Hello! It’s a heavy one…

THREE NEW RECORDS released today!

An interview with Portland rocker and disability justice advocate LILY MULLEN! 

A track by Aboriginal Australian blues, country, and gospel singer KANKAWA NAGARRA! (We’ll share much more about this very special release, a collaboration with our friends at Flippin Yeah Records, soon!)

Getting this music out to you fast and furious because, as my friend Hubert Taylor says, “You never see a U-Haul attached to a hearse.” 

Much love, 

Mississippi Records

NOW SHIPPING!!!

The soundtrack to “Chess of the Wind,” Iran’s 1976 queer-gothic-class-horror masterpiece, recently rediscovered, restored by the director, and finally released for the first time.

It’s Boomkat’s album of the week, about which they say: “A total revelation; a prismatic, jazz-mangled mutation of Iranian traditional sounds and dialogue, playing like some gorgeously abstracted snapshot of a lost era.”

Special thanks to everyone who came through to sold out screenings at NY’s Anthology Film Archives, Portland’s Hollywood Theatre, and DC’s Suns Cinema. Thanks also to Tan Haw for opening our New York show with a setar meditation that set the tone for this intricate (and surprisingly funny, it turns out) film. As my friend said after the screening, “I want to know what the director was reading…”

The release comes with 8 full-size pages of liner notes and stills from the film, including song translations and an in-depth history by scholar Gita Aslani Shahrestani. First edition in black or amber-colored vinyl.

Born in Ireland, raised across Alaska, and living in Oregon, Lily Mullen is a poet, songwriter, and musician. On her debut record “Lily Mullen is Here,” she shares her intimate and unexpected original songs about navigating womanhood, living with Down syndrome, and exploring the complexities of the world: real and fantastical. 

Lily will perform songs from her debut album “Lily Mullen Is Here” tomorrow, Saturday, June 15 at Lollipop Shoppe in Portland. To celebrate the release, Mississippi’s own Maria Barrios corresponded with Lily, who answered some questions via email about how her record came to be.

Maria Barrios: Can you tell us a little more about how your album came together?

Lily Mullen: It was a process of the recording thing in Eugene. We had so many instruments there - bass, guitar, and piano. There was a recording engineer—Justin aka God. He literally talked through the walls and told me what to do or this or that—telling me what to do with the awesomeness of my music. One thing about me is I’d always say “Are you there god?” Well, I did hear him, but I know I did not see him. Kind of cool or unique all in one and I kind of like that.

It was a really cool experience with me and my friends - Scott, Kate, Miranda, and Chris were there. Before the studio thing, I was practicing with my good Portland friends and writing a lot of good songs in my notebook. Mostly writing some good songs which I love in a beautiful and captivating way. We did really good practicing together in Forest Grove or I came out to Portland Oregon to practice with the full band. Legit amazing things and I just want to keep that way. Pretty damn cool things if I do say so myself.

I’m really getting interviews questions down in my head. Really open my mind with those questions which I love.

MB: When did you start making music? What is your favorite part of making music?

LM: When did I start making music? It was a long time ago when I was in Dublin, Ireland. I was about 11 or 12. I asked Santa Claus for a good acoustic guitar. When I got my acoustic guitar when I was 11 or 12 years old, I got really into music really fast. I love writing good music and making good songs that come into my mind in a really unique way. I just really love that feeling of capturing myself in that beautiful way that I love a lot of writing good songs.

I think my favorite part of making music is being with good friends I know. I really love making music with my Portland friends - it hits me in a good sexy angle which I like a lot. I love that feeling of music a lot - it’s a really great experience. Just a lot of emotions in there - powerfully good strong badass songs that totally get me in my inner side of the outside reality world out there.

MB: We heard you dream of performing at NPR's Tiny Desk series. When did that dream start, and which are your favorite performances on Tiny Desk?

LM: It started when I saw the Tiny desk performance of Taylor Swift [in 2019]. I like that there are so many performances on tiny desk. They have so many celebrities which I love. Many genres of music out there.

It would be cool if someone with a disability wanted to join me on Tiny Desk. If they would believe, if they would feel it, they could do their own music on there. I think my music: people would love to hear my music - it can be edgy and so rocking in a cool unique way if they wanted to see it. I do love my music too.

My favorite Tiny Desk performances are definitely Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift, and Sabrina Carpenter. I really look up to them, they inspire me so much and I’d love to be on Tiny Desk a lot.

MB: Have any artists, bands, or songs, inspired the songs in Lily Mullen Is Here?

LM: I’ve been inspired by so many friends that I love. Like “Wild and Free” with Lavender and the flu on it. So many friends playing like “I’m Coming Back Home” with Miranda from The Spatulas. I do love Scott and Ben that are in my band too with “Lily Mullen is Here” and the North End Honeys. It’s pretty cool.

Definitely Ed Sheeran, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash, and Frank Sinatra. I like the Laurie Anderson show, Andrea Von Kampen, and Billie Eilish. I do like rocking good music like The Rolling Stones and Queen. Good Irish music, like “Ireland’s Call” or “The Saints Go Marching In.” Also some good Irish dancing folk music and country too.

MB: What is your favorite song from the album? Why?

LM: My favorite, I think, is if “I Was a Diamond.” It’s always a good song.  It’s a very emotional and powerful song which I love. I love playing it a lot. I love when I take my vulnerability side in sexy raspy way - I love the power of my own voice and my own inner self.

MB: Do you have a special memory about performing live music you want to share with us? 

LM: My favorite memory of my performance was when I was at Dundee Lodge Campout. I did pretty cool music out there with me and my guitar. It was really fun. I loved it when people always cheered me on, especially my good friend Dan Jarvis Holland. Before we were dating, when we were friends, I couldn’t keep my eyes off him.  It felt good when I did my own music - I couldn’t control myself when I was on stage - I kind of love that moment.

MB: What makes you happy?

LM: My Portland friends make me happy because I love seeing their good faces. My boyfriend Dan. My good loving mother who I love who makes me happy a lot. I love my dog Martin, he is feisty but he is still my good dog. The other thing that makes me happy is being outside. Being out in nature, the good lightness of the sun that captures that sexy good beautiful side of me. I love that.

Lily Mullen will be performing at Lollipop Shoppe this Saturday to celebrate the release of her first album. Saturday, June 15, 3:00 pm. 736 SE Grand Ave. Portland, OR.

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