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Brooklyn-based indie pop/folk duo Oh Honey have quickly made a name for themselves. Their EP With Love turned heads, landing their song “Be Okay” a feature on the show Glee, as well as a spot on tour with The Fray and Barcelona. GroundSounds caught up with the duo to discuss their formation, new music, touring, and favorite Brooklyn hot spots. Check it out below and visit their website for more!
How did you meet and begin making music together?
(Mitchy)
We formed Oh Honey a year ago. I had always loved the idea of a guy/girl duo like Johnny Cash and June Carter, and I wanted to give that a shot. I was looking for my June when I met Danielle through a mutual friend of ours in the NYC music scene. Both of us had been performing for a long time, but after I heard her sing and we got into the studio that first day, everything just fell into place. Thus Oh Honey was born!
Where did the name ‘Oh Honey’ come from?
(D+M)
“Oh Honey” is the name of our favorite episode of “How I Met Your Mother”…. Katy Perry is in that episode. Enough said. Also, we’re from Brooklyn, and there was a really cool rooftop honey farming craze going on there last summer and we thought it’d be a cool thing to be a part of. We didn’t realize quite how complicated it was, but we’re trying to get our own brand of honey made this summer! Basically we had a giant list of band names and everything kept circling back to “Oh Honey” so it stuck.
Tell us about your EP With Love . What was your writing process like when creating these songs together?
(D+M)
It’s super collaborative. Everything starts on an acoustic guitar– one of us will have a lyric or melody idea, and we’ll take it from there. We try to stay as honest as possible while still putting that optimistic twist on things.
“Be Okay” is a powerful song that has been many people’s first introduction to your music. What inspired the song?
(D+M)
Be Okay is pretty much our band’s mission statement. The song stemmed from a quote we love “I don’t wanna spoil the ending for you, but everything is gonna be okay.” Life happens to everyone but it can’t rain forever… So don’t sweat the small stuff. We try to keep a positive outlook on things– life is too short to be pissed off all the time. There’s enough sad songs in the world, so we were excited to write something happy that left people feeling good.
What was the experience like seeing “Be Okay” featured on Glee? How did that come about?
(Danielle)
Having our song featured on “Glee” was so surreal. I was a theatre kid growing up so I’ve seen the show before and I totally “gleeked” out when we got the email. Lea Michele and Naya Rivera did an amazing job with the song– we loved their harmonies! It was so cool watching them perform it on national television, and consequently watching our social media blow up. The reaction was super positive and immediate. We watched the scene on repeat and popped champagne to celebrate.
What can you tell us about your upcoming full-length? Do you have a date you are targeting for the release?
(D+M)
We don’t have a release date for the album yet, but we plan to be in the studio in August when we finish our tour with The Fray. The EP songs will definitely be on it. If you liked “With Love,” you’ll love the full length. 😉
How has your tour been so far with The Fray and Barcelona? What has been the best or most memorable part so far?
(D+M)
The Fray and Barcelona are amazing guys. We’ve had the best time on tour so far. The most memorable show we’ve played has definitely been Red Rocks in Denver. It’s a venue we’ve all dreamed of playing our whole lives– we all kept looking at each other during our set with huge smiles on our faces. It was so surreal.
Entertainment Tonight calls your music “delightfully upbeat tunes that still have a profound emotional resonance.” It’s not only a big compliment, but I feel like it’s a perfect description of your music. Who are some of the bands/musicians that have influenced the way you make music and had an impact on the songs you are creating?
(M)
Bruce Springsteen is my first musical memory… My mom is a big fan and turned me onto his music at a young age. I love Ryan Adams and Butch Walker as well– I’m such a fan of how they tell stories in their songs.
(D)
I grew up listening to Fleetwood Mac with my mom. I loooove Stevie Nicks. I also like Bon Iver, Regina Spektor, Ingrid Michaelson. Artists with good songs and honest lyrics.
Quick Brooklyn question for those of us that have never been: what is one thing I should do when visiting Brooklyn and one place I must go for a great meal?
(D+M)
One of our favorite spots in Brooklyn is the Williamsburg waterfront. It overlooks the Manhattan skyline and there’s a little beach area that people picnic on. We used it in our video for “Be Okay.” As for food, we’re both huge mac n cheese fans, and we love this spot called Brooklyn Mac. You can get any kind of mac n cheese you want– with any type of cheese, vegetable, meat or vegan meat, you can get it gluten free, etc. It’s the best! If you want something a little nicer, we love Mesa Coyacan in Williamsburg. Amazing margaritas and Mexican food!
What’s on tap for the rest of 2014 and where is the best place online to stay updated with you?
(D+M)
Touring, touring, and more touring! We also plan to be in the studio whenever we’re home. You can stay updated by following us on Instagram and twitter: @ohhoneymusic. And follow our personal accounts too! @dannibouchard @mitchycollins
Oh Honey – “Be Okay”
