Mother Mother became possibly the most popular BC band in the world. That’s not even hyperbole.
How it happened though isn’t your typical story. While the band was popular and had built a strong following since their 2007 debut album Touch Up, they exploded in 2020 when their sophomore effort O My Heart went viral on TikTok.
The lyrics for “Hayloft” were searched for more than any other song in the world at one point! The song became so popular they even made a “Hayloft II” in 2022. They jumped right up to #11 on Rolling Stone’s Top 25 Breakthrough Artists for an album that came out 12 years prior! Unreal.
The band came from humble beginnings in Quadra Island, BC. I’ll admit, I had to look up where that even is. If you’re wondering, it’s an Island off the east coast of Vancouver Island. The band members are Ryan Guldemond (guitar, vocals), Molly Guldemond (vocals, keyboard), Jasmin Parkin (vocals, keyboard), Ali Siadat (drums), and Mike Young (bass), who replaced Jeremy Page in 2016.
They’re a band that I’ve always liked, but never really delved into. Once I did though, I found that they’re an awesome band. Each album has its merits and its own feel. I’ve always been a huge fan of bands that make every album feel different in its own way.
That’s exactly what Mother Mother has done.
Touch Up is very experimental and maybe the most all over the place. They were still finding themselves. There’s almost too much going on in parts, but there are good songs on it. O My Heart is incredible, though. It’s not perfect by any means, but they really hit their stride here. It didn’t go viral for nothing, some of their best songs are on this one. If you want to check them out for the first time, this is the place to start.
Eureka (2011) leans a lot more into the pop category, but the change in tone isn’t for the worse. I really like this one. This one is the best album to dance to. It’s very catchy but still retains that classic angsty Mother Mother sound.
The Sticks (2012) is good and keeps a bit of the vibe that Eureka put out, but it’s not as consistent. The good is very good, but there are more skippable songs in my opinion. Very Good Bad Thing (2014) has a few good songs, especially Monkey Tree, but overall, it’s my least favorite effort.
I like No Culture (2017) a lot. I think they got back on track here. By this point, they had become fully pop, but it works for them. It’s good pop music. A much more consistent effort here. I’d recommend this one for sure.
Dance and Cry (2018) is a good effort. There are high points and low points, but the highs outweigh the lows. “Back to Life” and “It’s Alright” are a couple worth checking out. And their most recent album, Inside (2021) is something else. There’s a dark feel to it, and it makes it stand out from the pack. There’s a different kind of energy here. Almost like they were rejuvenated from their TikTok fame.
Overall, Mother Mother is a great band that deserves the recognition they’ve received in recent years. It’s nice to see when a local band blows up in any way. Here’s to the continued success of Mother Mother.