Described as a mix of riot grrrl and egg punk, CorMae has been on the grind and busier than ever! On the top of their grind, they have released their first album Everything is SO GREAT!, recently announced the "Sunny Side Tour" throughout the western U.S., and signed a record deal with DC-Jam Records / Virgin Music Group.
We had the absolute pleasure to chat with vocalist Amber Appleton last Thursday, who spoke about the new record, tour, and all things CorMae.
Tell us about CorMae! How was the band formed?
"CorMae is a social media ad in a dream. I'm originally from Bakersfield, CA, and I met our drummer while visiting Austin, TX. We ended up falling in love over the phone, which eventually led me to move out here.
About two years after I moved, we decided to start a musical project together. I initially wanted him to be part of it, but he was, and still is, playing in another band, so he wasn't sure if he could make it work Over time, though, CorMae became a central project for both of us.
We eventually brought together our first lineup, with Katya on bass, Maria on rhythm guitar, and Tessa on lead guitar. Throughout the band's history, we've gone through three or four different bassists, so the lineup has definitely evolved over time.
As for how the band came together, I feel like we're still figuring that out in some ways! Actually, here's a little spoiler that I'll be announcing publicly soon: we're holding open auditions for new members of CorMae. So even though the band has been around for a while, we're still growing and figuring out what comes next!"
Can you give us a general idea of how your latest album came to life?
"We were gearing up for our support tour with of Montreal after finding out we'd be opening for them for about 16 dates that summer. We wanted to write an album for such a big opportunity because you never really know when the next one will come around.
A lot of the album came from where I was mentally at the time. I had quit my corporate job to pursue music full-time, and financially, that was really difficult. It takes a toll on your mental health, and you start questioning yourself, like, 'Am I succeeding enough?'
I started putting together demos based on those feelings, and eventually, we all got together to bring those songs to life.
For example, 'Mindst8' is a sarcastic take on the idea of fixing your mental state. I like to ask people at our shows, 'Have you ever had a bad day, and someone tells you, "Oh, just meditate, and everything will be fine," when it's really not that simple?' The song sounds really happy and upbeat, but underneath that, it's about the frustration of being told to just fix your mindset when you're struggling.
Then there's 'Rut,' which is about exactly what it sounds like: feeling stuck in a rut. If you listen through the album, you'll notice those themes running throughout the songs.
Ultimately, we made this album to coincide with the tour and hopefully use that opportunity as a springboard for the band. But at its core, the album is really about mental health struggles and finding community through those experiences."
How did you come up with the title “Everything is SO GREAT!” for the album?
"There's actually a lyric in 'Mindst8' that goes, 'Lalala, everything is so great.' We love including little Easter eggs like that, and we thought, 'You know what? It's a really long title, but it's sarcastic, and it ties everything together.'
That's also where the idea for the album cover came from. I thought, 'What if we dressed up like clowns, but sad clowns?' Almost like we're the clowns working for the man.
The whole concept is really just layers of sarcasm that came together, all stemming from that one little Easter egg in the song."
What do you want your listeners/community to take away from your new album?
"I want people to know that they're not alone in this crap. Of course, we all commiserate on the internet, but having songs that touch on struggles with mental health, finances, and how we feel about ourselves is something I think everyone can relate to.
I want everyone to feel like it’s alright to feel like shit sometimes, and that we can feel like shit together. We’re all stuck in this bubble of crap right now, and the only way we're going to get through it is by coming together and supporting one another.
If we pin each other against each other, then we're alone, and then the bigger umbrella of the people we don't want controlling our lives will have even more control.
More than anything, I want this album to bring people together and create a sense of community. I want listeners to feel like there's someone out there who understands what’s going on in their heads, just as much as I want them to relate to what’s going on in mine."
As you all have played in different bands within the Austin scene, how has that impacted your collaboration as a band?
"All of us come from different backgrounds of music, so I’ll write a demo, and I never really know what someone else is going to come up with, especially when it comes to lead guitar. Everyone brings their own kind of sparkle to the music.
Right now, that's Tessa with her guitar leads. She adds this brightness and sparkle to songs that are usually a lot darker in my head. It's been really nice having those outside perspectives and seeing what everyone brings to the table.
Aaron, on drums, brings a lot of life and energy to the heavier songs, sometimes even adding a sarcastic twist. He has a way of expressing those emotions through his drumming, and I think that's super cool.
Everyone brings something different from their own musical influences, and when you put all those ideas together, you end up with something none of us would have created on our own. It's pretty neat."
Your upcoming U.S. tour is coming up in the next two weeks; congratulations! Do you have any memorable moments from touring in the past?
"Thank you! I think we'd all agree that some of our most memorable moments have come from meeting people who are incredibly kind and talented, like Of Montreal.
Sharing the stage with them, seeing all those faces in the crowd, and turning some of them into CorMae fans was an amazing experience.
For me, the most magical part is walking onto a stage knowing that the band you're opening for is an indie-pop band, while we're this wild, crazy punk rock band. You don't really know what to expect, but then you see the crowd's energy and how everyone comes together through the music. That's where the magic happens.
After the show, people came up to us, and some were even crying, saying things like, 'Thank you for helping me through such a hard time in my life. I feel like someone understands what I'm going through, and your energy really uplifted me.'
Being able to connect with people like that and knowing our music has made a difference in their lives? That's the magic sauce right there."
Which songs from the new album are you most excited to perform on this upcoming tour? Can we expect the return of the Purple People Eater?
"The Purple People Eater is here! Right now, we're closing every show with 'Purple People Eater.' Will it still be around in 2027? Who knows! So, if you're planning to catch us on this tour, you might want to come see us before the Eater goes away.
We actually recorded a version of the song that's available online now, and 'Purple People Eater' will be making its debut in all these cities. It's especially fitting since it's spooky season, and we have shows scheduled throughout the week before and after Halloween.
I also got this little fuzzy unicorn thing because our band member Meryl makes fursuits. She actually made my new Purple People Eater hat! Originally, I had this '90s hat that looked like a little bear with a horn, but she ended up making one out of rainbow fur.
We sold those during our tour with Of Montreal, so now I have this rainbow Purple People Eater hat that she made, and she even puts on her cat head during the song. It's a whole thing!"
I love that you all embrace a DIY approach, but I also understand how overwhelming it can be to handle everything yourselves. What have you learned over the years, and what advice would you give to other bands taking a similar approach?
"It's a labor of love, and I definitely wouldn't say I've got it all figured out. Aside from the costumes, I handle pretty much everything. Aaron designed the vinyl and has helped with Bandcamp, shipping, and a lot of the logistical stuff, which has been a huge help. I also take care of emails, flyers, and all those little things that go into keeping the band running. If you saw our stop-motion flyer, I actually painted and made all of that myself!
My biggest advice would be to try not to burn yourself out but also to keep going, even when things get tough. There are better things on the horizon when you're doing it yourself. You have to find that drive within you. Take a deep breath; give yourself breaks when you need them, but keep pushing forward. If you stop completely, it's easy to disappear.
We're actually looking for help right now, so it's not like we want to stay completely DIY forever. It's just where we're at currently. But even as we grow, I want to hold on to that DIY aesthetic and keep the personal, individual side of what we do.
I don't want CorMae to turn into some corporate monster. Even if we completely blew up one day, I'd still want to preserve the art and the philosophy behind everything we're creating."
Before we wrap things up, is there anything else you'd like to share about upcoming tours, new music, or any final words for your community?
"I'm really excited to head out to the Western U.S. for the first time, and the whole band is looking forward to it!
I haven't publicly announced this yet, but this will actually be Tessa's last tour with us, so it's a little bittersweet. She's been with the band since the beginning, and while it's sad to see her go, we're also looking forward to welcoming some new members into the CorMae family.
We're currently looking for someone who plays bass or possibly rhythm guitar, and we'll be holding auditions and trying people out soon. We already have another tour planned for March, so things are going to get pretty crazy!
For now, we're focused on getting ready for the Western U.S. tour and finding the right people to join us. If you're in the Austin area and interested in being part of the band, send us an email at coremaeband@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!"
