Following the quiet emotional power of Mourning Covers, singer-songwriter Mourning Coffee returns with Mourning Covers 2, a stark, intimate reinterpretation of songs by fellow local artists. With its skeletal arrangements and dark folk sensibility, the new record strips each original down to its lyrical essence, capturing the melancholy heartbeat at the center of every track. As Mourning Coffee continues to hone their sound through raw, minimal production and emotionally charged performances, Mourning Covers 2 serves as both tribute and transformation.
Below, we spoke with Mourning Coffee about the process of assembling this collection, the evolution of their sound, and the emotional depth behind each track.
Mourning Covers 2 brings together songs from different local artists—how did you approach blending those diverse voices into a cohesive album?
Each song has similar topics, so thematically they all fit together. The bigger challenge was reimagining each in my own way, particularly because I wanted to take a more stripped-down approach overall. Some of these songs are full rock band songs and even electronic, so I had to choose carefully what to leave out while keeping what stood out to me the most for each.
How did Mourning Covers 2 push you to experiment with your sound or recording techniques in ways you hadn’t before?
So I’ve been recording myself for a few years now and I’ve done minimalist/acoustic songs before, but this time around I really experimented with reverbs and limiters. Both have deepened my production knowledge and have greatly affected my sound on the next record I’m working on, which brings more instrumentation and layers into the mix.
What’s one song on Mourning Covers 2 that took you by surprise during the reinterpretation process?
Honestly each had its own “ah-ha” moment while reimagining, but I’d have to say “Out of Time” caught me by surprise the most. This was also the first one I started working on.
How did revisiting these local songs influence your perspective on the music scene around you?
I’m humbled by the songwriting talent and the wide diversity of sound around me. As someone who’s always writing and pushing to one-up myself, it’s incredibly inspiring to hear and recognize that same fire in others.
Were there any challenges in balancing respect for the original songs with your desire to make Mourning Covers 2 distinctly Mourning Coffee?
I wouldn’t say it was a challenge to maintain each theme, but it was incredibly important to me to express what the lyrics were saying—even if I was changing the style and vibe a bit to better match overall.
How do you think Mourning Covers 2 contributes to preserving or reimagining the legacy of your local music community?
To me, these covers are meant to show how I interpreted and felt each of these songs—how each resonated with me in their own way. The lyrics take center stage in my versions, and since each sings about different types of heartbreak I wanted the music to sound that devastated. So on top of sharing how these songs resonated with me, they’re also meant to show how deep the lyric writing in each are along with the songwriting in general.
What role did the visual or thematic concept of Mourning Covers 2 play in how you arranged and produced the album?
Both my last covers record and this one are skeletal in nature to convey a darker folk sound; something that makes you feel more with less. Taking that approach was incredibly important when highlighting the melancholic lyrics of each song.
How has the experience of working on this album affected your relationship with your own songwriting?
As mentioned earlier, I’ve been recording myself for a couple years now and every record I learn some new technique I fall in love with. One way this record has affected my relationship to my songwriting is it’s really shown me that you really can get more with less, and I’m even working on a few songs for my next record where I take that very approach.
Did working on Mourning Covers 2 inspire you to think about future projects differently, and if so, how?
Most of my life, I always felt like lead singles had to be big and layered—especially when I was in punk and shoegaze bands. But this record really showed me that a lead single could be more subtle while having more of an impact, so for a couple of my next singles I’m working with that in mind.
What do you hope listeners unfamiliar with the original artists gain from hearing Mourning Covers 2?
I’m hoping listeners will really feel the depth of the lyrics and themes, and of course listen to the originals to truly get the intended emotion each songwriter intended. With how moved I was by each song, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
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