The Honey Badgers
Newark, Delaware, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2011 | SELF
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The Gable Verse
Song Review; ‘Correct Course’ by The Honey Badgers
Jan 12, 2023
Written By Danielle Johnson
Newark, Delaware-based, married folk duo, The Honey Badgers, ended the year in harmony in their latest single ‘Correct Course’, self-released in November of 2022. Recorded at Curry Land Studio in Landenberg, PA and produced, recorded, & mixed by Eric L’Esperance, this track is a warm, nostalgic conversation between two lovers adjusting their sails, reflecting on their past, and looking forward to more adventures together.
Summertime, one hell of a thing
I never thought you'd take that ring, as we
Sailed north for foreign shores, hoping to
Bring back some stories, treasure, and more
-The Honey Badgers
Erin Magnin makes listeners feel right at home as the song starts and she enchants us with a beautiful sultry violin melody. Michael Natrins’s vocal response to his life partner is tender and sentimental as he recalls their first interactions and the unexpectedness of her accepting his proposal. Violin strumming turns to plucking as he recalls the way they moved across the floor of their wedding day towards the altar for their final ‘I do’s.
So don't leave those dreams inside of your head
Alone they go nowhere; just lies that misled
So follow the tides, your heart, and the moon
'Cause charting a course is easy with you
'Cause charting a course is easy with you
-The Honey Badgers
Samuel Nobles continues the dance, keeping time with his upright bass waltz. A light and playful dulcimer played by Em McKeever can be heard twirling throughout the tune. The two singers come together in harmony to encourage each other to be the best version of themselves and chase their dreams. A beautiful folk song showcasing a supportive, creative, and brave love all that all humans long for.
Listen to ‘Correct Course’ by The Honey Badgers here.
For shows, music, and more visit their official website. - The Gable Verse (Gable Music Ventures)
The Honey Badgers is a folk duo with a rare talent for proper vocal technique and interesting harmonies. (I’m quite tired of hearing great female vocalists cover up terrible male singers over brittle guitar recordings.)
Both singers are holding up their end and going the extra mile to create a blend of male and female; hurt and hopeful; smart and soulful.
The album is unified by a real Americana sound, but each track has its own flavor and journey. The band doesn’t recycle formulas, and as a result, the album makes sense as a cohesive work of art.
That doesn’t mean every song is a smash hit, but you can play it from beginning to end without getting bored, and that’s rare, even among highly successful bands.
Most importantly, for me, the album is authentic. It doesn’t feel like a folk band nonsensically adding slide guitars to their Billboard 100 hit; they’re playing the music they love, and they’re doing it well.
I’d love to hear them play live, and I might get the chance; they’re from Delaware, which isn’t too far from my home in Pennsylvania. The next time I’m in the area, I’ll be checking their show schedule.
4.7 out of 5 hidden stars - beautiful and heartbreaking music. - Hidden Sound
On Saturday, Delaware Friends of Folk will present their monthly coffee house concert in the Bennett Chapel at Wesley College, corner of Division and North Bradford streets in Dover, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is $7 for members of Delaware Friends of Folk, $10 for non-members, and those 12 and under are admitted free. Fresh-brewed coffee, baked cookies and other snacks will be available.
Local contemporary folk duo The Honey Badgers, comprised of Erin Magnin and Michael Natrin, will perform with Steffi and Tim Saturday for the Friends of Folk Coffeehouse Saturday.
This event features local duos The Honey Badgers and Steffi and Tim, doing their own sets, and then, for the first time, combining their talents into a quartet.
The Honey Badgers are a Delaware-based folk/Americana duo who combine crisp harmonies and thoughtful lyrics with upbeat guitar lines and lively violin to create a sound that is satisfying, authentic, and fun. The married duo from Newark, Erin Magnin and Michael Natrin first met while attending the University of Delaware.
First meeting at a study abroad trip to England in 2008 while students at the University of Delaware, Steffi Holmes and Tim Plimpton compared musical notes and then spent time performing together as a hobby until marrying in 2013 and forming the duo Steffi and Tim. - Delaware State News
In the meantime, front man Natrin plays acoustic guitar and sings in a duo with University of Delaware student, violinist, and pianist Erin Magnin. This self-described Americana-singer-songwriter duet has been together for a little more than a year, but already have been co-winners of WSTW’s 2011 Hometown Heroes contest, and they took first place in UD’s Battle of the Bands this spring. They’ve also recorded an EP called Booth Bay. They’re currently working on a full-lenth album and recording a second EP. How did they come up with their name? Well, the first time they performed together – last July – they competed for a spot in the annual Delmarva Folk Festival, held in Clayton, Delaware. “When they asked us what our name was, we realized that we hadn’t yet thought about it,” Natrin says. Earlier that day, they had been watching the popular “Crazy Nasty Ass Honey Badger” video of a honey badger with a comical voiceover on YouTube. With honey badgers still on their minds, they decided on the band’s name in the spur of the moment. They’ve thought about changing it to something more serious, but for now The Honey Badgers has stuck. - Out & About Magazine
CLAYTON, Del. — A long pathway in the woods of Clayton, Del. opened up to a small clearing, welcoming festival-goers of all ages to the 20th annual Delmarva Folk Festival on Friday and Saturday.
The festival was hosted by the Delaware Friends of Folk, a non-profit organization dedicated to local folk musicians. Vendors, a merchandise tent and food and beer distributors were scattered across the festival grounds.
The stage, decorated with tie-dyed sheets and multi-colored lights strung along the sides, featured performances by local bands that had won coffeehouse competitions over the past few months for a chance to perform at the festival. Musicians competed Friday night to play in the festival’s main line up on Saturday, along with a cash prize and a recording session.
One such band is comprised of university seniors Michael Natrin and Erin Magnin—a folk-acoustic duo called The Honey Badgers. They took the stage Friday night, Natrin dressed in a suit and bow tie and Magnin in a white dress. Natrin picked up his guitar as Magnin held her violin, and the duo started the show.
“Can you hear me out there? Staying warm? Drinking lots of beer?” Natrin asks the audience, followed by a raucous response from the crowd.
Festival-goer and Dover resident Nick Pettoruto, 26, says he appreciated the band’s authenticity and originality.
“They didn’t do a whole lot of covers—did stuff that was real,” Pettoruto says. “They clicked together. They were truly original.”
The Honey Badgers continued their set and some songs picked up with a faster tempo, dominated vocally by Natrin’s lyrics and quick guitar chords accented by Magnin’s violin.
“It’s a pretty diverse crowd we wouldn’t normally get to play for,” Natrin says. “Not like up in the Newark-Wilmington area.”
Seaford resident Lynne Betts, 53, says that her favorite part of the festival was witnessing the festival-goers’ encouragement for the bands.
“I think it’s awesome to be so supportive of the local talent—it’s really touching,” Betts says.
Q&A with The Honey Badgers
How long have you been playing music?
Natrin: In general, my whole life. My band Battleshy Youths started up in 2011 and we play shows around Newark and Wilmington. The Honey Badgers is just the duet form of the band—we strip down songs into acoustic guitar and harmonies, and write songs that are more fitting for that very basic folk duet sound. Erin sings and fiddles with Battleshy Youths sometimes too, but the other members are Mitchell Ebbott, Andrew Johnston and Andrew Deinert — all UD alumni.
Magnin: I’ve been playing violin since I was 7, and this was a change and I’m a music major so I play and listen to music pretty much all day.
How did you come up with your band name?
Magnin: We arrived at the semi-finals in Dover and in all the excitement had forgotten a name, so we named ourselves after the YouTube video “Honey Badgers.” It’s a really funny video.
How would you describe your music style? And who are your musical influences?
Natrin: Contemporary folk—The Mountain Goats and the Decemberists.
Magnin: Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes, Rufus Wainright, Jenna Marbles and Ingrid Michaelson.
Tell me something quirky or weird about yourselves.
Natrin: I feel like everything we do is weird. We meow a lot.
Magnin: We do lots of weird things—doodling. It’s hard to pinpoint one thing when everything you do is weird.
What is the band working on right now?
Natrin: We are hoping to release The Honey Badgers’ EP “Booth Bay” by mid-November. It is a compilation of songs that Erin and I wrote throughout the summer, and focuses on travel and nature and the complications of living lives that aren’t capable of pleasing everyone. We just finished up recording a split Christmas CD with The Paper Janes and some other friends—we’re looking to release that by mid-to late-November as well. It’s a 12-track compilation of Christmas classics, some modern covers and some original tunes. It wi - The Review
In the meantime, front man Natrin plays acoustic guitar and sings in a duo with University of Delaware student, violinist, and pianist Erin Magnin. This self-described Americana-singer-songwriter duet has been together for a little more than a year, but already have been co-winners of WSTW’s 2011 Hometown Heroes contest, and they took first place in UD’s Battle of the Bands this spring. They’ve also recorded an EP called Booth Bay. They’re currently working on a full-lenth album and recording a second EP. How did they come up with their name? Well, the first time they performed together – last July – they competed for a spot in the annual Delmarva Folk Festival, held in Clayton, Delaware. “When they asked us what our name was, we realized that we hadn’t yet thought about it,” Natrin says. Earlier that day, they had been watching the popular “Crazy Nasty Ass Honey Badger” video of a honey badger with a comical voiceover on YouTube. With honey badgers still on their minds, they decided on the band’s name in the spur of the moment. They’ve thought about changing it to something more serious, but for now The Honey Badgers has stuck. - Out & About Magazine
CLAYTON, Del. — A long pathway in the woods of Clayton, Del. opened up to a small clearing, welcoming festival-goers of all ages to the 20th annual Delmarva Folk Festival on Friday and Saturday.
The festival was hosted by the Delaware Friends of Folk, a non-profit organization dedicated to local folk musicians. Vendors, a merchandise tent and food and beer distributors were scattered across the festival grounds.
The stage, decorated with tie-dyed sheets and multi-colored lights strung along the sides, featured performances by local bands that had won coffeehouse competitions over the past few months for a chance to perform at the festival. Musicians competed Friday night to play in the festival’s main line up on Saturday, along with a cash prize and a recording session.
One such band is comprised of university seniors Michael Natrin and Erin Magnin—a folk-acoustic duo called The Honey Badgers. They took the stage Friday night, Natrin dressed in a suit and bow tie and Magnin in a white dress. Natrin picked up his guitar as Magnin held her violin, and the duo started the show.
“Can you hear me out there? Staying warm? Drinking lots of beer?” Natrin asks the audience, followed by a raucous response from the crowd.
Festival-goer and Dover resident Nick Pettoruto, 26, says he appreciated the band’s authenticity and originality.
“They didn’t do a whole lot of covers—did stuff that was real,” Pettoruto says. “They clicked together. They were truly original.”
The Honey Badgers continued their set and some songs picked up with a faster tempo, dominated vocally by Natrin’s lyrics and quick guitar chords accented by Magnin’s violin.
“It’s a pretty diverse crowd we wouldn’t normally get to play for,” Natrin says. “Not like up in the Newark-Wilmington area.”
Seaford resident Lynne Betts, 53, says that her favorite part of the festival was witnessing the festival-goers’ encouragement for the bands.
“I think it’s awesome to be so supportive of the local talent—it’s really touching,” Betts says.
Q&A with The Honey Badgers
How long have you been playing music?
Natrin: In general, my whole life. My band Battleshy Youths started up in 2011 and we play shows around Newark and Wilmington. The Honey Badgers is just the duet form of the band—we strip down songs into acoustic guitar and harmonies, and write songs that are more fitting for that very basic folk duet sound. Erin sings and fiddles with Battleshy Youths sometimes too, but the other members are Mitchell Ebbott, Andrew Johnston and Andrew Deinert — all UD alumni.
Magnin: I’ve been playing violin since I was 7, and this was a change and I’m a music major so I play and listen to music pretty much all day.
How did you come up with your band name?
Magnin: We arrived at the semi-finals in Dover and in all the excitement had forgotten a name, so we named ourselves after the YouTube video “Honey Badgers.” It’s a really funny video.
How would you describe your music style? And who are your musical influences?
Natrin: Contemporary folk—The Mountain Goats and the Decemberists.
Magnin: Conor Oberst from Bright Eyes, Rufus Wainright, Jenna Marbles and Ingrid Michaelson.
Tell me something quirky or weird about yourselves.
Natrin: I feel like everything we do is weird. We meow a lot.
Magnin: We do lots of weird things—doodling. It’s hard to pinpoint one thing when everything you do is weird.
What is the band working on right now?
Natrin: We are hoping to release The Honey Badgers’ EP “Booth Bay” by mid-November. It is a compilation of songs that Erin and I wrote throughout the summer, and focuses on travel and nature and the complications of living lives that aren’t capable of pleasing everyone. We just finished up recording a split Christmas CD with The Paper Janes and some other friends—we’re looking to release that by mid-to late-November as well. It’s a 12-track compilation of Christmas classics, some modern covers and some original tunes. It wi - The Review
Discography
Correct Course, single released November 2022 (https://music.honeybadgerfolk.com/track/correct-course)
Meet Me, full length album released March 15, 2019 (https://music.honeybadgerfolk.com/album/meet-me)
Keep Driving, single released January 2019 (https://music.honeybadgerfolk.com/track/keep-driving)
Soul, EP released November 2013 (https://music.honeybadgerfolk.com/album/soul)
Hidden Away, Single released for Graffiti Radio 93.7-HD2 April 2012 (http://soundcloud.com/honeybadgerfolk/hidden-away)
Booth Bay, EP released October 2011 (https://music.honeybadgerfolk.com/album/booth-bay)
Photos
Bio
When Michael Natrin asked Erin Magnin to dust off her fiddle and join him for a couple songs at a local songwriter showcase, the two never imagined they were creating a musical partnership that would continue far into the future. Playfully calling themselves The Honey Badgers, more to make themselves chuckle than to make any sort of a statement, the two discovered a chemistry between their voices that demanded to be heard. Thus, the duo was born.
The Honey Badgers’ folk/Americana sound has been likened to that of The Civil Wars and The Swell Season. They are known for their intense, unique harmonies, their sincere lyrics and melodies, and their undeniable and captivating onstage charm. Weaving their voices together over driving guitar, lonesome violin, and punchy harmonica, The Honey Badgers spin stories and songs about finding yourself, finding each other, and finding your way in the world.
The Honey Badgers have been creating music together since the summer of 2011. They have since released their debut EP, “Booth Bay”, a thoughtfully crafted second EP, “Soul”, as well as a collection of live recordings entitled “Mad Season”. In the years following the duo’s conception, they played all over their home state of Delaware and the surrounding region, from the Delmarva Folk Festival to World Cafe Live. They opened for nationally touring act The Lone Bellow, as well as local Delaware favorite New Sweden.
In the spring of 2019, Erin and Michael quit their stable jobs and hit the road full-time to support their debut full length release “Meet Me.” Their travels took them up and down the East Coast, all while singing songs, telling stories, and building community. “Meet Me” is a colorful story that has been unfolding since Michael and Erin began their partnership. The songs are new, but the feelings within them are familiar - from the blooming of new love to the comfort of seasoned love, losing yourself and finding yourself, from feeling alone in a fast moving world to finding connection in a room full of strangers.
As full time musicians and travelers, Michael and Erin look forward now to creating music that has roots growing through every place they go.
Band Members
Links
