Misty Lyn walked into the studio knowing this was who she was, feeling that this was where she was supposed to be.
Knowing that these songs were hers and she was going to accomplish anything, everything, with these new songs of hers. That she was a songwriter, damn it…in that truest sense. And just letting herself feel that now, believing that now – for the first time really in 10 years.
She’s spent the last two years working on her second album of songs, “False Honey,” writing, recording, mixing and producing, putting herself into all of it and learning.“Learning that I’m enough as a musician,” she says.
Misty Lyn Bergeron knew she wanted to sing since she was six years old. Instructors and family would always lightly encourage her, remarking upon her beautiful voice, but through her teens she remained timid, insecure. “Nobody ever really pushed me,” she says.
Chris Bathgate literally pushed her. Bathgate, comparable sweetened-sorrow folk sage (of that seminal Ann Arbor-set neo-folk scene surging up, circa 2003-ish) met Bergeron back then, while they volunteered together at The Ark, both “catching the bug,” as Bathgate put it, around the same time. “That scene was a lot about development,” Bathgate recalls. “More than anything I just wanted to hear her sing [because] she’d said she wrote songs and was hanging around at open-mics.”
“She was there to perform. She must have thought of it,” he says.
The story according to Bergeron: “He shoved me up there with his guitar …and that was it.”
When it comes to this record and the hours put into it, I did it. I did it. That’s what this record was for me – now I know I can do what I have to do to be who I am.
Bergeron, inspired by Ryan Adams and Kelly Joe Phelps early on, cut her teeth at various open-mics around Ypsi/Arbor with her acoustic guitar, eventually solidifying a two-piece with singer/songwriter Matt Jones on drums. The Big Beautiful then expanded with Jim Roll on bass, Carol Grey on violin and Ryan Gimpert on guitar.
Misty Lyn – Photo by Doug Coombe
“I love the idea of a band. I love being on stage with these people – they lift me up,” Bergeron says. “I hated playing solo or even as a duo. I don’t perform because I need to perform. I do it because I feel like I have to. I don’t get off on it. Some people really enjoy it, but I’m fighting every time. Sometimes it’s really fun, but it’s something I have to work at. Playing with my friends, doing music together, it brings out the best in what I do.”
“I live for having a band. Not everybody has that,” she says.
Not everybody has what Bergeron, Jones and Bathgate have, either – sharing such a formative moment (and creative alliance) for their writing identities ten years back. Writing about each other, for each other and playing house shows together, as Bathgate recalls.
“We’re blessed to be surrounded by people that understand community is important,” Bergeron says. “Close friendships are priceless.”
Still, Misty Lyn felt she had something to prove – that she could succeed in circumstances away from her band, her family, really. Hence she took the lead on producing “False Honey.”
“Everything I’ve experienced that’s been frustrating,” Bergeron says, recalling the unintended stall, stop, scrap and restart of her 2009 debut, “For The Dead.” I may have taken the hardest way possible, but this was the way I needed to learn.”
“When it comes to this record and the hours put into it, I did it. I did it. That’s what this record was for me – now I know I can do what I have to do to be who I am,” she says.
But she wasn’t even going to release it this year had she not played back a voicemail from producer Matt Altruda (Tree Town Sound). Waiting for their time slot, playing up north at last August’s FarmBlock, she was touched and motivated by Altruda’s recorded exclamation: “Why haven’t you ever headlined a Blind Pig show?!”
Altruda had already booked the show (November 3) and since secured support. Bergeron realized that was just enough time to pull together artwork (Liz Davis) and mastering (Tyler Duncan), but was motivated more so just by knowing someone was thinking of her, someone found her music worthy of attention.
Sure, she needed to be pushed. “But I also never wanted to force it. I’m just going to keep doing my thing, keep working, just letting it happen,” she says.
Misty Lyn & the Big Beautiful will release “False Honey” on November 3 at the Blind Pig where they will headline, featuring opening acts The Ben Daniels Band and Jack & the Bear. Admission is $8 for those over 21 and $11 for those under 21. Ages 18 and up. Doors are at 9:30 p.m.
*Featured photo of Misty Lyn by Doug Coombe.
