Hunter and the Wick'd

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Joshua Tree, California is in the hi desert. People move to Joshua Tree for all kinds of reasons. It is a place where the soul can find inspiration. One such soul is Miri Hunter. Already an established singer-songwriter, Miri moved to Joshua Tree and eventually formed a band called Hunter and the Wick’d. One day out on her front porch while the sun was rising, Miri grabbed her guitar and songs started to flow. Hunter and the Wick’d now tour throughout the region. Band members include: Miri Hunter, acoustic guitar, vocals / Thom Merrick, bass, electric guitar / Rick Chaffee, electric guitar /Erik Mouness, drums. Their debut single “I Don’t Wanna Talk Right Now” is what happens when desert soul meets the sunrise in the hands of a genuine singer-songerwriter.

From the start there’s an easy-breezy, country porch groove that sets the laid-back vibe for the song. With just some sparse guitar (both acoustic and twangy electric) and bass, the intro shines a light on Miri’s petty voice. The mix is just right with Miri’s vocals front and center. She sings, “I don’t wanna talk right now, I just wanna lay up in your arms.” Her vocal performance has a genuine tenderness that is moving. Throughout the song, Miri never “belts it out.” She’s a singer who possesses a nice sensitivity to the lyrics she sings.

Soon the percussion kicks in for a fuller sound. As the rhythm guitar continues the melodic groove, the electric guitar sparkles over the track with conversational leads like sunlight. "I Don’t Wanna Talk Right Now" is a love song that is about letting go of the world’s negative chains, living in the moment, and just taking your time to enjoy one another without words, just the presence of two people. “Stop the world, it's making us crazy We can catch our breath, don't mean we're lazy Find a quiet place and try this one more time I don't want to talk right now, I just want to lay up in your arms.” The chorus is highly memorable and elements of country and folk are heard throughout.

"I Don’t Wanna Talk Right Now" has a heart and soul like the Joshua Tree – it’s roots are deep with a talented singer and seasoned musicians; it’s songwriting is evergreen; and it feels like a day in the sun under a vast, blue sky. - Please pass the indie

Singer-songwriter Miri Hunter grew up in a musical household filled with everything from country to jazz. Her inspirational childhood and early classical piano training led her to a lifelong passion for music. Today, Miri has formed a new band called ‘Hunter and the Wick’d. Band members include Miri Hunter, acoustic guitar and vocals; Thom Merrick, bass and electric guitar; Rick Chaffee, electric guitar; and Erik Mouness on drums. Hunter and the Wick’d perform throughout Southern California and Las Vegas. Concerts are kept fresh by virtuoso performances from regular band member, Thom Merrick on bass and guitar, who also co-writes with Hunter and local musicians from the Hi-Desert.

The band’s self-titled CD boasts ten Folk/Americana songs that Hunter calls “Desert Country Rock.” The songs were inspired by the magical hi desert of California’s Joshua Tree. Miri moved to the dessert and found that the tranquility of the landscape sparked her gift. Off the album, their debut single, “I Don’t Wanna Talk Right Now” is sure to get you talkin’.

“I Don’t Wanna Talk Right Now” commences with light acoustic guitar and tasteful melodic electric guitar fills. There’s a nice soft groove that’s created right from the start. Miri enters singing, “I don't want to talk right now, I just want to lay up in your arms I don't want to talk right now, words can only do us harm. Let's not talk right now, let me lay up on your arms.” Miri has a natural vocal tone that is relaxed and easy to listen to. Her voice is warm and inviting. Soon, beautiful harmonies come in an upper register - the harmonies sound wonderful.

The melodic content in “I Don’t Want to Talk Right Now” is strong making this song feel like an old, welcomed friend. The song has a timeless quality. A nice instrumental section highlights artistic and classy guitar leads that display folk music sensibilities, fitting the vibe of the song perfectly. The chorus is catchy with a strong hook that wil have you humming long after you have heard the song.

“I Don’t Wanna Talk Right Now can stand side by side on the folk-country charts. The song has universal appeal with lyrics about what’s important in life from a simple touch to a quite place, and sometimes we have to stop the world to catch our breath. Music has a way of saying what words cannot and this is Miri’s gift – to capture what the soul feels in song. - indie spoonful

By Admin | September 15, 2016 at 5:20 pm | No comments | Columns, Feature Stories, Local Music Spotlight

By Morgan James

Miri Hunter found herself inspired by our beautiful desert so much that a short trip to recharge turned into a new life full of the creative energy she had been hungry for. Listening to this skilled performer is like sneaking a peek at a mirror, then suddenly remembering that someone else is singing the lyrics inside your head. While Miri’s songs are noticeably deeply personal, her thoughts resonate with sentiment that is shared throughout the human spirit. Honest! Relatable! Miri Hunter carries her audience through a delightful journey in every song. I was fortunate to speak with the talented songstress about the desert, her music, upcoming performances, and her artistic nature.

MJ: Tell me how you came to be in our desert and about your background in music?

MH: “I moved to the desert in 2013 for what I thought would be a couple of months. I was trying to re-charge myself. At the end of those couple of months, I couldn’t remember why I wanted to go back to LA. So I rented a house in Joshua Tree and eventfully bought a small place out in Wonder Valley.”

“I was born and raised in southern Virginia and I started piano at age nine. I rarely play piano anymore in public, but I do love it. I remember getting a guitar when I was about 11. However, my musical hero at the time was Elton John, so the guitar took a backseat. In addition to Elton, my musical influences were all over the map. My mother loved country and western and my dad was heavily into jazz and blues. My favorite radio played everything from John Denver to James Brown to the Moody Blues. Then there was the classical piano influence. I ended up with a Bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in composition. In college is where I started doing coffee houses and small clubs.”

MJ: What other musicians have you played with or do you play with regularly?

MH: “For most of my music career, I have been a solo singer/songwriter: a woman with a guitar. When I started playing in the Hi desert I began shyly to work with other musicians. First there was Julie Scott, who sang harmony, then I added Thom Merrick on bass and Matthew John Julliet on drums. Occasionally, cellist Jennifer Irvine would sit in. Both Julie and Matthew moved away and for the past few months I have been working with Thom and Rick Chaffee, who plays amazing lead guitar. I have also had the pleasure of working with a Hi desert duo called Arroyo Rogers as well as inspirational singer Will Kelly. When I play outside of the desert I play with LA people like violinist Tony Selvage and keyboardist Wayne White.

MJ: Tell me about your upcoming show this Friday at The Hard Rock Hotel in Palm Springs and what other shows you have planned?

MH: “So Friday, I will be working with Thom and Rick and a special guest. We are going to do some songs from the upcoming un-named recording and a couple of our favorite covers. For most of October, I will be in and out of the desert working in the Bay Area. I’m planning a CD release for mid to late November.”

MJ: What is your most recent album and what can our readers expect to hear while listening to it? Any others in the works?

MH: “My most recent recording is entitled The Ways of Love. It is ten original songs based on the Book of Psalms. The songs are not so much religious as they are spiritual. It was great to work with the text and to update it so that the lyrics have a contemporary meaning. The music is mostly vocals with some percussion. It was recorded in Los Angeles and was produced by Linda Tillery. She is an amazing singer and percussionist from the Bay Area. I am just going into the studio again at the end of September to make a new recording of material that has been written since I moved to the desert in 2013.”

MJ: How would you describe your writing style and what influences your original music?

MH: “The new recording is totally influenced by my time in the desert. When I came out here to visit, I had no intention of staying, but I after a few days, I felt no desire to go back. Many think the desert is a cool place just to hang out, but for me, I have never been so busy being creative. The desert expands you that way. I even took on a songwriting partner, my bass player, Thom, which was something I never thought I would or could do. Those are some of my/our best work. My songwriting is influenced by relationships, spirituality, nature. The music is not overtly political, but those topics are always personally political.”

MJ: You are a very creative soul. What other arts are you involved in?

MH: “I am also an actress and last season, I had the pleasure and the fun of working with the Hi Desert Cultural Center in Joshua Tree in two productions: “The Spitfire Grill” and “Motherhood Outloud.” I also star in a Wild West show in Pioneertown called “Showdown in Pioneertown.” It’s an ongoing show and I play the part of the saloon owner. So in addition to music, I am also looking forward to doing more acting.” - Coachella Valley Weekly