splendid torch

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They say necessity is the mother of invention – sometimes she’s the mother of reinvention as well. Under the moniker Mamma’s Marmalade, a group of friends from New England have spent the last decade building a devoted following and “adding new ingredients to the Americana batter”, as Bluegrass Today put it. When founding member Mitch Bordage decided to hang up his mandolin and step away from a life on the road, it was time for the remaining members Lily Sexton (lead vocals, fiddle, guitar), Sean Davis (acoustic and electric guitar vocals), and Josh Ballard (bass) to turn a creative corner.

ICON, the debut LP from Splendid Torch, sits joyfully at the intersection of indie rock and Americana, and is a snapshot of the genesis of a new creative endeavor. This is a rare instance of the album discovering the band; the sessions that brought us ICON were initially intended for Mamma’s Marmalade. Yet, as the songs began to take shape, it became clear that this was the beginning of something new. “Few of these songs were arranged before we went in to track,” explains Sexton. “We went in with the bones and really fleshed them out in the studio. In more than one instance I was writing lyrics in the vocal booth.”

Inspired by every band contest they ever entered and then lost, being broke, being frustrated and feeling love, ICON finds Splendid Torch simply pouring their instruments onto a blank musical canvas, with a palette of drums, pedal steel, baritone guitar, electric rock guitar, and a rainbow of effects pedals with which to color joyfully outside the lines. “This music is more relaxed,” says Lily Sexton. “There’s space. Each of us is a multi-instrumentalist, and it’s very collaborative. It has a real landscape, and the songs feel intimate.” Bassist Josh Ballard continues, “I love digging into the nitty-gritty details when building out the music. It feels like a puzzle, trying out different ideas to find what fits just right.” The album’s textured lyricism, collective rhythmic feel, and poignant vocal performances will warm the heart of any Mamma’s fan, while a more genre-agnostic approach to songwriting will resonate with folks that prefer their tunes a touch left of traditional.

Recorded at Dan Cardinal’s Dimension Sound Studio (Josh Ritter, Lake Street Dive), the trio teamed with producer Karl Helander (who also plays drums on the record and tours with the band) to work on the project. ICON also features the mandolin and guitar playing of former Mamma’s Marmalade member Mitch Bordage, who also contributed greatly as an arranger.

“To me, Splendid Torch is about organic songwriting,” says Sean Davis. “Deep listening and musical process. Music that grows and becomes more alive as we play more.” “The sound is more mature now,” adds Sexton. “Mamma’s was always a really tight band, but this material is more distinct. This is the band that will take us to bigger stages around the world. I can’t wait to share ICON, and watch this band grow along with all of you.”

“This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty

one. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I

rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch

which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as

possible before handing it on to future generations.” ― George Bernard Shaw

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Sean Davis and Lily Sexton of Splendid Torch: "Swing and Turn"

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“The raw heart that drenches every word and note of this song [leaves you] with one of those tracks that just stops you and makes you appreciate the beauty and passion within it while reminding you of that passion and beauty that you may be hiding inside of yourself.” - Girl at The Rock Shows