Mia and Jonah

4.1 out of 5 - TOP ALBUM

By Jamie Robash

Whenever I feel my life is at an impasse and after I have taken a few days to wallow in my sorrows and drown them according to whatever mixtures will do I then remember that art has the power to heal music most especially and I find its power more than any doctor’s words or bottle or pill remedy that can make me feel like a person again. We all have our struggles, but to hear others struggles documented so beautifully and so heart rendering as they often are when set to music, the healing seems to come that much quicker, and with so much more of a grace than can be provided by chemical alterations.

I was reminded of this healing power as I listened intently to Spin as One, the gorgeously melodic fourth album by the Los Angeles based folk duo, Mia & Jonah. Since meeting in San Francisco a decade and a half ago, Mia Mustari and Jonah Blumstein have over the years refined their brilliant folk and Americana which has enabled them to work with legends within the genre. On Spin as One, they are joined by an assembly of musicians who help to shape Spin as One into one of the most hauntingly beautiful folk records I have heard in years.

The opening track “Our Old Farm” is rife with sweet swells of violin and banjo that intertwine with a helix of healing power that along with the heart wrenching vocals of Mia and Jonah make it a song that grabs hold of you in a way that only the most powerful songs can. This power continues to take hold of you on the twangy “Spin as One” that once again is latently gripping,; the messages of hope exuding from it as powerfully as the music itself, a banjo, violin and drum combo that draws you into the very essences at the very heart of the folk genre.

Other songs here have a different sort of slow building beauty, the kind that are rendered with a painter’s eye, slowly being enriched as they float on with a quiet brilliance such as it does on “Nightingale” and the slow wrought and tranquil beauty of “Season of Opening” which will leave you shivering.

​Whether you are in need of a shot in the arm, or a good dose of why there are so many reasons to keep going and find some peace in a world that often seems more cruel than it does kind, or you are just an enthusiast of folk and Americana, Spin as One will move you in ways that only the best music can. - Divide And Conquer

Mia and Jonah (from the E.P. Spin as One available on CEN)
Beginning a life both personal and professional in 2003, Mia and Jonah have produced a daughter as well as three albums and one E.P. while building a home for family and career in Los Angeles, California. The recent E.P., Spin As One, backs the duo with an intricately formed backdrop of sound as Mia and Jonah are joined by Steve DiStanislao (David Gilmour) on drums, Seth Ford-Young (Tom Waits) on bass and Chris Pandolfi (Infamous Stringdusters) on banjo. The music swirls around the vocals of Mia and Jonah on the title track while Spin as One follows the psychedelic sound of “Nightingale”, strums slow Country Folk for the tale of “Our Old Farm”, ushers in “Daybreak” on the soft rattle of percussion, and fleshes out “Sugarbones” on revolving waves of rhythm.

Listen and buy the music of Mia and Jonah from AMAZON
https://www.miaandjonah.com/ - The Alternate Route Magazine

How do you usually write the lyrics of your songs?
Mia: Usually, I write lyrics and music in my head then go try to figure out how to play the song on an instrument. Words start compiling and I just let them come. I always start at the first verse, and at the end of that, the chorus reveals what the song is really about. Sometimes editing is hardly needed. Other times I start with the simplest idea for example, I want to feel like you do when mom baked cookies on a cold rainy day – and you walk through the door all wet… That idea somehow turned into “Drop your worries, like a coat on my floor – It’s okay if my room gets messy today”. Once I knew that was the first line of the song, the rest of it poured out and ended up being the “Mia and Jonah” song called “Wait”.
Jonah: I usually go through a process of fishing sounds out of the ether and just writing down what I hear. Often the lyrics will sound like the phrases I’m writing down and it can be a process of deciphering nonsense phrases into connecting words. Within that process, I will look for a story or a core idea. Once the core of the song is set, then I make sure all of the lyrics support the core idea. The words and metaphors have to point toward and reflect upon that one main theme.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing in songwriting?
Mia: Alone time without interruption has been key for me. A song can show up anytime and making space for my mind to follow the thread of inspiration takes a bit of focus. If that focus gets interrupted I have a tough time finding that exact same space again. Songs are there – already written from the first moment when the idea and lyrics start to flow. Michelangelo said, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” If I have to lift my focus from the work, the more abstract “angel in the marble” often disappears and I can’t find it anymore when I try to return to it.
Jonah: As far as what is important to the work itself, I feel like there are different types of songs that work differently on people’s brains. In general, a song should make you feel something on an emotional level and surprise you at some point. There has to be some element of discovery for the listener, something unpredictable. Also, the form of the song has to support the content. So, the world of that particular song has to be well-defined.
Are you ever scared of revealing aspects of your personal life/experience to strangers through your music?
Mia: Yeah, of course. To me the most beautiful poetry is written from an honest place. Maybe even a naked place, diving deep to find your own truth and expressing it. Occasionally I’ll even nick a song from a set list just because I don’t feel like revealing that part of myself in the moment. At the same time, magic happens when you connect to people by sharing yourself – you find out you are not alone. Others share your feelings or have had similar life experiences and the words you wrote are not only your words… they’re part of the human experience and we are not as different as we seem.
Jonah: Sure, to some extent. I definitely edit myself more so now then when I was younger. I find myself wanting to make conscious choices about what I want to share. Usually, I try to find a way to share something personal, but not in explicit terms. In other words, the central emotion and idea is strong enough to communicate, but the through-line is abstract enough to not know exactly what is meant. I want people to be able to interpret a song for themselves – within their own story. So, it has to be somewhat open and abstract.
What is the best lyric that you ever wrote (the most meaningful for you)?
Mia: Right now what comes to mind is a lyric from one of the very first songs I wrote called “Smile”. The song starts “I’m just sitting here with this guitar in my hand – wondering when this ocean will ever carry me to land…”and continues to express this lost and overwhelming feeling. The chorus however does not offer an solution to the problem – just a expression of love contained in the simple response, “Maybe I can make you smile”.
Jonah: It is hard to say, but I find meaning in the last verse of Rooms. “Offer me religion if it talks of a soul, and how a miracle will take you to a window in the wall, and a window in the star.” I like how it expands on the idea of the window opening up to a spiritual thruway by any means, any ‘religion’.
What inspired “Daybreak,” part of your latest album ‘Spin as One’?
Jonah: I wrote “Daybreak” when Mia was pregnant with our daughter Rose. We could feel our whole life changing at that point, and it was a joyous moment. We just felt really blessed to be having a family, and it was as if there was a new chapter unfolding in our journey together. It was also us just settling in to the experience, finding a new place to live, and imagining a bright future.
And “Nightingale”?
Jonah: “Nightingale” was created 20 years ago in the summer of 1998. It was then part of a musical I had written, and was doing with a theater company in the New York Fringe Festival called ‘The Golden Ass’. (It is an adaptation of Apuleius’s ancient novel – Mia and I did it as a project in 2011, without the song “Nightingale”). Combining with dance in that show, it was a way to tell the ‘Cupid and Psyche’ story – essentially the overcoming of obstacles to the sacred marriage between Cupid and Psyche. The obstacles to come by way of jealous siblings, gods, and their own issues with trust. But ultimately, they make it happen and love finds a way. The song puts the story in the vehicle of a bird who is trying to make it over the mountains to salvation. The bird gets knocked down by the elements, and then heals itself to try again.
Do you remember the day you wrote “Sugarbones”?
Jonah: I wrote Sugarbones with Scotty Passaglia when Mia went out of town. She was staying with her family in Oregon for a bunch of weeks while we were living in the van in LA. For a bit of time, it felt like we were a long-distance relationship, and Sugarbones is about all of that. Holding on to images and fragments and just missing someone. I had come up with the chords in the van and I remember writing the lyrics with Scotty at his apartment in Venice, CA. Initially, Scotty and I sang the song as a duo in a lower key. Mia and I raised up up a whole-step for her to sing the lead part.
What was the best moment of your career? And the most difficult one?
Mia: When Jonah and I decided we wanted a child, I thought to myself, we’ve had a great run with music let’s settle down and have a family. For the next five years I had hardly any desire to get back into music. I felt fulfilled – not to mention busy, being a full-time mom. Then, Jonah and our great friend Scotty Passaglia wrote the song “Our Old Farm”. The first time I heard it I cried. I felt like the “old farm” they refer to in the song was the music Jonah and I played together for such a long time and was “waiting for us still”, as the song goes.
At the same time, I had come so far from identifying myself as a performer/singer. I really didn’t know if I could ever be that again. Each year of distancing myself from what I had once been passionate about and becoming more and more practical and afraid of risks – not to mention older. It was my daughter’s turn to dream, I told myself, and my job to support that.
I believe when I finally made a decision to play with Jonah again as “Mia and Jonah” it may have been both the best and most difficult – if not the scariest, moment of my career. The best because I am so happy to be performing again. Jonah and I are more connected than we’ve ever been before. Every time I play, I feel stronger, healthier, happier. The most difficult because it took a leap of faith to pry myself out of my comfort zone. It doesn’t sound so hard, but man, being comfortable is so… comfortable. Recognizing that life could get even better if I took myself out of that place did not happen without a struggle. And in the end I know that my daughter will only benefit from seeing me taking risks and daring to do something that I love.
What are your plans for the rest of 2018/2019?
Mia: We just released our album “Spin as One” on September 21st. Currently we are planning on doing some West Coast touring to support it. This upcoming Summer we have plans to do a tour on the East Coast and Canada.
To conclude the interview a short Q/A session, please answer the first thing that comes to your mind:
Define in one word your album “Spin as One”: Mia: Healing / Jonah: Fundamental.
The best show you ever played: Mia: Yesterday / Jonah: Yesterday we did a really good one at a private party.
The one thing that you must have in your backstage: Jonah: 9 volt batteries and a few macadamia nuts.
The soundtrack of your childhood: Mia: The Little Mermaid / Jonah: Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen.
Your favorite song lyrically speaking, but not written by you: Mia: “May This Be Love” – Jimi Hendrix / Jonah: “Mama You’ve Been on My Mind” – Bob Dylan.
Last question is “unusual”, we want to know your best relationship advice: Mia: Take risks together. Laugh a lot. / Jonah: Talk about it all. Breathe in the moments. Yeah, laughing is always good! - Rock Your Lyrics

Originally from the Bay area, Mia and Jonah are an indie folk duo. They moved to Los Angeles seven years ago. Mia and Jonah seamlessly trade harmonies; individually, Jonah plays guitar, dobro, mandolin, and cello, while Mia elicits beguiling sounds from a hand saw.

When they play as a band, they feature Seth Ford-Young (from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes) on bass, Steve DiStanislao (of David Gilmour acclaim) on drums, and Chris Murphy on violin.

Since they will drop a new album, Spin as One, on September 21, I (on behalf of Blogcritics) thought this was a good time to find out more about the duo.

How would you describe yourself?

Mia: I’m a dog person – who would never get a dog (I currently have a cat, less demanding for sure). I’m one of those people that wear a t-shirt and jeans or yoga pants every day with flip-flops, you know that type, you might call it lazy – I call it comfortable. I like things simple, and have a wabi-sabi mentality about life. Nothing has to be perfect. I am an artist and apparently we artists are okay with chaos. Sometimes I think, finally my house is clean! Then I go over to someone else’s house…

I love to do quiet things like reading, hiking, watching my newest latest series on Amazon (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a current fave). Though I may be easily persuaded into doing something slightly risky (and sometimes just plain dumb – but fun) like ghost riding, skinny dipping, or doing a new aerobics routine with a bunch of friends that have been practicing for months (and standing in the front row with my naturally uncoordinated body). Roller coasters, YES! Extreme sports – NO! Sky diving [is] something I haven’t done yet, but certainly look forward to in the future. A quiet day alone, definite yes! Parties – usually brings on a “Do I have to?” reply (working on that…).

I love my family and am a very loyal friend.

Jonah: I’m pretty Aquarian in the sense that I am curious and honest, and also sometimes detached and unpredictable. I enjoy helping people and teaching music as I follow my own creative path. I thrive off of new projects, and co-write songs with friends quite a bit. I feel like I’ve really embraced the “dad” role and I’m now in a phase of my life where my daughter is the most important thing going on. The fact that Mia and I get to play music together is just an added bonus. I’m different than Mia in that I like to go to parties and such. We find a balance.

What’s your favorite song to belt out in the car or the shower?

Mia: Easy! The Little Mermaid’s “Part of Your World.”

Jonah: “Bring It on Home to Me” by Sam Cooke.

Who is your favorite music artist?

Mia: That’s tough. There are many but Emmylou Harris will always slay me with her undeniably original and versatile voice.

Jonah: That is a tough one. If I had to pick one for all time, it would probably be Bob Marley.

How did you get started in music? What’s the backstory there?

Mia: Being a missionary kid – I got sent away during summertime on “tour.” We would spend weeks in boot camp training to sing and dance songs for churches or at parks and malls. Then we’d go out on the road and perform. I loved singing more than anything even before that, but having an opportunity to go out on a stage and perform for loads of people, and riding around the country in a tour bus was thrilling to me. I suppose it’s what I always wanted to do. And I am still loving it today.

Jonah: I started on the cello when I was seven years old and really got into the instrument. I played in a youth symphony in Pittsburgh, PA growing up and loved being engulfed in the sound of the group. When I moved to New York, it was the ’90s and I started listening to more music from the ’60s and ’70s, as well as getting turned on to all those ’90s rock bands. When I got a license to drive, I sold my cello and bought a guitar. I’ve been writing and singing songs since then. It’s always been the one creative part of myself that I could never let go of.

You have a new album dropping September 21, called Spin as One. What inspired the album?

Jonah: We realized over the years that when we wrote songs and put them out into the world, it was almost as if our life took shape of the meaning of the songs, like we were manifesting our future through the content of our lyrics. So, the writing for Spin as One is an attempt to paint ourselves a rich and expanding life. We took some years off while our daughter was young, and I had another band called Midnight Ball. Mia was totally supportive of that project, and when she felt ready was like, “Hey, let’s make a record where we sing the whole thing in harmony because that is how we want to live.” Alan [Grubner] (violin on Spin as One) was coming out to LA frequently, and we started getting songs together that worked well with the violin. We put the initial tracks down (with Alan) at 4th Street Recording in Santa Monica, and then we added Stevie D on the drums, and Seth Ford-Young on bass. The project became Spin as One.

How did you get such a stellar cast of musicians to participate on the album?

Mia: I suppose that we have been blessed to meet so many talented musicians on our journey getting here (which started in 2004 when we began our first album). The fact that they love and worked to be a part of our album is incredible to me still.

Jonah: We’ve become musical friends over the years. I had a band in college with Alan (violin) and Chris Pandolfi (banjo for Spin as One) called Bobbyjason. We were a bluegrass trio and would play weekly at the local hospital. Both of them have gone on to be even more amazing than they were back then. Seth (bass) has been on all of our records. We met him in the Bay Area back in 2004 before he went on tour with Tom Waits and Edward Sharpe. Now we all live in LA! Scotty P (co-writer on “Our Old Farm” and “Sugarbones”) introduced us years ago to Stevie DiStanislao and he’s such a sweet soul. I saw him playing for David Crosby and was flipping out about their sound – he is a legend on the drums! Stevie came to see a Midnight Ball show, and I got to reconnect with him about the Mia and Jonah project.

Will you be doing any touring?

Mia: Yes! We will be in Canada for The Jasper Folk Music Fest Sept. 8/10 and have our LA record release coming up at Molly Malone’s on Sept. 15. October is looking great with a gig at Underground Exchange in Ojai, CA. Portland is the plan during the holidays and New York after that… . This is our daughter’s first year in kindergarten which means we are trying to stay on a consistent schedule and stick around home a bit as well, so keep your eyes open for performances in and around the LA area!

Jonah: I teach music at a middle school during the school year, so summer 2019 we are planning to tour as much as we can on the West and East Coasts.

-Randall Radic - Blog Critics/ Also Picked Up by Seattle Pi

Let's kick it off with something a little out of our wheelhouse. Mia and Jonah's "Sugarbones" definitely has that Americana something, though I appreciate the trippy spaciness that is surely inspired by the band's San Francisco stomping grounds. The band's new album Spin as One reflects the birth of Mia Matari and Jonah Blumstein's first child. "Sugarbones" feels like a lullaby and an invitation to take part in all the exciting things the world has to offer. - Adobe and Teardrops

Can you tell us the backstory of how you two met?

Mia: I first saw Jonah play at a house concert I put together with some friends in SF. I had no idea at the time that we would end up writing and playing music together. I was a performer in my own right as well, Doing gigs all over SF as Mia Mustari…
Later in a recording studio in Emeryville our mutual friend put on a show and we were both on the roster. At the time I lived in SF (which is over the Bay Bridge from Emeryville) and had got a lift from my roommate over to the show.
Amidst partying and performances, I got very sleepy and fell asleep in the Green room. During that time the show ended and everybody left - including my assumed ride back for the evening and that was a true blessing in disguise! Jonah was still there and rescued me. He sat next to me with his guitar and played me a lullaby as I groggily returned to the world of the living. Upon seeing that my roommate and SF Friends had gone, I asked Jonah to be a hero and take this damsel in distress back over the bridge and safely home. He said yes - but there was a catch 22. He could only take me so far that night… well, to his place in Oakland. But, the next morning he would be willing to get me home safely. Was he hitting on me? Yes. Yet, in all honesty we spent the night cuddling - no elicit action, though sparks were all over the place.
The day after that I told my current partner that I was really attracted to this guy - and needed to have space to see other people. We sorta started playing music together non-stop after that. And the “open relationship” quickly transformed into an intimate bond. That was in late 2003. We haven’t stopped since then.

Jonah: Friends of mine had been raving about Mia - they had seen her live solo show and were flipping out. So, sf I went to see her and I remember being floored by the song “Water in a Teapot”. Her lyrics really drew me in, as well as her voice and well-developed picking patterns on the guitar. I thought she was amazing, and never considered seriously that I would get to know her.
We wrote the song “Bird on the Wind” in 2003, just after we started working together, and put together a band called TEAM with other instrumentalists and singer-songwriters: Josh Nadelberg (voice, guitar), Mike Roberts (voice, mandolin, guitar), and James Davis (voice, trumpet, keys). We did a bunch of west-coast gigs, and then everyone’s life just took them in different and beautiful directions, and Mia and I decided to keep working together. So, we moved in to an apartment together in Oakland in 2004. Around the corner was Myles Boisen’s studio, where we recorded ‘Shine I’, ‘Hallelujah EP’, ‘Rooms for Adelaide’, and ‘The Golden Ass’..

When did you first discover your love for music?

Mia: The church. My family went to church religiously every Sunday and when singing worship music I found something I was passionate about. I loved the freedom in singing my heart out without performing or trying to please someone. I feel the same way today.

Jonah: I really enjoyed playing the cello when I was about 6-12. I was in a youth symphony, and I remember loving the feeling of the sound with so many people playing together. I remember practicing in my room, and my mom came in and suggested freestyling with the scales. She was an accomplished violinist and encouraged my learning and musical expression. In high school, I was getting more into rock music and was initially self-taught on the guitar.

It sounds like you have had the opportunity to perform at a lot of awesome shows. What has been your favorite performance so far, and why?

Mia: My current favorite show is a sweet party we played last weekend. It was so fun and since Jonah and I took a 5 year break while raising our daughter, I have been so grateful for each and every performance we play lately.

Jonah: We played the Jasper Music Folk Festival in September up in Canada, which really had an outstanding vibe. During the second song, we got pelted with a squall of rain. We could see it coming toward us from the mountains, and we made it through most of “Our Old Farm” before we had to take a break. Afterwards, the sun came out and we had a sweet rainbow for rest of the set. I felt like our songs really connected with the Canadian community, and we felt such a warm vibe from the town of Jasper - it felt like a natural vortex.

Who has been the biggest inspiration in your musical careers?

Mia: This may sound cheesy, but Jonah inspires me more than anyone in my life. He is a practical dreamer. A risk taker, loves music, an amazing lyricist and all around musician. On our first tour I told him I wanted to play bass. Five seconds after I flippinty made that remark - he was on his phone looking for a good music shop in the area to buy me my own bass/bass amp and started teaching me immediately. Imagine a partner always believes you and supports your dreams… even if you didn’t really take yourself seriously in the first place. Then makes those dreams tangible and real. He is my rock. I’m lucky to have him in my life.

Jonah: Mia has been an inspiration to me in her raw sense of freedom and soulful elegance. She has guided our career together by always tapping in to her inner navigational signal. I am inspired by artists who are fearless and focused. As far my personal heroes growing up: I was pretty much influenced by Neil Young, Jerry Garcia as well as Bob Dylan and Bob Marley. Also David Byrne and Bruce Springsteen.

You have a number of creative music videos. Which one is your personal favorite? What is the meaning behind this music video?

Mia: The one off our September release, “Spin as One” is my current favorite. It expresses our desire to come together as a people and rise above the crazy times our world seems to be in at the moment.

Jonah: We had a lot of fun making the video for “Three Stories High”. It was a video about us living and struggling together. We did an impromptu live stop-motion film - just filming each other and letting the story unfold as we jumped into it. I feel like we really found something in that process together and it reflects in the video - making something out of nothing. We found a box in the dumpster and made it into an interstellar spaceship for our adventure. We edited the photos in photoshop and strung it together.

What can we expect to see from you through the end of 2018 and beyond?

Mia: More. Jonah and I have come to the realization that we both need music in our lives. Expect more shows, tours and albums. We plan to do this till we are 592 years old at least… We’ll be the oldest duo in the history of duos!

Jonah: We are looking forward to doing a show at the beautiful Folktale Winery in Carmel, CA on October 28th. Hopefully we’ll get up to the Bay Area, Portland, and Seattle in 2018. - Karben Main Stage

The edgy, rousing and playfully rockin’ double bill of the Rob Morrow Band and Mia and Jonah at Molly Malone’s on Saturday, September 15 wasn’t just business as usual in the hipster indie room of the famed Fairfax pub. The two artists were performing as the local contingent of the Playing for Change Foundation’s “PFC Day,” a global event that simultaneously brings established acts and aspiring musicians together for music festivals/events across the globe, from Argentina to Mexico City.

Morrow, a renowned TV actor/director and multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominee who also happens to be a versatile singer/songwriter, guitarist and frontman, says, “Music is my salvation. I love what #PlayingForChange is doing: healing, opening, softening, enlightening through music.”
A little background: The Playing for Change foundation, established in 2007, provides music education in areas that are culturally rich yet economically challenged. Children in countries around the world, from Africa to Latin America and Southeast Asia, attend free classes, in music, dance and languages, taught my qualified local music teachers and led by regional administrators. Students learn about their own cultural traditions while employing technology to connect and share their experiences with others around the world.

Working with his slammin’ crew of veteran rockers – including electric guitarist and frequent co-writer Carlos Calvo - Morrow packed the house for what doubled as a release party for his new single “Tyranny of Beauty,” a slow simmering but ultimately explosive power ballad about our attraction to beauty and how we’re mysteriously captivated by it. His passionate, emotionally rangy voice – which for me compares favorably to 80’s pop/rocker Corey Hart – and crisp, jangly guitar playing took the enthusiastic crowd on a trip through 55 minutes of compelling originals with dynamic variations in tempo.

As he did a few months ago at Bogie’s in Westlake, he scored big with the rumbling, high octane “Out & About” and the irrepressible, ultra-infectious “Jean Jane Joan” (a clever response to his wife’s unusual name, Debbon). Balancing these was the gentle sparkle of his and Calvo’s strings and their sweet harmonies during the wistful ballad “The Way Things Go.” Unrestricted by TV scripts, Morrow is a lively, entertaining and multi-dimensional force of nature, prone to dancing and jumping around and otherwise engaging his fans whenever the groove kicks up. His bouncy and blistering closer, based on the Jack White version of the blues classic “I’m Shakin’” gave him his best opportunity to do just that.

Morrow will be running a Pledge Music campaign for the band’s upcoming full-length album through October 23: https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/robmorrowband

Husband and wife Americana folk rockers (with a twist) Mia and Jonah’s show was also a release party – a week ahead of schedule, as their new EP Spin As One was officially released September 21. Their set was a mix of tracks from their earlier works in the 2000s (“Troubled Mind” and “Coalminer” from Shine 1, “Angels Down” and “Wish” from Rooms For Adelaide) and three equally timeless times from the new collection – including the meditative seduction “Our Old Farm” and the lilting “Sugarbones.” Their personal romantic chemistry shone through in the dreamy sway of their harmonies, which render them a contemporary male-female version of Simon & Garfunkel, albeit with extra raw edges. Jonah captivates with his bluesy rock guitar licks and his colorful harmonica playing, but what helps the duo stand apart (way apart) is the trippy, ear-bending sound of Mia’s singing handsaw. The songs she colors with that vibe makes it feel like there are angels (or ghosts, or perhaps an eerie mixture) attending on high (or even closer) as the duo breezes along and dares us to go along for the ride. - Music Connection Magazine/Live Review

"Both personally and collectively, I really need this song (Spin as One) in my life right now, and that’s before even mentioning how beautiful it is instrumentally. The strings in particular are just incredibly arranged over flawless harmonies from both Mia and Jonah, and trust me, the whole EP is just as good as this song." - The B-Side Guys

An expansive journey through the hallowed halls of Americana, folk, country and rock. Renown as a mesmerizing indie folk duo that seamlessly produce “songs of singular beauty, played and sung without pretense” (San Francisco Chronicle), Spin As One reflects on family life - overcoming struggles through love and care of one other - as well as their wishes of soulful self-discovery and a collective coming-together for our world to find its way back home. Amidst a beguiling mix of vocals, Mia adds hypnotic texture with the bending sounds of a hand saw while Jonah weaves flourishes of guitar, harmonica, dobro, mandolin, and cello. - New Releases Now

Folk duo Mia & Jonah weave a silky web with “Spin as One,” a backyard hoedown dedicated to their long-standing collaboration (going on 15 years), as well as their adoration for one another in holy matrimony. The title song to their brand new record, the lilting, banjo-anchored mid-tempo possesses a truly awe-inspiring power, and as they gaze into each other eyes, wrapping their arms tighter together, the listener is drawn into their world, if even for a fleeting moment. You come to learn how such a love has bestowed them both with the strength and tough-as-nails exterior to weather every kind of storm in their lives. It’s a sight to behold. - B-Sides And Badlands

Spin as One (the title track of their upcoming album) by Mia and Jonah is Americana folk rock drenched with the kind of self assured awareness that comes with knowing each others voices and aesthetic like knowing themselves. Since meeting in San Francisco in 2003 Mia and Jonah have crafted earnest roots music and been involved with eclectic other musical flavors as well. Some where along the way their journey has taken them to L. A. where they now reside. "Spin as One" (the album) comes out on September 7th and features the talents of bass player Seth Ford-Young (Tom Waits, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros), and drummer Steve DiStanislao (David Gilmour, CSN, Kenny Loggins), with banjo by Chris Pandolfi (Infamous Stringdusters), and violin by Alan Grubner.

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Robb Donker

PRESS NOTES:
Mia Mustari and Jonah Blumstein (originally from Hawaii and the East Coast, respectively) met in San Francisco in 2003. Their debut album, Shine I, appeared in 2005. In 2008, Rooms for Adelaide was released and Mia and Jonah toured nationally in support of the well-received album. A residency with The Earth Harp Collective brought Mia and Jonah to Venice, California in 2011, resulting in the album and multimedia project, The Golden Ass.

The couple’s daughter, Rose, was born in 2012. Spin as One’s lyrical themes reflect on family life—overcoming struggles through love and care of one other—as well as Mia and Jonah’s wishes of soulful self-discovery and a collective coming-together for our world to find its way back home.

Mia and Jonah are joined on Spin as One and for live performances by a world-class group of backing musicians: Steve DiStanislao on drums (David Gilmour; Crosby, Stills & Nash), Seth Ford-Young on bass and vocals (Tom Waits; Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros), noted violinist Alan Grubner, and Grammy-winner Chris Pandolfi on banjo. - American Pancake

Americana Highways is pleased to present the video of Mia and Jonah’s song “Spin as One,” from their upcoming album Spin as One. The album is due to be released on September 22, and was produced by Alejandro Speranza (Louise Goffin) and Jonah Blumstein. The video was produced by Los Angeles and San Francisco based duo Mia and Jonah.

The album Spin as One features Mia Mustari’s vocals with Jonah Blumstein on guitars and harmonica — with Alan Grubner (the Louie television show) on violin and Chris Pandolfi (the Infamous Stringdusters) on banjo; backed by rhythm section Steve DiStanislao (Crosby, Stills & Nash) on drums and Seth Ford-Young (Tom Waits) on bass.

“Spin As One” is a lighthearted juxaposition of snappy guitar licks, rhythms, and Pandolfi’s banjo with Grubner’s sorrowful violin. The instrumental arrangement, along with Mia and Jonah’s vocals mingling with hope, backs scenes of family frolicking. “Spin as One”‘s video presents parents spinning with a child in the way we all long to do in the back of our minds amidst harsh realities of today. Both the video and the song provide a message of simple courage.

“In this climate of political and social turbulence, the song “Spin as One” echoes our desire to lift up and out of the chaos surrounding us – and remember our ability as a people to join together for the benefit of all.” – Mia and Jonah - Americana Highways

Things are certainly getting strange out there. There is new evidence of it every two or three minutes, too much, in fact, for any one person to even keep track of. What seems to be happening is that humanity in this country is splitting into two distinct groups, one of which has given into its basest instincts, and as a result has turned ugly and horrid. This group shows no sign of being able to right itself, even when this nightmare finally comes to an end. Fortunately, the other group is the one creating art, and it is to these folks that we turn for comfort and hope and humanity, and also for cheer and beauty. Mia And Jonah, a folk duo based in Los Angeles, deliver all of this on the new release, Spin As One. Mia And Jonah have been performing together for approximately fifteen years, first residing in San Francisco before moving south to L.A. In that time, they’ve released a few CDs. This new one features all original material, with beautiful vocals and gorgeous arrangements designed to connect to something deep within us all, and to connect us to each other. Music that says to us, You are not alone. Music that we need. Joining Mia Mustari and Jonah Blumstein on this release are Seth Ford-Young on bass and backing vocals, Steve DiStanislao on drums, Alan Grubner on violin, and Chris Pandolfi on banjo.

The CD opens with “Our Old Farm,” which immediately establishes a sweet folk sound, with pretty and expressive work on strings. The vocals here have a beautiful, uplifting vibe. Everything is working to offer comfort, to offer a haven from the chaos and ugliness of the world, like welcoming arms. The lyrics seem to express that very idea: “Our old farm, there upon the hill/Ready for a new life, when we choose to heal/When we choose to heal.” This entire country is going to need an extended period of healing once we emerge from this darkness. I only hope it won’t be too late. “Our Old Farm” is followed by “Spin As One,” the CD’s title track. This is a livelier tune, with a rhythm to lift our spirits, maybe get us moving a bit. “When this world turns upside down/Change crumbling the towers/Our hearts are carried by the dove/Soaring high above the flood.” Adding to the positive sound of this track is Chris Pandolfi’s work on banjo. You probably know Chris from his work in The Infamous Stringdusters. Jonah adds some nice work on harmonica.

“Sugarbones” has a sweet, gentle, pretty vibe. This song seems to hold us, swaying slowly, lovingly. “Sugarbones, sugarbones/Oh, I won’t let you feel alone/Walls crumble as you take me inside.” It’s interesting that this song also employs the image of walls crumbling (as “Spin As One” does). When has destruction ever sounded so comforting? And, like “Our Old Farm,” this song’s lyrics mention healing: “I need your touch to heal once more.” Destruction and healing, these things are certainly on the minds of many of us these days, and this music taps into that current. It is change that we crave, that we need. Then “Nightingale” has an undeniable beauty. This music has a gentle optimism that I need these days, that I’m guessing most of us need. “Oh, she’s down from the wind and the rain/But her broken wing she’ll mend/To take herself over the mountains again.”

Their vocals on “Season Of Opening” seem capable of carrying us all into a dream, or perhaps through a dream. This music is emotionally engaging, and at times I just want to let go and drift off within it. “Open the skies above, and it rains down seeds/Open the life we love, in the songs we breathe.” The CD concludes with “Daybreak.” How is that for a hopeful title, eh? “Looks like our luck delivered by a starless sky/I see a cloud surrender to the sun that shines/Our love survives.”

CD Track List
Our Old Farm
Spin As One
Sugarbones
Nightingale
Season Of Opening
Daybreak
Spin As One is scheduled to be released on September 7, 2018.
POSTED BY MICHAEL DOHERTY AT 6:40 PM - Michael Doherty's Music Log

The question that hits me about midway through Spin as One, the latest exercise in transcendent Americana folk-rock by the beautifully intertwined (both spiritually and vocally) acoustic duo Mia and Jonah is, “If they started making music in San Francisco in the fall of 2003, why are they just hitting my radar now?” Maybe it’s because their generally mellow harmonic flow has been best known as an opening vibe for big names (like Tracy Chapman, Sia, Ben Taylor at the Fillmore) before moving to Southern California. Or because their only major tour was behind their 2007 album Room For Adelaide. It’s inspiring to see that they’ve been a critical darling all along, with a live show that “stirs audiences with a magical trance” (Eugene Weekly) and songs that have been described as “visionary” (Nascent Mag) and “timeless.” (Tunejar).

Better late than never, and I’m excited by the opportunity to toss my praise in the ring, on a multitude of levels, for the engaging singer/songwriters Mia Mustari and Jonah Blumstein. First, it’s the dreamy gossamer flow of their harmonies, which render them like a contemporary male-female version of Simon & Garfunkel. While the EP is a bit ballad heavy and could use slightly more variation in tempo (the rockin’, rumblin’ title track bears the most repeated listens by far), the instrumentation they and their band bring keep the ears attentive and engaged in all the sonic details behind that vocal caress. Mia’s contribution is the trippy bending sound of the handsaw while Jonah holds court with an expansive array of sonic possibilities via guitar, harmonica, dobro, mandolin and cello.

The pair are joined by an all-star cast that includes bassist Seth Ford-Young (Tom Waits, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros), drummer Steve DiStanislao (David Gilmour, Crosby Stills & Nash, Kenny Loggins), and violinist Alan Grubner (Vitamin String Quartet) with a special guest appearance by Grammy-winning banjoist Chris Pandolfi (Infamous Stringdusters) on the title track.

Despite the infectious charms of the vocals and richly textured instrumentation, what really captivates, if you listen intently, is the image-rich poetry of the duo’s lyrics. In rendering their tales of life’s struggles, healing and love’s grand ability to open the heart and transform lives, they engage in ultra-cool lines like “Wipe off the dust from your tangerine. . .there is fruit to bear when we choose to heal…” (the meditative opener “Our Old Farm”); “Our hearts are carried by the dove/Soaring high above the flood” (“Spin as One”); “My body’s sore, soul is raw/I need your touch to heal once more” (the lilting “Sugarbones”); and “Open the skies above, and it rains down seeds/Open the life we love, in the songs we breathe.” They use images of a “Nightingale” and broken wings as metaphors for the innate human ability to overcome obstacles.

These kinds of words would be emotionally and spiritually uplifting if someone just read them – but the voices of Mia and Jonah turn them into a truly transcendent experience. - THE JW VIBE

June 16, 2018 Americana-Folk duo Mia and Jonah are prepping the release of their new album, Spin as One, a collection of intimate stories, lush harmonies, and minimalist instrumentation that is due July 1st. Ahead of the release, the duo answer their Essential 8+ and talk about everything from the album to musical mentors, road life, and more. ​

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
Mia: A big musical mentor of mine is Emmylou Harris. Her voice varies in so many incredible ways. It wavers and whispers all with so much strength and self assurance. I first fell in love with her on “Wrecking Ball” which was produced by Daniel Lanois(another hero of mine).
Jonah: When I was in high school, a friend of mine got me into Neil Young. There was something about his voice and the soulful imperfection that was totally inspiring to me. Neil showed me that you could make magic out of simple elements with the power of the pen and the soul. I remember hearing “After the Goldrush” one night, and felt like it was written for me. It was like a siren’s call for to explore the world of songwriting. It was then I got myself a guitar and started learning chords.

With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
Mia: Jonah wrote all the songs on “Spin as One” excepting for two which he co-wrote with Scotty Passaglia. In the past when I wrote I suppose I just felt it when a song was complete. Some songs are still out there half done.. waiting till the other layers expose themselves. It’s not something I would force. It’s just like a flower, it grows in its own time, and when it blossoms, you know.
Jonah: I don’t always know that a song is working until I play it for someone else. For the most part, that person is Mia, or has been for the past 15 years. If I play a new song for her, and it’s not really a big deal, then that song probably won’t be a keeper. It really has to make an emotional impact for us to consider it as a Mia and Jonah song. On this album, I remember playing Season of Opening for her, and afterwards she had tears in her eyes. So, I knew it was doing the right thing and had achieved a sense of clarity within our story. As far as the writing process, I feel like with any song, there is moment when you crystallize the truth of that particular song, and then you just need to keep the channel open to let the words make themselves known.
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Spin as One - Mia and Jonah
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Is there a story behind your album’s title?
​Mia: It’s funny how somethings are just right. Jonah and I were busy with other things for a long time. Him teaching music in a school and myself raising our daughter. We weren’t playing music together for about 6 years, which was when I became pregnant. Our daughter Rose is 5 years old now and will begin kindergarten in September 2018. I began to feel we’d have time to do music together again. We both love music and performance - it was the knot that forged our relationship when we met. Of course I love raising Rose, but Jonah and I had been out of full synch for a while. Him going out to play with his band “Midnight Ball” while I stayed home with Rose. When I heard the song, “Our Old Farm”, I cried, longing for that “Old Farm” we had built with our music since 2005. We decided to play music together and put together an album that instant. Jonah wrote “Spin as One” almost immediately after that decision. There was a heightened excitement to our lives as well as our relationship. It was time to “Spin as One” once more. This time with a renewed sense of purpose and a more singular goal… Enrichment of our lives and souls. It was the obvious title to our album which represented just that.
Jonah: We had a few titles running on this one, but ultimately “Spin as One” was a concept that seemed to root the songs in this idea of energetic unification. In our past records, we would course through Mia songs and then Jonah songs, telling our story as separate artists working together. In 2012, we had a daughter, so we’ve grown together in some deep ways. We began to unify our sound, so “Spin as One” is an evolution of Mia and Jonah wherein we sing all songs in harmony, spinning our voices together as one.

Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did?
Mia: To me they were right. We both have a lot of songs waiting in the wings for their time… but this group written by Jonah (with the help of Scotty P.) called upon the healing of our lives as well as the healing of the world. There is a general theme of trust, unity, peace and love throughout the album. We hope by singing these songs we can call upon those forces which seem to be waning in the unsettled political state and growing strangeness of the world we live in now.
Jonah: We’ve always made somewhat eclectic sounding records, and wanted this record to actually have a consistent vibe all throughout. So, the songs had to come from a similar musical universe. We began working with violin player, Alan Grubner, when he came out to LA. Alan and I were in a bluegrass band together years ago in college, so the songs on this album really wanted to cross over to the world of folk and Americana and suit the addition of the violin. These songs were a continuation of the Mia and Jonah story as it unfolded in real life. They all seemed to tie back to our past 6 years, raising our child and building a home in LA together.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
Mia: I am very inward, diving deep into my own feelings and emotions for inspiration. I can be a little self centered when I write and get completely naked whether the world wants to see me that way or not. I write my soul. Sometimes I feel like it’s my own “therapy”. I am also inspired by others stories. When I wrote “Water in a Teapot” in 2005, I felt like I was channelling a friends story and letting myself be that person while I wrote.
Jonah: I draw inspiration from my own emotions. So, usually I will discover a musical progression that does something for me, and I’ll play that progression over and over again until I find out what it is triggering on a deeper level. Sometimes I will scribble words and sounds that have the right prosody, and then decipher them into the real words once I unlock the song and find out what its about. It all comes from within and usually is a way of processing something I am going through in real life.

When/where do you do your best writing?
Mia: The best writing comes when I am least looking for it. It’s kinda like a radio turns on in my head and writes the song all by itself. It could be at home or walking in the rain. Sometimes late at night in bed. I love these times when the words come rushing out so clearly almost like daytime dreaming. There is no pushing or trying, just listening.
Jonah: I haven’t noticed anything consistent as far as when and where. Usually, I really need to be by myself to hear a song within. Sometimes, I really benefit from writing lyrics with a partner. On this record, I got together with Scott Passaglia, and we wrote Our Old Farm and Sugarbones. I had a chord sequence and melody, and Scott fished out the lyrics with me.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
Jonah: I write about an abstracted personal experience. It all comes from an emotional truth, but can be woven with abstract metaphors to paint a picture.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
Mia: Jolie Holland told me a long time ago, It isn’t easy to make money doing this. At the time she was one of my heroes, had been a huge part of “The Be Good Tanyas” and as broke as I was. Losing this mentality of “I’m gonna get rich doing this” is only a good thing. I think it makes a musician truer to themselves once it becomes a labor/delight born of love. Playing music enriches my entire life in so many ways. Also, I definitely do not mean to say you can’t make money doing music!! I wish the best of luck to all musicians out there.
Jonah: There was a street musician in New Orleans who I played with for a few months who said to “play it all”, meaning learn all styles of music and allow yourself to be flexible and open enough to do so. The more you push yourself musically in different directions, the more you can bring back into your style over time. I think Willie Nelson is a great example of a musician who has pushed his own music boundaries to the ends of the earth. When you hear him play guitar, you can hear everything from Django Reinhardt to Hank Williams, but it all swirls into his own sound.

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Mia: Keep moving forward.
Jonah: Of course, it doesn’t matter what you do, just how you do it. So, find what it is you love to do with music, and use it to stay on “cutting edge” of yourself and your music. Think of music as a life-long practice. Also, don’t be afraid that learning new musical styles will change your’s. Everything you learn about your instrument and music theory will find its way within your natural musical self.

What’s your favorite/”go-to” food on the road?
Mia: Haha. This is very strange, but I love veggie chili from a can! Sometimes I still eat it at home, for memories sake.
Jonah: We shoot for sushi and kombucha whenever possible. If it’s early in the day, and available, I love breakfast burritos.

Do you have any touring tips?
Mia: Have a bed in the van! Jonah and I had a memory foam bed and often opted to stay in the van rather than sleep on a lumpy couch. You can sleep while someone else drives… So important when you are traveling all the time and have a gig every day or so. Also, always have a headlamp. They are great for finding gear in the dark or your way to a friends bathroom!
Jonah: If you are touring in a van, join the YMCA. All around the United States, if you are a member, you can be a guest at pretty much every YMCA for up to three days. Some of them are really nice. You can work out a bit, shower, sometimes even do the steam room. If you are on a budget, and want to cut down on hotel room expenses, you can always park your van and sleep in Walmart parking lots overnight. Do as many radio interviews at the college/ AAA stations as possible.

What are your “must have” albums for the road?
Mia: Bruce Springsteen “Born to Run”, Ryan Adams “Cold Roses” and “29”, AJ Roach “Dogwood Winter”, Emmylou Harris “Wrecking Ball”, Sean Hayes every album, I could go on forever. Jonah and I love music. Newest latest.. We Are The West “The Golden Shore”. We just gigged with them in LA. I had heard their album and was already a fan. They were incredible live!
Jonah: If I had to choose a few albums for the road, one would be Talking Heads, “Stop Making Sense”, one would be the Bob Dylan “Bootleg Series”, and one would be Emmylou Harris’ “Wrecking Ball”.

How do you kill the long hours in the van?
Mia: Often I learn new parts of something on a new instrument (I learned to play bass in the van). Jonah is fun to road trip with. He’s funny as hell! We get very weird sometimes, cracking up for no reason, singing our favorite albums with a country twang, or making up commercial songs for places we pass with fun names.
Jonah: I don’t think we have any one thing - we spend a lot of time together anyway. I think it’s always good to stop off and have little adventures whenever you can. We like to meet people along the way and enjoy the landscape if possible. All that being said, sometimes you just need audio books.

What’s the most frustrating thing about being on the road?
Mia: Since we almost always sleep in the van(we kept a memory foam bed in the back, YES!)… places that don’t have public bathrooms. People are kind enough to leave their doors open for us. Bless you people! But sometimes, we are parked on the street and, well, it sucks to pee in a neighborhood with homes… you feel like a vagrant!
Jonah: Any kind of vehicle trouble, and rising gas prices.

What do you love most about being on the road?
Mia: I love the gypsy spirit that comes with the travelling. There is a freedom when you’re own ideas of who you are stop being so defined, the boundaries of your former self are pushed. I am much more open to believing I can do something new and different like learning a new instrument or make a lifestyle adjustment. Jonah is very supportive of taking risks. The second I said, I think I’d like to play bass in Texas, his first priority was stopping at a store to buy me a bass.

Jonah: I love the impending serendipity, where you meet people and see things that somehow tie to other people and places in your life. Often, when you are in motion on your right path, there is a magical serendipity that can come in to remind you that something else is in control. There are these delightful coincides that just come out of the woodwork.
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What has been your biggest struggle so far?
Both: We really struggled to complete our last album/ project, The Golden Ass. It was an ambitious multi-media project that took us a bunch of years to get together. There was a strong visual component, a stop-motion puppet film we projected for the show. We had to move to the East Coast half-way through and finish all that we could in my sister’s garage. Musically, it was like a piece of theater wherein we would play different characters to tell a story. It was a bit draining, but we saw it through, and definitely learned from it.

What has been your biggest success?
Both: In our career, the biggest success has been the song “Rooms”. It has been streamed millions of times, and continues to outsell everything else we have out.

What’s your favorite venue and why?
Mia: House concerts are my favorite venue. They pay first of all. They are silent (you could hear a pin drop in the middle of a house concert). People respect and love that we are choosing to be artists. Bars are loud. Opening for a great act is awesome and a huge honor, but still, you are the opener, people didn’t pay to see you. They want what’s next. In a house concert people are truly loving you and your dream. They are dreaming your dream with you. It is so gratifying and lovely.
Jonah: When we lived in San Francisco, we really loved playing at Cafe Du Nord. It always had amazing sound onstage and off.

What’s your dream venue and why?
Jonah: My dream would be to play at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

Who would you love to collaborate with?
Mia: We have been so blessed to collaborate with the some of the best musicians I have ever known. I mean we’ve played with Seth Ford-Young (bass), John Hanes (drums), Stevie D (drums), Alan Grubner (violin), Josh Nadelberg (voice) and Myles Boisen (electric guitar/banjo/producer). Playing with these accomplished people always make me better. Somehow just their energy awakes something that takes you to a whole new level. Daniel Lanois is someone both Jonah and I have always admired as a musician and a producer. It’s funny cause I’ve been to his house for an afterparty (he lives here in LA) and we know a close friend of his, but we haven’t connected yet. Maybe someday…
Jonah: I would love for us to make an album with producer, Daniel Lanois. He creates such an amazing sonic landscape in everything he touches.

Which song of yours gets the best crowd response?
Mia: Good question… Depends on the crowd. When we started “Bird on the Wind” (which was the first song Jonah and I had written together) always made people dance. Now well, I guess this upcoming tour will help us find the answer to that.Jonah: Lately, the song Nightingale from our new record gets a unique response. It is very meditative and features Mia’s saw playing.

Are there any songs you are tired of playing and why?
Mia: Yes, more than one, only because I’ve sung them so many times. When we are making a set list we get together and both of us decide what to play. Sometimes Jonah will be like, I’m not feeling that song right now. Same with me. We have quite a few songs to choose from luckily with 3 albums an EP and some singles. Well, 4 albums now that “Spin as One” is coming out.
Jonah: I remember getting a little tired of “Bird on the Wind” a few years back. We haven’t been playing it much in our current live set. I bet we’ll feel it again at some point. Sometimes a song has to be rediscovered.

Is drinking at gigs a positive or a negative?
Mia: Neither so far.
Jonah: I like to have a drink after the set. The thing is, I usually don’t eat too much before singing, so drinking on an empty stomach can be hazardous for me. There has to be food at some point. In general, drinking doesn’t help me as a performer, but if its a low pressure gig, sometimes I have a few.

Favorite (or first) concert you have ever attended?
Mia: Joni Mitchell was one of the first non-christian(my parents were missionaries so rock or anything not christian was secular and not allowed - except Hawaiian music), picked by ME concerts I attended. My ex made fun of the “lesbian music” the whole time. I was transfixed. I thought she was so cool. She was smoking a cigarette in one hand and a microphone in the other. I was really young. I remember thinking “she is such a rock-n-roller”.
Jonah: I drove down to LA to see Neil Young at the Greek Theater in 2000, and it was an amazing two-night experience. It was like he was a different person each night, and played with such intense raw energy, it made a lasting impact.

Favorite thing to do on a day off?
Mia: A real day off, would be a day alone. That doesn’t often happen as a mother. On the rare chance that I have a full day for myself - You’d probably catch me at home binge-watching episodes of “West World”, “GOT” or “Big Little Lies”. Another luxury on a “day off” is going to a spa to get a facial or something equally pampering.
Jonah: We love to go to the beach as a family.

Do you have a favorite gift from a fan?
Mia: There is a woman who did a really great cover of our song, Rooms. I love it! I suppose people loving, sharing and believing in your music is the best gift a singer/songwriter can ask for.
Jonah: One time we got featured on a magazine cover, and subsequently received a really sweet letter in the mail from a young girl with a picture of herself. It was really touching that she reached out.

Have you met any of your heroes? If so, how did it go?
Mia: After falling in love with The Be Good Tanya’s, I met Jolie Holland in San Francisco at Cafe Du Nord. I had just heard of Sean Hayes, who I came to see - he was a local artist people who people were beginning to talk about. Jolie was hanging out at a table with some ladies and with a deck of Tarot cards. I had no idea who she was when I went up to the table and asked if she would read my cards. We hung there out for a while just talking about Tarot and whatever else came up. Then she said, Oh I’ve got to go play a couple songs with my friend. Turned out Sean and Jolie were doing some harmonies and upon asking I found out who she was. I was so psyched. She was so personable and just nice. After that we discovered we both lived on the Pan Handle (in SF) and I continued to hang with her from time to time until she got signed and moved. She was just getting by then, no different than myself even though I was just an aspiring musician with no albums, just songs. I was really amazed that Jolie Holland would hang out with me, let alone listen to my music. Once I even asked what it would take to get some music lessons from her. She said dinner would do. What a lovely person. I love her new album
Jonah: Not yet - hopefully at some point.

Is there a recent release you cannot stop listening to?
Mia: Yes! We are the West, The Golden Shore! I found their music and it was on my “what I’m listening to now” facebook post when I discovered they lived in LA. I emailed them as soon as I found out asking if they would like to do a show with us (not really expecting them to say yes). They said yes! Turns out they we have a lot of musician friends in common. We talked about doing some more gigs together. Small world.
Jonah: We have been listening a lot to We are the West’s new album, “The Golden Shore”

Song (of yours) you wish you would have released as a single and why?
Mia: Not really.
Jonah: I like the album format for what we do in general. Each album is a chunk of our life where the songs relate to each other in some way.

Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
Mia: No real professional bucket list, but as far as a hope of my own, I’d love to live to see my daughter grow into her own woman…
Jonah: I think that list could be really long if I put my mind to it. It would be great to around the world at some point. We would love to do gigs in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. Otherwise, let’s hook up those licensing deals and get our music in movies, shows or anything of the like. Deep down, I kind of hope our daughter ends up joining the band so we can tour as a family. - The Daily Country

‘Spin as One’ is Los Angeles based duo Mia Mustari and Jonah Blumstein’s fourth album and perhaps it is the confidence of a musical marriage of 15 years together that has allowed them to deliver such a confident and compelling listen. If there were any preconceived notions that this songwriting duo would offer up a gentle laid-back acoustic listen then the opening title track puts those thoughts on hold. Mia and Jonah have recruited able musical support to produce a full band sound with the strings of Alan Grubner and Stevie Destanislao’s insistent drums joining forces with Jonah’s harmonica for a joyously upbeat starter.

The presence of these accompanying musicians, there are four in total, has allowed the duo to offer a variety of styles on the album and for every song that is built around a dominant drum rhythm there are others where a softer approach affords a change in pace and direction. The common thread of course is the vocals of Mia and Jonah and that musical diversity is mirrored by the sharing of lead vocals. Both voices work splendidly independently as well as coming together for some highly effective harmonies.

Which style and pace of song best showcases these vocal talents may depend on your own musical preferences but Jonah’s lead on the soft and soulful album closer ‘Warm Wind’ is indeed a warm and lovely thing to behold. As good as the fuller, more band influenced songs may be, this closing track offers up a tantalising glimpse of the potential of the duo with the right song.

This view is reinforced by the other stand out track ‘Rooms’. Whilst those aforementioned drums remain prominent they are employed in a much subtler fashion that leaves us with the not insignificant result of a track with a killer, shuffle like drum riff complimenting shared lead vocals.

This is an album with much to commend it and the vocal talents of Mia Mustari and Jonah Blumstein are as good a pairing as anything out there. If in doubt, listen to ‘Smile’, a track that, in its own meandering fashion, gets the balance between lovely sounding guitar, harmonica and wonderful vocals just about spot on.

-Peter Churchill, June 18 2018 - Americana UK

Its discouraging to think that anyone with the good looks of Mia Mustari and Jonah Blumstein of the roots folk duo Mia and Jonah would be so unlucky in love, but at least they’re willing to share. Since first meeting in late 2003, the Irvine, California pair has nurtured and refined a unique style of gently rocking acoustic songwriting that relies on sparse production and the dark sultry voice of Mustari to evoke an engaging range of down-and-out characters.
“Rooms for Adelaide”, the band’s second full-length, was released in 2008 and garnered enough critical acclaim and success to support a nation-wide tour. Overall, the song quality is a mixed bag, with a fair amount of filler, a handfull of solid tracks and a couple real gems. While Blumstein sings lead on a few songs, the real star here is Mustari’s voice, a smoky sumptous crooning thing that deserves its own Facebook page. Think Fiona Apple, Beth Gibbons of Portishead, or “Who Will Save Your Soul”-era Jewel.
She uses her talents to good effect on “Junkyard Dog”, a satifyingly scuzzy highlight with back-alley guitar riffing reminiscent of Tom Waits, and harmonizes beautifully with Blumstein on “Angels Down” further into the disc. All the tracks are solidly acoustic, but the pair veer away from any strummy pop sensibilities and opt for a more traditional Americana sound with raw boot-stomping rhythms and the occasional harmonica solo.
Blumstein grabs the spotlight early-on with “Wish”, a fast paced romp with wire-brushed snare and a catchy guitar riff that showcases his solid vocal skills. The song packs an emotional punch lyrically as Blumstein sings ”I wish your lips/ To touch my face/ Follow me down to the ocean well/ And We’ll wish out of this place.” Like most of the album, the song carries a poignant and vulnerable honesty that stays with the listener without the help of power-pop choruses and repetitive hooks.
With a third full length arriving later this year (check out their website for the stunning clay-mation video for “The Golden Ass”), fans should prepare to be beguiled for the forseeable future. - Gabe Vigh

There’s something truly trippy about Mia and Jonah’s new album, Shine I. They go from singing about mustard seeds to the “sunset in [their] soul[s],” all with intricately simplistic instrumentation that works wonderfully... The caterwauling in the background during the chorus of “Mustard Seed,” for example, is infectious, creepy, and brilliant all at the same time...

Their lyrics are riddled with natural imagery, with song titles like “SF Rain” and “Warm Wind.” The poetry in their lyrics is poignant and heart-wrenching, with lines like “It’s summer time and colder / Than a wounded lover’s shoulder,” speaking mostly of difficult moments in relationships or imminent change.

By the time the album starts to move halfway through its mist of strange instrumental breaks and luscious, haunting harmonies, suddenly “Bird on the Wind” comes in. Arguably the strongest track on the record, “Bird on the Wind” is a calm, catchy acoustic number featuring nothing but Mia and Jonah’s lovely voices, an acoustic guitar, and scant drumbeats.

While their music harkens to other artists by whom they’ve no doubt been influenced, Mia and Jonah are not the types of musicians who wear their influences on their sleeves. They’ve taken inspiration from jazz, folk, rock and pop, and made it into their own very distinct, wonderful creation. There’s not a low point on Shine I, and each song is full of the type of timeless, intuitive beauty that makes music memorable.

-Kim Ruehl

- Kim Ruehl

Mia and Jonah keep a fluid country-folk pace rolling through their latest release Rooms For Adelaide. Produced by Mia, Jonah and the duo's guitarist Myles Boisen, the album has Americana spirituals like the track "Morning Hymnals" which features Mia's refined bluesy timbres, and ruminating pastorals like "Dance" caramelizing breezy acoustic guitar strums and languid rhythmic loops played by John Hanes on drums and Seth Ford-Young on upright bass. The lyrics are observations about the world around us, showing the bad and the good without condemning either. The lyrics don't sound preachy but tell it like it is with a casual swagger like in "Dance" with words that tell, "I walked and I walked in the city of sin where coldness is etched in the far away grins/ The singers are chipped but they're sharp as can be/ On the grins of their mouths they will spin and spin you around/ To a tune of all that you want/ Acceptance is paid for by the dimes of your thoughts costing way more than I got."

These are songs that let you be alone with your thoughts. The gentle bluegrass smoke rings of "Adelaide" are reminiscent of Barton Carroll's porch-folk musings, and the hardy tones of "Troubled Mind Blues" are weighed down in deep bluesy-folk textures reminiscent of Shelby Lynne. Though the songs show musical influences in country-folk patinas, there is so much in these songs that are completely etched in Mia and Jonah's penmanship like the comfortable chord changes of "3 Stories High" that cause your heartrate to accelerate along the chorus parts, or the alternating vocal melodies of Mia and Jonah on "Wish." The slinky rhythmic struts of "Junkyard Dog" have a jazz flavoring, and the bucolic country tones of "Angels Down" have a comfortable sway relatable to Tom Waits.

The songs have a simplicity that invites you to sing along with them and emotive grooves that affect your image of the world. Mia and Jonah's songs are about life, the bad and the good. It is like they are speaking in your ear, infiltrating your mind and helping you to see more clearly through the foggy thoughts that hamper your way. Rooms For Adelaide is a personable album that might make the day go by a little easier for you. It's like having a favorite saying written on a plaque that you turn to whenever you need inspiration to pull you through a low point in the day. Mia and Jonah's songs keep you straight when events in the day are pulling you in different directions.

-Susan Frances - Susan Frances

On their 2005 first self-released album, Shine I, Mia Mustari and Jonah Blumstein delved into everything from folk to jazz, holding it all together at the seams with strong indie rock sensibilities. The music relied heavily on drums and upright bass, with softly strummed acoustic guitar playing only a small role. Now a few years later, they present Rooms for Adelaide with a similar smooth pop sound but with a backing band that includes Tom Waits's guitarist Myles Boisen and bassist Seth Ford-Young and Bonnie Raitt's drummer John Hanes. Mustari and Blumstein have successfully sidestepped their coffee shop pop style in favor of a more sophisticated, radio-ready form of folk. The rough edges that once gave the band a homegrown feel are gone, and considering their impending tour in the Midwest, it's clear they are shooting for much more.

When Mustari takes the mic, the sound becomes a hybrid of Norah Jones and Melissa Etheridge. Her deep, jazzy voice works best when backed by Blumstein's, which prompts comparisons to a less somber Elliott Smith. The duo are at their strongest when the harmonies ring out...
-Alex Felsinger - Alex Felsinger

It’s not easy to follow a great debut with an even greater sophomore effort, but Mia Mustari and Jonah Blumstein are clearly not bothering to reinvent the wheel. Last time out on Shine I, the Oakland duo presented a more stripped-down approach to its often introspective, occasionally whimsical songs. This time around on their latest effort Rooms for Adelaide, Mia and Jonah opt for a more mainstream sound. Songs like “Rooms” and “3 Stories High” could easily fit on the FM dial between David Gray and Jack Johnson. Mustari’s voice occasionally hearkens to Pat Benatar, at other times (“Junkyard Dog”) it‘s almost a little Liza Minnelli, with enough vocal strut to knock down a row of trembling men.

“Morning Hymnal” stands out as Blumstein’s finest performance. It’s perfect for his innately echoic voice, which slides flawlessly into this slogging heat-drenched Southern Gospel-inspired tune, complete with heavy humming. In fact, Jonah’s voice is so distant and haunting that it unfortunately tends to get lost against the vocal fortitude of his female counterpart. This is reconciled on “Angels Down” though, as both sets of vocals complement each other nicely and bring back that strange, trippy quality the singers mastered on their debut.

“Adelaide,” the album’s namesake, drips with emotion from the second Mia’s voice enters. The accompaniment is decidedly folkier than anything else in this collection — except for maybe the fabulously romping “Wish” — as soft-rocking guitar strums, a subtle mid-range melody and occasional, minimal harmonica carry Mia’s thick, husky voice. The lyrics practically sing themselves: “Light exchange concerning dogs and names / The candle burns the night down to the floor / Adelaide, he craves you to the core.”

Rooms for Adelaide is a new direction for the band and, like anything new, it’s not perfect. But who needs perfect when there’s enough soul in these Rooms to go around? (Self-released)

www.miaandjonah.com

-Kim Ruehl - Kim Ruehl

Americana tag team Mia and Jonah may be the musical equivalent of mac and cheese: Just as hearty helpings of the comfort food offer a simple but soothing cure for empty stomachs, the spare, commiserative melodies composing the Oakland duo's second full-length, Rooms for Adelaide, transpire as the recipe to fill empty souls.

In finest folk tradition, the twosome's lush harmonies and minimalist guitar, bass and drums instrumentation (with the occasional dobro and harmonica squeal) take a backseat to quaking vocal delivery and consoling lyrics that show empathy for tales of woe. Mia's ruddy growl naturally resonates with hard luck cases on rollicking opener "3 Stories High," while Jonah's countrified drawl constructs an unconditional beacon of hope on "Dance" (And even when the bottom feels like it's dropping out in the middle of the ocean / Won't you pull close to me?).

The plucks and jangles of Jonah's acoustic guitar capably drive most songs, but the duo also throws in non-folksy stylistic surprises. The demented "Junkyard Dog," which saunters on drummer John Hanes' slack, trash-can beat and Mia's roughneck attitude, channels visionary, experimental booze-blues curmudgeon Tom Waits -- apropos considering guest musicians Seth Ford-Young (bass) and Myles Boisen(electric guitars) have also collaborated with Waits.

Rooms for Adelaide peaks when Mia and Jonah hit lyrical hell on the album's strongest melodies: the bluesy lament "Morning Hymnal," which enmeshes Mia's burdened lyrics (I don't got no head / Got a 50 pound lead weight instead) with Jonah's mournful hum; and "Rooms," a hushed duet reminiscent of Irish troubadour Damien Rices collaborations with Lisa Hannigan, where Mia dwells in vulnerability while coping with life's lingering troubles (Pardon me for smoking this old abandoned cigarette / But I got miles o' trail to squander and not enough time to forget).

With their heartfelt revelations, Mia and Jonah's complementary musical coupling would make a most welcome guest to any whiskey-soaked pity party. And in troubled times like these, who isn't in need of a cathartic soiree? - Julia Cooper

Dark Waters Ahead

It's hard to know what to write about groups that have been critically compared to other really famous and beloved acts. Mia and Jonah pose this problem in spades. I almost don't want to say which bands other writers think this Bay Area duo sounds like, or who their guitar and upright bassist played with in the recent past; those tidbits are probably best left to the Internet savvy. What I will say is that Mia and Jonah's second full-length album has an appealingly live, folky feel to it, spontaneously emotional yet heavy with intentional musical decisions. Both lead vocalists deliver this collection of painfully human stories without burdening their songs with distracting production or indulgent instrumentation. If you care to devote your listening energy to simple harmonies saturated in serious poetic musings, Mia and Jonah have a cache of material that will delight you. Those seeking a more immediately visceral experience may struggle through the quiet intensity their fans have come to appreciate.

Rooms for Adelaide opens with a healthy dose of Mia Mustari's unapologetic alto on the disturbingly catchy track "3 Stories High." After exploring this impressionistic slice of urban despair, track two takes listeners through the musings of a lover who has sacrificed self-love for longing on the beautiful ballad "Wish." And so it goes, all the way through Rooms; relentlessly intimate yet musically soothing enough to keep you from resisting the pain. If there is a "hit" on this album it is probably "Junkyard Dog," a raunchy little number about life on the down and out.

Likely to stir audiences from the magical trance induced only by those special performers who create what they live and live what they create. - Adrienne van der Valk

One late spring day during my sophomore year of college, four or five months after my grandma passed away from a not-so-lengthy bout with lung cancer, I walked out of the English building and onto the quad. At the base of the concrete stairs, I saw a pile of pink dogwood blossoms shed by the nearby trees intermixed with a plentiful smattering of cigarette butts. I had been living in a hyperaware state for quite some time by then, but the juxtaposition of the ugly and the beautiful, sitting there on the ground, stunned me.

That image stuck with me for over eight years, and I’d always wondered how I’d make sense of it, what I’d do with that piercing visual.

Only a few months ago, I was at a friend’s house for dinner, and she had Pandora radio playing out of her computer speakers while she cooked. I was in the middle of chitchatting in the kitchen when a song made me rudely, inexplicably pause in the middle of conversation. It was “Smile” by Mia and Jonah, a song I’d never heard by a duo of which I’d never heard. Like the music nerd I am, I asked my friend for a piece of paper and pen so I could quickly get down all the pertinent information.

Soon after that night, I had both albums by Mia and Jonah, the original Shine I that features that first introduction, “Smile,” and the 2008 release, Rooms for Adelaide. Both are superb executions of modern folk music, melodies alternating between Mia’s soulful rasp and Jonah’s grounded voice with airy guitar and welcome harmonica cameos.

At first I had a difficult time qualifying how I felt about this music; my mind kept roaming to my memory’s tucked-away image of the petals and the cigarette butts, particularly when listening to Rooms. However, the words that I needed to connect this idea to these sounds escaped me.

I had fledgling, solely visceral notions about the difference in tone of the two albums, but Mia explained to me: “Rooms and Shine I are so different from each other to us. They are like chapters of our lives. Shine I has this innocent, playful quality to it. Jonah and I just met. We were so deep in love. Feeling that new magic that happens when we see that we can put seeds into the ground and grow a rose. Rooms has the mark of seasons, stormy weather, and struggle of keeping those roses alive all over it. Believing that a dead flower will come to life again in the spring.”

The duo went on to elucidate that the album’s title girl, Adelaide, “is a character that has suffered huge, hard knocks. Still there is hope in the hand of a loved one, beauty in the sad struggle, and a fire that refuses to quit burning despite the rain.” For me, the beauty in the sad struggle symbolically sat at the base of those concrete steps eight years ago, rosy and black, waiting to be understood.

These insights into the music helped me make an important connection: the dichotomies inherent in life are the essence of what it’s all about. They aren’t ugly or beautiful; they are both simultaneously. In “Dance,” the two encourage listeners to dance despite the creeping cold. In “3 Stories High,” they remind of “angels cloaked in disguises.” And in “Smile,” they advise “to live your life and stop trying so hard to understand it.” Through their music, Mia and Jonah dissect the nature of existing and honor life, especially its tumultuous weather and confusing times.

I hope I can always do the same.

They said it:
“If a singer sings only four notes, and there is soul in each one, oh my God, I am a life long fan. What is soul? Can’t say exactly. It just is. And I love it. I hope that my voice/songs are an echo of my soul.” (Mia)

“I am touched by media that taps into a vibration that is beyond thought and/or conceptual belief. At best, a song will present itself without too much thought, so my job is to be present enough to let it happen.” (Jonah)

- Katie Cook

"... Jeff Buckley-esque blend of country, folk and rock ...songs of singular beauty played and sung without pretense."

- Bill Picture

As a music town, Oakland California is better known for the gritty sounds that emit from it’s urban suburban streets, like funk (a la Tower of Power) and rap. Sweetly acoustic Americana is definitely not something I’d expect to hear from an Oakland resident, and yet I’ve been digging the second album by Mia & Jonah who are Oaktown-based and proud of it.

When listening to Rooms For Adelaide, it’s best to keep an open mind because, although the duo (backed by a crack band) create sounds that will instantly remind of bands like Iron & Wine and the Shins, there are enough left turns and curve balls to give one the impression that the two are up to something quite different. The album kicks off with “3 Stories High”, a driving little number that acts as great calling card for things to come: Mia--who sounds like a cross between Melissa Etheridge and Sheryl Crow--blends well with Jonah, whose voice is reminiscent of Elliott Smith’s, to create an interesting harmony fusion. From there the songs range from the waltz-tempo “Morning Hymnal” to the haunting “Rooms”, with each holding distinct pleasures of its own. The arrangements are rhythm-centric without being funky or heavy-handed, economic without coming off like demos, all to the songs’ benefit. “Junkyard Dog” sounds like a Tom Waits song performed by Rickie Lee Jones, but that’s just a point of reference for one of my favorite songs on the album, which also contains a spirited performance by Mia.

Mia & Jonah actually remind me of another duo working similar territory, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion: both camps make idiosyncratic country alt-rock that deserves a wide audience. More to the point, though, Rooms For Adelaide is a fascinating piece of work that gets better and exposes more layers on each listen. If this album is any indication, Mia & Jonah are here to stay….in Oakland. Respect!

Written By: Gina Morris - Gina Morris

It never ceases to amaze me how much good music by independent artists is being produced these days. Releasing their music on the internet and performing literally hundreds of times per year have allowed many artists to have their music heard and to at least scratch out a living. Many of these artists write, record, engineer and produce their own material.

Mia & Jonah are quintessential independent artists. Their second album release, Songs For Adelaide, find them as excellent songwriters and in possession of an ability to put together a production that flows well from song to song... all the parts of the album fit together well and lull you into a pleasurable listening experience.

Mia & Jonah describe themselves as an Americana folk-rock band. This self designation is accurate. If their songs were performed with just an acoustic guitar in support, they would be a folk duo. Mia & Jonah, however, take their lyrics and add a rock beat. They put percussion out front with a guitar sound in support and create an interesting blend of musical styles.

The lyrics are Mia & Jonah’s greatest strength. They speak of personal experiences and musings. The lyrics, however, are just a starting point. They provide the listener a jumping-off point to continue the journey on their own.

“Stories High” and “Wish” begin the album and are representative of what is to follow. Soft voices, both individually and in tandem, lead the listener onward. The beat provides a good count point to this mellow approach. “Silver Moon” is probably the most striking song contained on the album. It is a love song, but the true meaning dances just beyond the mind’s reach.

Mia & Jonah present music for the mind as well as the ear. You really need to listen to the lyrics, which are included in the packaging, as they tell the story just as well as the music -- like all great folk songs. Overall, this is a wonderfully-crafted album that goes well with a glass of wine, a fireplace and an open mind.

-David Bowling - David Bowling