Linnea Vedder is the drummer and one of the singers and principal songwriters for Cliffie Swan, whose new Drag City album Memories Came True is a delightful blend of pop, psychedelia, and sweet harmonies. Cliffie Swan was formerly called Lights, with two albums released under this name including the wonderful 2009 album Rites. This interview was conducted by email; Linnea’s answers were received on 8/1/11.

Jeff Moehlis: Where did the new band name Cliffie Swan come from, and why the change from Lights?

Linnea Vedder: We changed our name from Lights to avoid confusion with the keytar playing Canadian Lights. The name Cliffie Swan is a secret magical sigil that was invented in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

JM: I’ve been enjoying listening to your new album Memories Come True. From your perspective, how would you describe this album and how would you compare it to the two albums recorded as Lights?

LV: I would describe this album as concise and thoughtful. During the time that we were writing the songs for Memories Come True, Sophia and I were both traveling a lot. We were either apart from each other or on the road together. Isolation, solitude, and upheaval were themes of our lives at that time and so became part of the music. The last album we made “Rites” was an experiment in playfulness that allowed us to give ourselves freedom and expand meaning through varied references. MCT takes those impulses and distills and refines them.

JM: My favorite track on your new album is “California Baby”. As a California resident, I’m curious – what have your California experiences been like, including (perhaps) your visit to Santa Barbara (where I live) in February 2010 when you opened for The Entrance Band?

LV: I love Santa Barbara. The pastel colors of the coastline are unparalleled (except for the strangely identical west coast of Australia)! Sophia grew up in San Francisco and I lived there for three and a half years. It was a very formative time in my life and I still cook tortillas on the stove top! “California Baby” is a love song to the West Coast and the laid back beauty and free feelings that it gave me. We wrote the lyrics collectively which in retrospect seems very much in line with the spirit the song.

JM: Three Lights songs that I really like are “Fire Night”, “War Theme”, and “At Midnight”. Any reflections on these songs?

LV: “Fire Night”, “War Theme” and “At Midnight” are all off our album Rites. Rites was initially going to be a concept album and these three songs are scenes from a secret Shakespearean melodrama. “War theme” is obviously the battle scene, “Fire Night” depicts witches casting an enchantment spell, and “At Midnight” describes a lover longing to be reunited with their flame.

JM: Your harmonies sound sublime. How do these come together?

LV: Our harmonies come together organically and communally. Singing with your friends and loved ones is one of the best ways to form harmonious relationships. For me it is a true joy! While recording MCT we added many layers of harmony and then subtracted the ones that were not essential. This helped us achieve the refined tone we wanted.

JM: How would you characterize what the different band members bring to the music and the band?

LV: Sophia brings the fiery energy of the first card of the tarot deck, Alana brings the groove and country flavour, and I bring the funky butt and heart beat.

JM: How have you coped with having band members live in different states?

LV: It’s very difficult to maintain a collaborative connection having band members live in different states. The fact that we live apart influenced the process of recording the album. Most of the songs on MCT were only rehearsed for two weeks before we went into the studio, giving the tracks a freshness and rawness that balances the polished editing.

JM: Who are your main musical influences, and how have these changed over time?

LV: I have been very influenced by my friends here in NYC. Just going to shows and absorbing live music is wonderful and healing. Touring with bands early on like Jana Hunter and Brightblack Morning Light was very influential. Also touring with Entrance Band and Bill Callahan was a big treat!

JM: What advice would you give to an aspiring musician?

LV: I slept and dreamt that life was Joy./ I woke and saw that life was Duty./ I acted, and behold, Duty was Joy. -Rabindranath Tagore

JM: What are your plans, musical or otherwise, for the near future?

LV: Rockin’ out on the astral plane!