Mother Mother – From ‘Hayloft’ to ‘Nostalgia’: 20 Years of Wonderful Weirdness

Ryan Guldemond, lead singer and songwriter of  @MotherMother  , joins (Elmo Chong) on the Sonical.ly Podcast for a raw and reflective conversation on two decades of music-making.✨ For creators: Get 70% off Audiio Pro (unlimited music & SFX) → [https://audiio.com/partner?oid=1&affid=2150] with code SAVE70.In our conversation, Ryan opens up about:🔸 The creative risks behind their new album Nostalgia🔸 Why discomfort is essential to their songwriting process🔸 How he balances personal truth with universal storytelling🔸 Lessons from touring the world and connecting with fans across generations🔸 The role of vulnerability in shaping his lyrics and performances🔸 Why “writing what scares you” is the path to growthKey takeaways for music creators:🎵 Lean into discomfort. Ryan believes the best songs live where you feel most exposed — it’s where listeners connect deepest.🎵 Creativity is a muscle. Decades in, Mother Mother continues to evolve by treating songwriting as daily practice, not waiting for inspiration to strike.🎵 Nostalgia is fuel. Their new album proves that looking backward can unlock forward momentum when paired with honesty and risk-taking.🎵 Connection is the real reward. From sold-out arenas to intimate fan moments, Ryan reminds us the point of music is human resonance, not metrics.If you’ve ever struggled with doubt, reinvention, or staying true to your voice in a noisy world — this conversation will hit home.0:00 Ryan’s philosophy: “Create to make yourself happy”0:29 Intro – Welcome Ryan Guldemond of Mother Mother1:34 Growing up with music at home3:06 First time creating music (and skipping piano homework)4:27 From shy kid to frontman — finding his voice6:27 Biggest challenges of being in a band & not quitting8:40 The story of Burning Pile and how it changed their lives12:02 The real story behind Verbatim — not a queer anthem, but…13:51 The shock of going viral on TikTok during the pandemic15:41 Hayloft II — closing a chapter or opening a new one?17:01 Making Nostalgia: chasing feelings, not trends19:32 Make Believe and choosing wonder over cynicism21:26 The deeply personal story behind On & On (A Song for Jasmine)25:16 Revisiting the wildest early song (Finger)26:13 Keeping childlike creativity alive as an adult27:47 Ryan’s advice for the next generation of music creators29:10 Labels vs. authenticity: what really matters32:23 Coming full circle after 20 years as a band32:55 Rapid Fire Round (DAW, plugins, favorite sounds & more)36:48 What’s next for Ryan & Mother Mother✨ For creators: Get 70% off Audiio Pro (unlimited music & SFX) → [https://audiio.com/partner?oid=1&affid=2150] with code SAVE70#MotherMother #RyanGuldemond #Hayloft #Nostalgia #BurningPile #IndieRock #QueerAnthem #GenZMusic #Songwriting #MusicPodcast #SonicallyPodcast #behindthemusic