The husband-and-wife duo of Shon and Cherie Cobbs craft electronic dream pop as Plume Varia. Several OpenAir staff members took notice of their set at this year's Underground Music Showcase in Denver, so we were pleased to get them into our studio recently.
The Denver-based couple, who have been married for 19 years, played a few melancholy electronica songs. They also spoke with Aaron 'Loki' Johnson about performing a Metallica cover with their children and the ups and downs of being married to your bandmate.
While they've only released a handful of self-released singles, Plume Varia will record a full album next spring with British producer David J of Bauhaus and Love & Rockets. You can get a preview of what that record might sound like by streaming the session via the link above.
On making music with your spouse:
Cherie: "It's great because we can practice at any time. Our studio and all our gear is in our living room. Those things are really convenient. If you feel like it, in the middle of the night you could get up and write some music. But then it has negatives too."
Shon: "You could let an argument over dishes bleed into the band world. ... Normally, that wouldn't happen."
On connecting with producer David J:
Shon: "I happened to see online that David J was going to be in town for a DJ set. And so I jokingly said, 'I should go ask him to be on my podcast.' Bauhaus has always been my favorite band since I was 13 or so. I was just excited at the thought of meeting him.
"A few days later he agreed. When I was driving him home ... I said, 'I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds here but do you mind if I send you me and my wife's music?'
"He seemed to really like it and he said: 'Let's work together, I'm really excited about this!'"
Songs performed:
- "Home"
- "Clear"
- "Keeps"
