Bethany Larson & The Bee’s Knees has a new LP coming out, Love & Lust & Settled Dust. The release party is happening at the The Parkway on Nov 1. The new album has a country feel with emphasis on “feel” or maybe projection of feel. It encourages the listener toward a direct but subtle strength.
Please tell me about yourself and the band.
Bethany: I come from a musical family, so I grew up singing every chance I could get. I started writing songs in my late teens on a hand-me-down guitar from one of my brothers, and played my first shows at places like Acadia Cafe, Dunn Brothers and the 331 Club.
I put the band together in late 2009, starting with Sara Horishnyk on drums, then added Chris Larson (speaking of brothers) on electric guitar and background vocals. We put out our first record, When We Reach the City, in 2011. Alicia Kay joined on bass and background vocals in 2021. She’s a singer-songwriter too, with her own band, The Changeups, alongside her husband Aaron Rosener. Having Alicia means we can do three-part harmonies now, which changed everything for us. I love making music with people, and I’m so honored to have these three.
Love & Lust & Settled Dust is your first album in 15 years. It sounds great. What inspired the release now?
Bethany: I would have come out with new music earlier, but I had to step away from music for a while because I needed to get sober. I’m lucky to have the chance to play again. This record wouldn’t have turned out as good as it did if I hadn’t gone through so much pain to get here. These songs need to be heard.
We were also really lucky with who we got to make it with. Adam Levy and Eric Martin produced it, and we recorded at Salon Sonics and Clubhouse with Holly Hansen and Eric engineering. Our Indiegogo backers helped make it happen, and we got to press it on teal vinyl at Outta Wax here in Minneapolis.
Deep Dark Water has such an upbeat sound, and I can’t decide whether the lyrics are upbeat or just more resolute. Can you tell me about the song?
Bethany: A theme I keep coming back to is going through hard stuff but still being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t even know how I made it through some of it, but there’s beauty that can come from pain, and this record is proof of that. So yeah, I’d say it’s both. We added three-part harmonies, and it ended up sounding so lush.
I love the country sound of Not Allowed. When you’re writing a song, which comes first: the sound, the lyrics or the idea?
Bethany: Most of the time the melody comes first, or a little lyrical hook, and I have to write it down before it goes away. I definitely had Dolly on my mind when I wrote this one, well over 10 years ago now. It’s a pretty straightforward country rock tune, and it’s fun to finally have it on a record.
Please tell me about the upcoming release show.
Bethany: It’s the day after Halloween, All Hallows’ Day: Sunday, November 1st at The Parkway Theater in Minneapolis. It’s going to be a great night! Turn Turn Turn and The Twins of Franklin are opening, and we’ll have some friends joining us on stage to play the new record, including Andy Ulseth, who co-wrote one of the songs, plus Jillian Rae and Lauren Asheim. Doors are at 6, music at 7, and it’s all ages. This night has been over 15 years in the making, and we’d love for you to be there.
