Let “Moss Music” Grow On You: Backstage at Schubas with she’s green

Interview and article by Audrey Strand

After trekking through the biting cold of Chicago winter, I finally arrived at Schubas Tavern to sit down with Minneapolis-based band she’s green. A Minnesota native myself, I was excited to know more about the heart behind their lush soundscapes. As I sat down with Liam, Raines, and Kevin, the two guitarists and drummer, I immediately felt their openness. Volleying from one question to the next, the friendship among them was clear, and I found myself cracking up over and over.

College radio alum themselves, I had to ask the band about their connections to the college radio scene and how it played a role in bringing the band together. Liam described it as  

“An easy way to get connected to people that were cool,” and a great way to “get connected to the local music scene.” Liam and Teddy, the band’s bassist, met at the University of Minnesota’s station, Radio K, while Raines did videography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s station WSUM. 

I then asked about their relationship to the shoegaze genre and how they associate with the classic 90s sound it evokes. Liam answered:

“I think that time period [the 90s] was really raw because they didn’t have a lot of technology. I kind of envy that musical spirit that they had, that was not so connected. You had to reach out to other humans in a different way.” 

On their connection to shoegaze, they all chimed in. Liam began by saying that they “don’t really think too much about genre,” emphasizing that they “like dreamy, just very lush music.” Raines mentioned that “it’s not a very active thought process, we listen to all kinds of music,” and Kevin said: 

“It’s not a very conscious effort, just kind of accidental.”

Liam further brought up their love for “ambient” and “cinematic” music, which plays a role in their creative inspirations. 

The next question I brought up was about the band’s strong association with nature, and how it informs their artistic lens. 

“We’re all pretty big into the outdoors,” Liam said, “and for me, being outside is huge for my mental health and reflecting. It’s always been a driving inspiration for music. Just trying to spiritualize that experience and make it into something tangible.”

Moving the conversation toward Chicago, I asked about how they’ve come to feel about the city, and what they like about it. she’s green are frequent flyers in Chicago, and even have an upcoming performance at Aragon Ballroom in May. 

“We’re very excited” said Raines, as Liam added “we love Chicago.” Raines commented: 

“We joke it’s like our second home. It’s a very comfortable place for us, and the shows are always great.”

On the Minneapolis scene, I asked about the band’s bond with their origin city. 

Liam remarked:

“I’ll always have a place in my heart for all the basement shows that I went to. It’s small enough where you can get to know everybody. We have those really cold winters, so we all hunker down and write a lot of good music.” 

“No two people are doing the same thing, but there’s also so much overlap. Different mini-scenes that come together and create the bigger scenes” Kevin said. Liam added that in Minneapolis, “bills are super unique, you can see a jazz improvisation session, or you could go to a punk show where there’s also hip hop artists. It’s just cool.” Raines concluded by declaring Minneapolis as a city that “punches above its weight.”

To shake things up, I asked them my favorite fun question. “If she’s green were a drink at a coffee shop, what would it be?”

“It’s funny you say that because there’s a coffee shop out of Tucson, Arizona that made a “she’s green matcha. It was like a pistachio matcha” remarked Kevin.

“I feel like we have to say matcha,” said Raines.

Liam asked:

“I would want to try a rosemary matcha or something, would that be weird?”

“Yeah” Raines deadpanned. “Ok” accepted Liam, as the room burst into laughter.  

“No, I think you’re onto something though, not just preparing matcha with a fruit but like an herb matcha” conceded Raines. The conclusion was that their drink had to be matcha, a complex, earthy beverage with the sustained energy of green tea.

My next inquiry was about the title of their most recent EP, Chrysalis, and Kevin responded:

“Let’s just say it ties into the next release. It feels fitting because it’s a time of change.” As a fan, I was excited to hear about a new release, so listeners should be sure to look out for future drops.

To wrap up, I asked them if they had any parting sentiments. Liam thought for a moment, then said:

“Shoutout Mother Soki,” “Stop buying sh*t that you don’t need,” and finally, “care about your community.”

A few hours later, as I watched them perform, all their sentiments came to life. There’s something about their sound that can only be captured live. The show felt like wandering through the peaks and valleys of their fluid, yet edgy sound. The venue thrummed with apt listeners, each corner brimming with ticketholders of the sold-out show. Green lights silhouetted the band members, adding to the dreamy quality of the performance. 

she’s green is both spellbinding and sincere. Their music alone is enough to garner appreciation for its artistic prowess, but talking with the members about their connection to creativity, community, and nature added a new layer to their appeal. Be sure to give a listen to their latest EP, Chrysalis, streaming on all platforms.

Interview quotes have been edited for length and clarity.