Rabeca is a smart band with a mix of pensive smooth instrumentals, fun, jazzy tunes and some songs that seem to combine the two. The new album Junk is anything but junky. It’s a reminder of a time we all shared even when we thought it was “Too Much.” You can catch them tomorrow (Dec 2) at the Hook and Ladder for the album release.
Please tell us about Rabeca. How did you folks find yourselves playing music together?
Anna and I (Colleen) met in college, while playing in the Macalester jazz band. Then in early 2019, Alex, David, and Satchel were all living in the same house. Their house would host cabarets from time to time, where friends would come to perform music, comedy, etc. Alex asked me to perform in one of the cabarets, so I called up Anna and asked her if she wanted to perform together.
We both wanted to play at the cabaret, but thought it would be more fun to play with a full band — but at the time, we didn’t really know any bassists or drummers. So I told this to Alex and he was like, “No problem! My housemates David and Satchel play bass and drums — they can be in your band!” So Anna, David, Satchel and I formed Rabeca and wrote two songs that we played at the cabaret (“Butter” and “In Another Spicetime”). I originally thought the band would only last for that one performance, but we all had a blast performing at the cabaret and decided to keep playing together — and add Alex as on keys!
Your new album Junk captures the cross section of shared and very separate/unique experiences we had during the pandemic. There are a number of intrumental songs that puncuate the ethos of the various moments described in the songs with lyrics. Aquarium seems, at least start off, to be patient; Scruff feels more introspective and Shrettuce feels like it just wants to bust out. How did you choose the balance on instrumental songs and placement on the album?
We’ve always written songs collaboratively as a band. Since these songs were written by five different people over a period of two years (roughly 2020-2022), they naturally capture a wide range of “junk”—different perspectives, emotions, and musical approaches.
We released our first album Potluck in March of 2020—so we never got to have a release show, or really go out and promote that release. We channeled that energy into writing new songs. Creating Junk gave us space to try out new ideas, stretch ourselves musically, and channel new emotions as a group. These songs include elements we had never done before, like the three-part vocal harmonies in “Too Much” and “Don’t Be Gone Too Long,” long improvised sax and drum solos in “Scruff,” and adding bass clarinet on “Down.” It felt right to include all those different elements on Junk—the instrumental songs, the vocal songs, the angsty ones, and the ones that celebrate how magical it feels to make music with your friends!
Too Much sounds like such a sweet song and yet brings me back the dark days of the pandemic. There’s a playfulness that takes the edge off those memories and yet, brings to light a fact that it could happen again. Did you write it during or after the pandemic? How does the song make you feel when you sing it now?
I (Colleen) started writing “Too Much” in September 2021, a time when I was spending a lot of time online, both for my job and my personal life. We were still in murky pandemic times, the seasons were changing and days were getting shorter, and Texas had just passed its horrible vigilante abortion ban, Senate Bill 8. I was stuck in a cycle of feeling distracted, disconnected, and overwhelmed. I started writing this song to acknowledge that overwhelm, but also allow myself to stay grounded and remind myself that not everything is in my control! (Something that I’m still working on ;))
When I play the song now, it still feels vulnerable—especially since I begin the song pretty exposed, with just my voice and guitar. But it also feels playful and silly, in a very Rabeca way. Like, I’m singing about all these things that make me anxious on top of this peppy, disco-esque drum beat. So it takes away some of the gravity and lets me own my overwhelmed and anxious feelings, while also laughing at them a little. I love that the song is a timestamp of exactly how I felt in a particular moment. Now, when I play it I get to tell my past self, “Things are rough, and I see how overwhelmed you are- but you don’t have to fix everything by yourself! You can feel hard feelings and dance with them!”
Down does not have the lightness of Too Much, although it sounds like it’s a snapshot of a different day in the same era but there’s more to it than that. Can you tell us more about it?
I (Anna) wrote this song in the early pandemic when I was dealing with a toxic relationship and also everything felt so hard and heavy. I was trying to be there for this person but it turned out that this person did not want the best for me, so it was a way for me to process my varied emotions- caring for them, feeling hurt by their actions, and ultimately taking care of myself by setting firm boundaries with the person.
I think this song in a larger context gets at how you can’t be there for everyone, and sometimes have to make hard decisions that ultimately mean that you take care of yourself.
When and where can people see you play the new album live?
You can join us for our album release show this Saturday, December 2nd at the Hook and Ladder! We will be joined by TABAH and Dr. Goon and the Daily Tribune, and are super excited to celebrate the release with music, games, and new merch.
Mostly Minnesota 