A lengthy musical evolution brought Sarah Anderson and her band Heavy Diamond Ring together, from the first band of her late teenage years to the five-some that makes up the folk-rock group that she fronts today, two decades later. What began with Paul Dehaven performing under the name Paper Bird about twenty years ago went through phases and underwent the changes that eventually brought the end of one band, and the beginning of another. After eight years of evolving and of simply being, Heavy Diamond Ring is celebrating their latest chapter with the release of their newest album, Wildflower Lane, with a release party this Saturday at Little Bear in Evergreen.
Heavy Diamond Ring’s founding members — vocalist and trumpeter Anderson and guitarist Dehaven — began playing together when Anderson was just 19 years old. The pair wasted no time when Paper Bird disbanded before jumping into to their next big project. All they knew is that they “wanted to continue working together,” getting back into the studio and “pulling random musicians in the process of making the [next] record.” Without a solid band formed but with a strong will to continue creating, they found bassist Blake Stepan, drummer Tate Ignelzi and keyboardist Mike Lang in a moment that “felt like magic,” Andersen said of the band’s serendipitous coming together.
With their last record being referred to as the “COVID” album that took three years to make, Wildflower Lane happened in a more “quick and dirty” fashion, according to Anderson. “The band kind of learned [the songs] in the studio,” she said, which were recorded all live across four days, with the general consensus being to “not get too in our heads about it.” That intention was achieved relatively easily, with the organic process of Anderson and Dehaven sharing their songs and ideas back and forth, lending a cohesive vibe and natural flow to their shared songwriting. It helped things even more that the studio is like a second home to the band. Recorded at Cowboy Cowabunga on the 14-acre property in Evergreen with Anderson’s brother Mark as producer and mixer, the entire recording process happened within their comfort place.
This weekend, Heavy Diamond Ring will be bringing their new music to a live audience for what Anderson anticipates will be a “damn good time.” The music itself is dark and serene at moments, joyous and soulful at others, and blessed with the incomparably harmonious vocals that come with an all-male band supporting their female frontwoman. With guitarist Daniel Rodriguez joining the band for the album release show, fans can expect a “fun and dynamic set” that will be the soundtrack for a “heart-centered, joyful and fun night.” Within the greater backdrop of the local musical community that Anderson credits for having shaped her “as a person and as a musician,” Saturday is sure to be the running start for Heavy Diamond Ring and their next album, their next tour, and their most ambitiously tangible goals.
Stream Wildflower Lane here!