BEST SONGWRITER 2020 WINNER IN CITY PAGES
Duluth-based for most of her prolific career, Bue moved to Minneapolis in 2017 and released a near-perfect EP, The Majesty of Beasts. After a three-year wait, a full-length follow-up, The World Is Your Lover, is due out this August, and it expands on everything that Bue does so well. Her lyrics are free-spirited but wary, resolute in the aftermath of failed and sometimes abusive love affairs, and her singer-songwriter’s sense of hooky structure gives her band a solid base to work up some sharp arrangements. How good is Bue? If you didn’t know the Tom Petty song on the new album was a cover, you’d think she wrote it. – City Pages
Minneapolis Star Tribune: Minneapolis rocker Mary Bue is in love with the world (yes, despite everything)
Album review by LOW’S ALAN SPARHAWK:
“EVERY SCENE HAS ITS BRIGHT FLEETING HIGHLIGHTS, ITS FICKLE WAVE OF EACH GENERATION, AND ITS LONGTIME ANCHORS, BUT THROUGH THE SCENE I’VE KNOWN AND LOVED, IN DULUTH MN, MARY BUE HAS BEEN THE THREAD THAT RUNS SO EFFORTLESSLY THROUGH ITS HEART, HANDS, AND SOUL. SHE ARRIVED BOLDLY AND PROLIFIC. I HAVE HEARD HER PIANO CLIMBING OUT THE WINDOW AND CASCADING DOWN THE CENTRAL HILLSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE SUMMER AND THE HOWL OF HER GUITAR MUFFLED IN THE BASEMENT IN WINTER. HER NEW RECORDING IS A TRIUMPH NOT ONLY AS A REFLECTION AND VICTORY OVER ADVERSITY, BUT AS ARCHITECTURE FOR HEALING AND CHANGE. I DON’T LET MYSELF BE LIFTED BY JUST ANYONE, BUT I CAN TRUST MARY. SHE MEANS IT.” – ALAN SPARHAWK
Music in Minnesota: Mary Bue delivers abundant love in “The World is Your Lover”
It’s an interesting time releasing new music and finding the best path to send it out into the world. For City Pages “Best Songwriter” Mary Bue, that journey has resulted in her strongest album “The World is Your Lover.” … true representation of what our current world is going through and at the same time, how love is always a timeless message. – Tom Smouse
Duluth News Tribune “Best Bests”
Honorary Duluthian Mary Bue is a few weeks from releasing her latest album, “The World is Your Lover.” There will be a live-streamed concert on Aug. 22 on Sacred Heart Music Center’s YouTube and Facebook page — but until then, you can wrap yourself in her new video, “Sh** Storm.”
This dusty western throwback opens with a crash of guitars and is set in an uncertain present-racing-toward-future. Bue imagines a burned out world where the earth starts cracking, bones start snapping and walls come crashing down. And, because she’s still got some Duluth DNA in there, a local reference: Lake Superior’s new name is the Superior Desert.
Mary Bue’s “Sh** Storm” video is available on YouTube. – Christa Lawler June 29th 2020
Music Video Premiere for “Shit Storm” on Americana UK
The haunting, apocalyptic new single from Mary Bue certainly captures the current mood. ‘Shit Storm’ and the accompanying video will be released on 17th July – you get to see it here first. It’s taken from the Minneapolis singer-songwriter’s new album, ‘The World is Your Lover’, due to drop on 21st August. The song descends into a screeching, distorted guitar solo by the end, reflecting the unravelling of the world we know and the shit storm we find ourselves in.Although written back in 2017, the song seems particularly relevant now. Bue says: “It arrived while hiking along the desolate and beautiful Rio Grande Gorge trails outside of Taos, New Mexico, but it has turned out to be a poignant, somewhat clairvoyant song for these times.” Old footage of roaming buffalo, cacti and desolate landscapes reinforce the darkening mood. Mary Bue tells is how it is. – Andrew Frolish – July 10th, 2020
9 O’clock Meltdown Podcast interview – July 13th 2020
The Prize Podcast Interview – June 24th 2020
Desert Islands with Doc on KFAI – mixtape + interview
Desert Islands is a weekly program that airs every Wednesday from 10-NOON (CST) on KFAI. Each week I make a mixtape based on my guests’ top 10, all time favorite, desert island records.
This episode features a virtual conversation with Mary Bue who’s new record had been scheduled to be released on May 21 but amidst a pandemic had to postpone until August 21. The new record features her new band the Monarchy and a video made by her guitarist Jeremy Ylvisaker.
Mixtape: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4WVdCq1z1vcmdKAhWzzpLb?si=JYbM1NtBSpacg-Wl-tjpDQ
Playlist: https://www.kfai.org/episode/05-13-2020-desert-islands/
Interview on WTIP Community Radio with Will Moore – Grand Marais, MN June 2020
Innervisions: 4 Minnesota musicians on meditation, creativity, and peace of heart-mind – City Pages Minneapolis
For the following Minnesota musicians, meditation has helped balance the chaos of the loud world and the auditory rush of music making with the quiet inner soul so crucial to the creation of original thought, songs, and musical pieces. Here in their own words (edited for length and clarity) are four area songwriters, talking about their meditation practice and providing tips for anyone looking to dive deeper. – Jim Walsh 9/25/19
Mizuno Artist Ambassador 2020 Interview
Earlier this year, Mizuno Running announced one part of our first Ambassador Program. Today, we proudly announce the second part – our first-ever of its kind, Artist Ambassador Program! These artists were hand-selected by the Mizuno Running team, based on their creative spirit and how it all uniquely coincides with running. Get to know one of the talented members of the team, Mary Bue, below.
Live from KUMD 103.3FM Studio A – 9.12.19
Since our last visit with this Minnesota native, she made the difficult decision to close her Twin Cities yoga studio in order to follow the pull of making music her full-time job. Bue assembled a new band to record her forthcoming album, The World is Your Lover. Her website describes the collection, due to be released early next year, as “power pop, piano dream waves, and layers and layers of shimmery 90’s influenced guitars.” A lifelong seeker, Bue recently traveled to India, which led to her adding a new instrument, the harmonium, to her repertoire. She brought that with her when she joined us in the studio on September 12 to give us a preview of her solo show the same evening at Blush in Duluth and tell us more about what she’s been up to since her last Live from Studio A session. – Christine Dean
Mary Bue returns to play live on the WTIP Scenic Route
Twin Cities songwriter Mary Bue is back from an extended trip to South Asia and back on the North Shore, with a new album not too far behind her. She joins Will Moore on the Scenic Route to talk about her time in Bali, teaching yoga at Naniboujou lodge this fall, and all about her upcoming record The World is Your Lover, of which she plays four new songs live. – Will Moore
Savasana Grunge Nature Gorgeous Music – Northern Spirit Radio Interview
Listen here to an interview with Mark Helpsmeet on Song of the Soul
Mary Bue unleashes her fantastic beasts – Minneapolis Star Tribune
Before she left for the desert, Bue also traveled to Nashville to record her new EP, “The Majesty of Beasts,” a stunning collection that covers thicker personal terrain in four quick songs than is found on most full-length albums. … It’s high time Bue’s talent becomes more universally known in her newly adopted hometown.
Mary Bue sings about surviving sexual assault and leaving Duluth on her new EP – City Pages
Her momentum hasn’t slowed since. Bue’s seventh release, The Majesty of Beasts, is a brief but powerful pop-rock EP that veers between fierce jams and wistful ballads
Back from New Mexico, Mary Bue talks about Residencies and Crowdfunding – 89.3 The Current Blog
Singer-songwriter Mary Bue recently finished up a three-month residency in Taos, New Mexico as an artist-in-residence at the Wurlitzer Foundation. The longtime Duluthian, now based in Minneapolis, talked with Duluth Local Show host Mike Novitzki about her experience with residencies, and the challenges and triumphs they provide.
New EPs from Minnesota acts illustrate that short can be sweet – Review – Duluth News Tribune
…To her great credit, Bue makes her song both steely-eyed direct and metaphorical by turns, and she lets herself and her band whip up a noisy, jagged storm that is quite dramatic and intense.
KFAI 90.3 Interview & performance on Womenfolk Radio Show w/ DJ Ellen Stanley – click to listen
Mary Bue says “See you next year” to Minnesota winters at the Icehouse – Twin Cities Media
Her infectious laugh, bright spirit, and desert sunset hair color (which got her stylist a shout out from the stage) brought great energy to the crowd…I am certain I am not alone in looking forward to the results of her residence and her new EP.
Mary Bue serves up gut-punch Icehouse set before heading south City Pages
As Mary Bue and her whip-crack band tuned up, it became clear that for all the smiles and laughs, they weren’t there to mess around. When 2007’s “No Turning Back” kicked the crowd in the gut, the tone became clear: This was no bullshit; it was a winter howl, a big riff riding tight rock ‘n’ roll rhythms.
Mary Bue powers through band split, divorce with desert session, yoga: City Pages
Go west, Mary Bue! (But please come back.) – 89.3 The Current Blog
Local singer-songwriter Mary Bue has been awarded a residency from the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation to live and work in Taos, N.M. for three months. Before she goes, she’ll play a jubilant sendoff show with Alan Sparhawk (Low, Retribution Gospel Choir) and Molly Maher (of Disbelievers fame) at Icehouse on Saturday, Jan. 14. I caught up with her by phone on Friday to talk about her latest album Holy Bones, her evolving musical inspirations, and her upcoming adventure out west.
Minneapolis Star Tribune:
American Wake for Mary Bue with Alan Sparhawk and Molly Maher at the Icehouse – Mostly MN Blog – (Live Review)
Mary Bue Opens Up About Sexual Assault on New EP “The Majesty of Beasts” – Thirty Roses Blog
Never one to fester in negativity, Mary did what Mary does; she turned to music. Her new EP, The Majesty of Beasts, is mostly about the past year. A raw look at her very real life, sharing experiences many people have gone through in a way we can all relate to.
Back to the City Minneapolis Podcast: Interview w/ Simon Calder about The Replacements Tribute & more
Minneapolis Star Tribune – BEST LOCAL ALBUMS OF 2015 (so far)
Star Tribune:
Minneapolis Star Tribune – BEST LOCAL ALBUMS OF 2015 (so far)
Dancing About Architecture – UK – Album Review
The Herbivorous Butcher: Spotlight on Mary Bue – Interview w/ Laura Van Zandt
Occupation: Musician, owner/instructor at Imbue Yoga
What inspired you to switch to a plant-based diet?
I was on and off for many years. Finally, I watched a ton of documentaries and read a few books like The Food Revolution by John Robbins. I immersed myself in tons of information and it became apparent that the only way I could live compassionately was to not eat any animal products. What really tipped me over the edge was the cruelty, the environment, and I’ve always been a health nut. (click text for more of this interview about Mary’s plant-based diet).
Rift Magazine – “Rock n Roll w/ A Namaste Twist” Interview w/ Rebecca Marx
Da Hip Hop Place – Album Review
Music Existence – Album Review
Skopemag.com Album Review
Gashouse Radio – Album Review – Philadelphia
Holy Bones is unique fare. Bue has co-opted a well-worn musical vocabulary and twisted it with her individualism and idiosyncratic voice. Her top shelf songwriting and evocative musical accompaniment are informed with considerable chops, but every performer involved has the taste and good sense to orchestrate these songs for maximum effect. Holy Bones is one of the year’s best understated mood records, but its achievements extend beyond easy categorization. Bravo to her for this daring and suggestive musical reinvention. 9 out of 10 stars.
Rootstime.be – Album Review – Belgium
The new record of Mary Bue was also produced by herself and consists of just eight self-composed songs, which she has again taken a seat behind the piano, but for the first time made use of an electric guitar. It has become a richly orchestrated album, thanks to the contribution of guitars, bass and drums, synthesizer and Hammond organ.
Moreover, the numbers tend to “Holy Bones” more to rock than her previous folk-inspired albums. The opening track “Candy” is a melodic guitar rock song and goes short but powerful as punk-pop-sounding song “Cheribum” beforehand. The album title track “Holy Bones” (see video) is presented as a rock ballad, after which they are a lot stronger rocking on the establishment of a heavy beat “Heart’s Desire” and the catchy song “Put Up”.
“Veal” is an indictment of the massive breeding and killing of animals for meat. Mary Bue tells the story in this issue from the perspective of the calf which is waiting for his death at the slaughterhouse. In closing song “A Million Moths” she brings a ballad that could be interpreted by the listener as a simple love song.
Mary Bue lives and works from Duluth, Minnesota. Besides musician she is also active as a yoga instructor and she is actively involved with the Buddhist ideology. In the lyrics of the songs on “Holy Bones” she sings about themes such as materialism, mortality, compassion and say goodbye. She is a committed lady, let that be clear, but also one that clearly knows what direction it wants to take in the future with her music.
Mad Ripple Hoot – Live Review
Minneapolis Star Tribune
89.3 The Current | Local Current Blog | Friday Five
Review – Holy Bones – Rift Magazine
Interview | The VT Blog
CBS Minnesota / WCCO Local Music Tap
Mary Bue buries her piano and picks up guitar for her new cd
“…make way for her new life as an electric guitar-ripping rock ’n’ roller …“The core of Mary’s style and her distinctive songwriting voice are still intact,” said Christine Dean, music director at KUMD-FM. “The new, more rockin’ arrangements just enhance them.” ” – Christa Lawler, Duluth News Tribune
Mary Bue Explores Aggressive Side on Holy Bones
“On her new EP, Holy Bones, Duluth artist Mary Bue’s emotional explorations are everywhere. She moves from death and materialism to giving voice to a baby cow, and her guitar riffs echo the mid-’90s Pixies and Juliana Hatfield. Amid the racket, some sensitivity flows in.” – Youa Vang – City Pages Gimme Noise Blog
Music Review: MARY BUE | A New Freedom Found in Holy Bones – TC Daily Planet
Girl Power at SXSW – Guitar Girl Magazine
Why Did Mary Bue’s Nightmares About Pianos Make Her Switch Back To Guitar?
“Mary Bue stopped by the 7 in a row Morning Show to sing and talk a little. We talked about her influences, how long she’s been playing, and what inspires her.” – Chris Allen, KOOL 101.7 FM
Interview with Ennyman’s Territory blog: Five Minutes with Singer Songwriter Mary Bue
“I recently noticed Mary Bue’s Kickstarter campaign on Facebook and was impressed that she this is her sixth CD. As soon as I saw it I thought the cover art was pretty cool. I’ve a had a listen, actually several, and it’s a very strong addition to her previous work.” – Ed Newman
Interview with GentlemanGenius.com
Rhythm and Ruffle Blog: Mary Bue is Cooler Than You
Mary Bue is cooler than me too! Always so full of life, in every sense of the word – Toni Styles
ThirtyRoses.com – Artists We Love: Mary Bue
WCRX Chicago Underground Radio podcast w/ Erika Kooda (below)
Rhythm & Ruffle: The Next Chapter: Checking in with Mary Bue
Rhythm & Ruffle: Beeswax: Introducing Mary Bue
Live on KUMD 103.3 Radio Archive: Interview on The Local
Mary chats with DJ Edgewood & performs old & new songs on guitar during the 16th Duluth Homegrown Music Festival 4/30/14
Interview on Centerstage MN KAXE by Amy Lynn
Local Current Blog: Duluth Does Low concert will pay tribute to one of the city’s best known bands
City Pages Gimme Noise Blog: Mary Bue on growing up, pop music and cathedrals
Twin Cities Daily Planet: Mary Bue’s “Apple in the Ocean” is poetic and distinctive
Bottom line, Mary Bue plies her craft with authority and a fresh presence. – Dwight Hobbes
City Pages Calendar: CD Release Preview
Duluth News Tribune Album Review
Album Review- Bue’s words will take listeners for a ride: “Apple in the Ocean” isn’t for someone who longs to hear those old-fashioned love songs comin’ down in three-part harmony. It’s for someone who wants something fresh and uninhibited; something stimulating and candid; and something instinctive and unbridled. It’s a winner. – John Ziegler
Duluth News Tribune front page story
Duluth News Tribune article – 2012 – Kickstarter connects artists with cash: Now that Mary Bue’s album is completed, she can attack the to-do list that goes along with releasing “Apple in the Ocean.” Things like: baking homemade pies, hand-signing thank-you postcards and writing personalized songs for strangers. – Christa Lawler
Hippie Feet Blog: Profile
mnartists.org: Mary Bue: Art Imitating Life?
Missoula Independent: Review of “Boat With No Oars”
City Pages: Bribe your children! How folkie Mary Bue’s mother lured her to music
Shades of Solveig Blog: Case Study: Mary Bue and the Studio-Run Kickstarter
I was recently introduced to singer-songwriter Mary Bue from Minnesota. We got along like a house on fire from the start – she’s smart, funny, spunky, and resourceful (and a great songwriter and musician.)In the process of getting to know her, Mary mentioned this “Bands Banding Together” Kickstarter project she was involved in over the past few months with a recording studio called Welcome to 1979 … – Solveig Whittle
Duluth Reader Weekly Album Review
Providence Phoenix, Providence RI
Mary sings in a marvelously sultry and cool voice over a fusion of classical, folk, and ambient piano music. She began turing heads here at home (Providence, RI) and throughout the country. – Bob Gulla
howwastheshow.com
When the show ended and she was leaning against the stage, zipping up her boots, I had the urge to run up, hug her and then immediately beg her to sing the soundtrack of my life. Mary Bue’s an amazing, must-see talent, and by far, one of the sweetest voices I’ve heard live in years. – Zosia Blue