Momma
Welcome To My Blue Sky
Lucky Number Music/Polyvinyl Records [2025]
“A graceful step forward—Momma can still riff but trades some distortion for depth on Welcome to My Blue Sky.”
Album Overview: Momma began as a close-knit project between high school friends Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten in Los Angeles before the duo moved to Brooklyn. With their dual vocals, shared songwriting, and growing creative chemistry, the band expanded into a four-piece with producer/multi-instrumentalist Aron Kobayashi Ritch and drummer Preston Fulks. Their 2022 release Household Name helped raise their profile, earning them tour slots with major alt-rock acts and festival appearances. Their latest effort, Welcome to My Blue Sky, is reflective but forward-looking, capturing the emotional whirlwind of life during and after a chaotic tour stretch. Written mostly on acoustic guitars and shaped with input from the full band, the record processes personal upheaval and shifting relationships while leaning into a sound that feels both intimate and outward-facing.
Musical Style: This record lives in the sweet spot between grit and grace. It stays grounded in a guitar-driven sound but plays with texture, contrast, and rhythm in smart, deliberate ways. You can hear the love for early-2000s indie and alt-pop, but with tighter songwriting and a cleaner production style. The acoustic touches and layered instrumentation offer breathing room, giving even the louder moments a sense of control. While the band holds back at times, it doesn’t mean the energy dips—there are still soaring guitar lines and catchy riffs for fans who’ve followed them since the early days.
Evolution of Sound: Welcome to My Blue Sky marks a clear shift toward clarity and vulnerability. Earlier records leaned heavily on distortion and fuzz, but this one chooses space and intention instead. The songwriting feels more focused, the vocals more closely intertwined, and the overall production more open. It’s a confident step forward, where the band no longer hides behind noise but lets their words and melodies speak more directly.
Artists with Similar Fire: If you’re into the introspective grit of Bully, the dreamy pull of Slow Pulp, or the lyrical sharpness of Wednesday and Remember Sports, Momma will hit a similar nerve. There are also flashes of older alt-rock touchstones—think the layered melodies of Belly, the bittersweet punch of That Dog, or the sharp pop sensibilities of Juliana Hatfield and Veruca Salt.
Pivotal Tracks: “I Want You (Fever)” kicks things off with a layered urgency that sets the tone for the rest of the album—a moment that re-centered their approach mid-project. “Ohio All the Time” floats on a wistful energy, capturing that fleeting feeling of escape with a chorus that sticks. “Rodeo” brings accountability into focus with jagged riffs and a carefully measured build. On the softer side, “Bottle Blonde” and the title track, Welcome to My Blue Sky, stretch out and breathe, showing the band’s more meditative side. Meanwhile, “Sincerely” and “My Old Street” serve as thoughtful bookends, reflecting on where they’ve been and what’s still unresolved.
Lyrical Strength: The lyrics throughout Welcome to My Blue Sky feel conversational and unguarded. Rather than dressing things up, Friedman and Weingarten speak plainly about complicated feelings—wanting someone unavailable, missing moments that passed too fast, or grappling with fractured identity. Their ability to explore shared and solo experiences without oversimplifying them gives the album a raw, honest quality. It’s not about reaching a conclusion—it’s about being okay with not having one.
Final Groove: Welcome to My Blue Sky has a familiar sound to it, but it shows a band willing to slow down, reflect, and evolve. The album’s emotional transparency is a strength, even if not every track fully lands. Still, the record feels purposeful and self-assured, balancing introspection with a sense of momentum. Momma may be navigating change, but they’re doing it with a clearer voice—and that makes whatever’s coming next feel worth sticking around for.
MOMMA LINKS
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | Polyvinyl Records
- Lily Seabird: Trash Mountain [Album Review] - April 24, 2025
- Mamalarky: Hex Key [Album Review] - April 11, 2025
- Glazyhaze: SONIC [Album Review] - April 10, 2025