Mustard had the pleasure of speaking with Boston’s Ambrosial. Together we discussed their artistic direction, their influences, their EP “kill your darlings”, their latest single, and so much more!
1. Mustard would like to thank you for joining them! They are grateful and appreciative. How are you doing?
Thank you, Mustard! I’m doing very well, definitely keeping busy this summer which I’m so thankful for. Happy that I finally got a beach day in after waiting out the chilly spring weather we had in Massachusetts. I also just wrapped a music video shoot earlier this week, which is exciting.
2. You are the artistic director in a world of your own. Could you describe your world? What kind of art do you create and curate?
My world is lush with flora and fauna. It’s where you dance with your shoes off through the meadow. Where the river sings if you listen closely enough. Where you kiss your lover in front of the cafe because you don’t care who’s watching. It’s where baby birds who have fallen from their nest may still learn to fly. But, on the other hand, it is also where my worst fears reside. A pale woman across the lake beckoning me to come closer. Letters from ex-lovers being swept through the wind like autumn leaves. Strange men with pretty smiles who speak in riddles. A glowing set of eyes in the shadows. An amalgamation of reality, fantasy, and horror.
3. Who (or what) influences you?
I am highly influenced by nature and colors, along with the people I keep close to me. I also find a lot of inspiration in novels or other modes of storytelling. I’m also incredibly enamored of music from the 80’s, so I’m definitely influenced by that. Everything around me, really.
4. Is Indigo Girl based off someone you know or knew? Did you have any other colors in mind or was it always indigo? Could you share more about the inspiration behind this single.
I wrote Indigo Girl as a love letter to all of the bisexual women I love in my life. I was inspired to write it when I saw a girl on the train whose outfit I thought was cool, and as I was admiring her I saw that she had a small bisexual pride pin on her bag. Being a bisexual woman myself, it got me to thinking about how many others I consider very close friends and family, and how I am frequently found in the company of other bisexual women. The bisexual pride flag consists of blue, purple, and pink, which when you mix together make an indigo color, hence the name of the song.
5. Indigo Girl is a part of your EP “kill your darlings.” Mustard has heard this phrase used before by humans. What does it mean to you? How did it help shape the EP?
“Kill your darlings” is a phrase I heard over and over again throughout my writing classes in high school and college. It refers to the practice of getting rid of an aspect of a piece of writing that you love, but realistically does not serve the piece. I wanted to write a song using this title but flip it to have a more literal meaning. While re-reading the Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, I realized I wanted to write something from the perspective of Margarita. The two ideas clicked, and I wrote the song that day. This helped solidify the vision I had been trying to parse out for the EP, which I knew I had wanted to center around the supernatural, fantasy and horror.
6. Mustard loves the vibes and mood of your songs. They are entrancing, unsettling, yet inviting. What artists inspire you?
Some musicians that have been a big influence on me are Taylor Swift, Florence and the Machine, Carly Rae Jepsen, Lorde, Patsy Cline, Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish.
7. Aurora borealis put Mustard into a dream-like state. Was this the intention of the song? How did the Northern Lights help influence this single? Do you have a favorite star or planet?
It absolutely was! I wanted to write an upbeat song, and the person I was with suggested I tried writing something that made the listener feel “lost in the sauce.” After starting to lay the track, I realized that it sounded a lot like that ethereal, hauntingly beautiful way that the Northern Lights move across the sky. This also reminded me of the sensation of being in love, so the rest came easily. My favorite planet is Saturn because of the rings! I love an accessory.
8. Kissing you makes you feel electric. Does anything else make you feel electric? As a condiment Mustard wonders if humans make each feel electric often.
Dancing! It’s what I spend most of the free time that I’m not working on music dancing. There’s nothing quite as comparable to the feeling of really being in your zone while you dance.
9. Rotting on your vine is your most recent single. It, like many of your songs, put Mustard into a dreamy state. What inspired this track? Could you share about your new single?
“Rotting on the Vine” was written while reflecting on a past failed relationship. One that felt so right when you were in it, but when you look back on it with clarity, you can see the obvious flaws and incompatibility. I started singing the melody of the chorus while I was in the shower one day and I liked it so much I kept singing it over and over so that I wouldn’t forget it by the time I got out and could write it down. I started filling in lyrics, “the fruit was rotting on the vine” tumbled out of my mouth and I couldn’t get it out of my head. I threw together a messy demo that day and sent it over to the genius producer Chris Donis asking him to help me make the record. A month later we were in the studio, and the rest is history!
10. Mustard only ever sees the inside of restaurants and taverns in Boston. What are some of your favorite places to go?
My absolute favorite places in the city are the Public Garden and the Esplanade! I also really love the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Any place that helps incorporate nature into the cityscape. I also like riding the Red Line over the Charles at sunset, hands down the best view in the city.
11. Where can readers listen to your music?
On all your favorite streaming platforms! Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, Soundcloud, etc. I’ll add some links.
https://music.apple.com/us/album/rotting-on-the-vine-single/1625417410
Music Shelf With Mustard 