Lavendula is a femme-led, harmony heavy, folk trio from the rolling mountains of Vermont, comprised of Johanna Rose (upright bass), Henri June (banjo) and Lilith (acoustic guitar). They were founded in 2021 and first started as a weekend busking band but have since branched out to share melodies and incantations beyond their Saturday ritual. The band recounts it was ridiculously fun playing together on the streets – they immediately had such great band chemistry. Before coming up with a name, the trio were offered several gigs just playing on the street. They took the gigs with an inkling that they might have something special beyond the street busking. On the way to their first gig, Henri June’s car burst into flames (which is the photo featured on the group’s EP cover). It was there, next to the burning car and exploding tires that they came up with the name Lavendula.
This first mini self-titled EP Lavendula, consisting of only three songs, pays homage to the band’s busking roots, covering some great traditional and popular folk tunes, with each song featuring a different member's voice. The songs were recorded and mixed by Johanna Rose, using Logic, one beat up condenser mic and a 57. They recorded it in Rose's treehouse that they live in, in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, as well as in Henri June's bedroom in Montpelier, Vermont. The songs were then mastered by Justin Perkins of Mystery Room Mastering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Although the group pays tribute to the busking tradition of playing the greats, like Joan Baez, their style also has a folk-punk edge, with heavenly to dystopian harmonies. Lavendula has been compared to Mountain Man, the Local Honeys and Days N' Daze. The first track “Dirty Old Town” was originally written by Ewan MacColl back in 1949 and was made popular by The Dubliners back in the late ‘60s. I first remember hearing this song on some old bootleg CD I got from a U2 concert back in the day. I think Larry Mullen sung it. I suggest to you, dear listener, that if you’re into folk music or protest songs, you research MacColl’s work. As an aside, it’s remarkable that this guy also wrote one of the most beautiful love songs ever recorded, in my opinion – “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – which was memorably sung by Roberta Flack back in the early 1970s. I can’t get through that tune without my eyes getting wet. Anyway, Lavendula perform this first track beautifully, with soothing vocal harmonies and a gentle playing that’s hypnotic. It made me wonder what the Breeders might sound like, if they traded their electrics for traditional folk instruments. Next is an American folk ballad titled “Silver Dagger.” This one was popularized by Joan Baez during the folk music scene of the 1960s, and then later by country music icon, Dolly Parton, in 1999. The trio starts off with a short banjo intro and then the upright bass and guitar join in. The group’s three-part harmonies come through well on this tune. “My Cold, Cold Heart is Melted Now” rounds out the EP and has got all the charm and twang of the classic original. Written by Hank Williams and Johnny Masters, this tune was perhaps better known from Kitty Wells’ recording back in the early 1950s. This last number only features one singer (not sure which member it is, but her voice reminds me of a raspy Norah Jones) with an old sounding acoustic guitar – I want to say somewhat like a dobro would sound, but with a little more warmth to it. With that said, these three short tracks only had me pining for more. I have a soft spot for this type of music as I remember hearing one of these tracks as a boy from my father’s LP collection. When these kinds of songs are played well – like they are here, it’s as if I’m hearing them again for the first time. Here’s hoping Henri, Lilith and Johanna will be releasing a follow up real soon.
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