Mary Timony: “My life was chaotic, and songwriting became an escape”
Mystical, rock-infused masterpieces appear to be growing more elusive, their musical euphoria becoming a fleeting moment of wonder as if it could vanish at any second. This blend of grit and delicacy lies at the core of Untame the Tiger, the latest creation from Mary Timony, representing her most intimate endeavour to date.
Untame the Tiger surfaces 15 years after Mary Timony’s last release, set against the backdrop of the conclusion of a significant relationship and influenced by the loss of both Timony’s father and mother. “It was very stressful, although it was also really beautiful,” Timony tells Far Out. “I’m glad I got that time with them, but my life was very chaotic for a while, and songwriting became an escape.”
Crafting the album proved to be a significant challenge, which is evident in Timony’s delicate vocal delivery, which contrasts with the music’s rock soundscapes. However, this difficulty also emerges as one of its strengths, infusing the music with both poignancy and vulnerability. Each lyric and note peels back layers of intricate emotions Timony experienced at the time.
Throughout the album, Timony’s profound emotional journey deeply influences her lyrical content. Whether she personifies loneliness as a haunting presence whose persistent knocks at the door are inescapable or navigates themes of loss, Timony skilfully combines pure, unfiltered rock with profound depth and meaning.
A sign of genuine musical pioneering, all of this unfolded remarkably organically. “I have to kind of treat it like I’m officially not doing it,” she explains. “It’s really weird. So, often, I’ll be working on my own, and I purposefully don’t really treat it like it’s an official thing. It has to be like that, or else I’ll never do it.”
This also factors into Timony’s experience with imposter syndrome. Most of us experience it at some point in our lives, but for some musicians, it’s always there. “I have to trick myself into not thinking of it as a career move,” she adds, describing the power of creating music for fun or as a meditative technique in order to be productive, something that became more engrained in artists over the pandemic.
However, even with a more relaxed approach towards Untame the Tiger, the depth of meaning within the lyrical content remains uncompromised. For example, ‘The Guest’ delves into the theme of solitude, portraying loneliness as a house guest who keeps knocking at your door. Even when detached from its narrative context, the piece offers a touching listening journey, highlighting Timony’s prowess in songcraft through its creation.
“I had this song floating around for years, and I never knew if it was good or bad,” she admits, sharing a part of her musical journey in the process. “This is how I know when I want to work on a song. If it comes back to me enough when I’m walking around or something. In a way, it’s kind of like the guests going: ‘Hey, I’m here. Do you want to finish me?'”
The album’s poignant essence weaves through several tracks, yet ‘Thirds’ stands out as the pinnacle. The opener evokes the sensation of losing everything while warmly embracing the promise of a new beginning. Evidently, this was a deliberate addition, crafted in sensitivity during Timony’s most vulnerable moments. “The lyrics are basically about losing people around you,” she explains. “I really wanted it to sound like you’re driving in the desert. That was the whole goal. And we were recording it and doing the guitar overdubs. Everything kind of had to sound like that.”
For many reasons, ‘Thirds’ became the song Timony felt the most proud of. It gave her the opportunity to work with some of her favourite musicians. “I got all of these incredible musicians to help me out,” she recalls. “And that’s why it sounds good to me. I mean, like, Dave Mattacks, my favourite drummer of all time, I asked him to play, and it was like the best experience of my life, playing with him. He was so fucking incredible.”
Beyond Untame the Tiger, Timony’s musical influences and love for guitar-playing reach far and wide, her favourite being the one and only Jimi Hendrix. “Hendrix has always been my favourite,” she admits. “I like so many people, so it’s hard to just start naming him. The person who I’ve learned from the most would be Christina Billotte, who was in this band called Autoclave, and now she’s in a band called The Casual Dots; I learned a lot from her.”
Discussing more of her influences and mentors, she adds, “I learned a lot from Ash Bowie; he was in Helium, and his band is Polvo. He really taught me a lot. As far as big people, though, I’ve always loved Hendrix. I’m also really into like Rory Gallagher, the Irish blues guy, and I’ve always loved Joe Walsh and James Gang.”
Recognised as a guitar virtuoso in her own right, Timony serves as an inspiration for numerous musicians, from seasoned professionals to emerging talents. Her commitment to crafting impeccably raw rock music shines prominently in Untame the Tiger, a remarkable solo return that not only highlights her enduring skill but also underscores her evolution as one of today’s most revered innovators.
