or songwriter.
Where did you get your inspiration for this album? Were you surprised by any moments that led to song ideas?
RL: We get inspired from touring; we’re taking note of memorable moments on stage and imagining what we’d like to sing with our incredible fans or what riff would feel badass to crank out live. Writing for an album is a wonderful and often intense journey, and we were especially patient in working with these songs. We took our time writing and re-writing — allowing the writing process to take its twists and turns. “Deep Stays Down” was an especially stubborn track; it went through three to four different versions before settling where it is now.
Is there an overall message you want listeners to take away from this album?
ML: Since we allowed authenticity to guide the recording process, I hope people can feel our hearts in Blood Harmony. Thematically, we wanted this album to feel like a homecoming. We wanted to speak to the themes of home, belonging, family, and a celebration of self.
In your opinion, what makes Blood Harmony unique from anything else you have put out there?
RL: With Blood Harmony, I feel like we stepped into the recording process with a lot more confidence to just be ourselves without double-stacking guitars or background vocals. With each record, we get closer and closer to achieving our vision; we’re always learning and carrying that bit of knowledge to the next project.
Tell us a little about your record label that you own and run, Tricki-Woo.
RL: We started our own record label in 2017 in a bid to secure complete creative freedom for our music. Above all else, that decision has wound up being one of the best decisions we have ever made — being able to self-produce our albums and experiment wildly has been a gift. It has allowed us to cover a lot of ground and figure out how to show the world our true voices.
You have a massive tour coming up in 2023. What can fans expect from those shows? Is anything else in store for the immediate future that fans need to know about?
ML: We have so many incredible shows on the books in the U.S. and abroad for 2023, and we are super excited to tour in support of Blood Harmony. We’ve got some really fun songs on this album, songs that were written for the stage, so it will be fulfilling to carry them out onto the road where they belong. We’re putting together a set list of the new songs along with older favorites, and folks can expect an energetic night full of connection through music. Come rock out with us!
Blood Harmony Tracklist:
- Southern Comfort
- Strike Gold
- Georgia Off My Mind
- Blood Harmony
- Bad Spell
~ By Jessie Dax-Setkus