Episode 330: Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius

I'm happy to welcome Grammy-nominated artists Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius to the show!! For two decades now, Holly and Jess have been crafting their unique vocal skills into an amazing sonic blend which combines into a singular, stunning voice -- an iconic sound that has informed the basis of their one-of-a-kind sound. 

Holly and Jess are both self-aware and reflective, and they talk to me about their latest challenges, from motherhood, to touring, to what it means to live one's best life. Always seeking to explore new territory, their latest self-titled album explores many of these themes -- and these best of friends share with me their thinking about the future and also reflect upon many of the key landmarks along the way. They're about to embark on a continuation of their History Worth Repeating Tour, a retrospective of their illustrious career documenting through songs and stories that brought them to life.

This interview is a fun and wonderful window into these truly unique artists, and I can't wait for you to give this one a listen!!

 ===============================

Chapters:

00:00 Show intro with Host Josh Rosenberg

02:05 LA roots, Chicago, Cleveland, and the Midwest versus the West Coast

05:41 Jess opens up about gallbladder surgery and being back on the mend

07:12 Cancelling a show, recovering, and pushing through illness as performers

08:14 Performing pregnant, including the National tour and staying onstage late into pregnancy

11:15 How pregnancy affected singing, breath, and body mechanics

13:03 Why Lucius wanted to create its own sound from the beginning

14:57 Writing for months before performing and shaping the band’s identity

16:43 How Danny and Pete helped define Lucius’ studio sound

18:52 Whether the voices felt instantly right or took time to develop

20:28 The dog on the self-titled cover and why they chose it

23:15 Parenthood, changing perspective, and writing from a new place

25:33 Jess on how having a baby changes creative focus and mental space

28:22 Juggling kids, work, and the constant background hum of parenting

30:02 Dolly Parton’s death and what she meant to them

33:22 Dolly as a songwriter, performer, and force of generosity

37:24 How Lucius became such a sought-after collaboration act

41:26 Why artists trust Lucius to bring freedom, not just background vocals

44:14 Touring with Roger Waters and what that huge production meant

47:31 Bringing kids on tour and making family logistics work

51:40 How the self-titled album reflects adult life, family, and evolution

52:37 The “old tapes” in their heads and how parenting surfaces them

54:24 Breaking generational patterns and trying to parent differently

58:13 Raising kids in LA, from mountains to ocean to desert

1:00:05 Coffee, tea, and the practical realities of parenting life

1:01:22 Upcoming shows, the History Worth Repeating tour, and re-recording Wilde Woman

1:03:03 Why revisiting Wilde Woman helped shape the self-titled album

1:03:40 Episode Wrap-up with Host Josh Rosenberg

 ===============================

For more information on Roadcase:https://linktr.ee/roadcasepod and https://www.roadcasepod.comOr contact Roadcase by email: [email protected]

Roadcase theme music: "Eugene (Instrumental)" by Waltzer