As the morning clouds gifted us steadily with rain and dark, gloomy skies, Brandon Hoogenboom’s voice became the soundtrack to my morning commute. Hoogenboom’s voice slowly began to drown the sounds of water droplets hitting the uneven asphalt outside, “Lost in a dream, I couldn’t see what was wrong all along…”
For Mabel was named after Hoogenboom’s late great grandmother, making the album all the more special, “My great grandma Mabel passed two years ago. She was a huge influence on my life and my family. I miss her a lot and I know she would’ve loved this album.” The album was recorded in Nashville, TN, at Tiny Tape Room. “My buddy Brent Beachtel engineered, mixed, and played electrics. He also helped add some killer parts to the song. He’s a legend.”
After three trips to the newly expanded Tiny Tape in 2018, where Beachtel is part owner, the album was finalized. Hoogenboom goes on to say, “My boy Aaron Tosti played drums, Randle Scruggs slapped the bass, my brother Clay Cornelius played some keys and guitar. He [Cornelius] flew in from New York just to be there, big love for that dude! Rita Pfeiffer played the violin. We had been out for drinks one night and heard her playing with Bea Troxel and asked if she could lay down some strings.” Pfeiffer’s incredible violin skills are truly showcased in “Habit”.
What I specifically enjoyed about For Mabel was the whimsical and almost dreamlike vibe. A surreal feeling will come upon you as you listen to song after song in this album. “I’ve had a wavy relationship with music. I’ve always loved it but a couple of years ago, I sold all of my guitars and moved to Colorado. Last year, I finally found myself in a creative headspace and decided I would write again. The concept [behind For Mabel] was to make an album that I was happy with.” I personally think the album truly shines. Aside from releasing all the pent-up creativity within, Hoogenboom created an album that he was satisfied with and that’s where the true root of creating is— Unleashing our natural desire to create something that we’re truly proud of!
When asked if he had any words of wisdom for aspiring musicians he said, “Oh, man. This is kind of a hard one… If I had to say one thing it would be to love your family, love your friends, love your craft. In that order…”
Thank you, Brandon, for gifting us with a truly beautiful album. Listen to For Mabel, it’s out now streaming everywhere.
