Today we’d like to introduce you to Big Love Car Wash
Big Love Car Wash, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Big Love Car Wash formed organically from the Austin Bluegrass scene. We were individually plying our crafts in the musical melting pot, and I happened to hire Everett, Taylor, and David for the same gig. We immediately felt something was different about this grouping. We had what we call “stage telepathy”, an ability to anticipate and play off each other’s ideas in real time as we improvised. It was such a delicious energy, it propelled us to go on tour and shortly after officially form the band.
We all play in a lot of bands, but this is something we feel worth investing in deeply, even despite the fact that I literally live across the ocean half the year (in Ireland). It’s amazing how the band has brought and kept us together despite the odds. And not only did we love making music together – we loved being together. It felt like finding long-lost brothers. We speak the same language in our souls and on our instruments, making it a delight to create together.
We recorded our debut album at Arlyn studios (a legendary space frequented by Willie Nelson, Gary Clark JR, and many more) in November 2024, and we’ll be releasing it June 6 (with several singles coming before then). Then we’ll be taking the show on the road all over the country this summer and fall, and internationally in Europe and Argentina in 2026.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As I mentioned, living in different places throughout the year has made it tricky to collaborate, but we’ve made it work. It’s a lot more Zoom calls and Google docs than most bands probably use, and it’s limited what we’re able to do in terms of new material and rehearsal, but it’s also proving how much we love collaborating, that we are each willing to commit hours of our week to this project even though the in-person payoff is a while away. I am so incredibly stoked to meet back up with the group and perform these songs we’ve gotten to know intimately through the recording and mixing process.
Most bands have their share of interpersonal conflict, and we had a few spats in the studio, but overall we’ve done a great job staying kind and connected. Our motto is “humans first”, and that means we hear and address everyone’s emotional needs before we try to ‘get stuff done’. This helps us all feel safe to share whatever is going on with us and whatever opinions we have in a non-confrontational way.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are an Americana / Bluegrass band playing all original material on a variety of instruments. The full-time band is four members, myself (mandolin, bouzouki, vocals), David Rabinowicz (guitar, piano, vocals), Everett Wren (fiddle, dobro, lap steel, guitar, percussion, vocals), and Taylor Turner (bass). We also hire a drummer (Sam Graf) for some projects.
Quite apart from the usual bluegrass themes of heartbreak, trains, prisons, and old-time family values, our songs touch on themes of empathy, connection, social justice, and self-reflection. We have a song called “I Won’t Write Murder Ballads”, which calls out the violence against women that is often portrayed and glorified in folk and bluegrass music.
Rather than being rooted in a specific genre or style, we match our music to the song and the story being told. That can mean switching instruments, bringing in a choir for a recording, or all gathering around one microphone to sing a silly chorus on an interlude.
We are whimsical, yet serious. Fanciful, yet pragmatic. Filled with lofty dreams, yet grounded in reality — and fully aware that one singular truth matters above all: when you finally find the perfect crew of wizards and conjure real musical magic, you will do whatever it takes to share that magic with the world.
We are most proud of creating a “found family band”, a community of collaborators who love playing music together and more broadly love sharing space together. We build our communication intentionally, treat each other and other collaborators with care and respect, and try to bring our audience and wider community into our process and our little family as much as possible.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Mentors have been crucial to our development as individual musicians and as a band. In fact, Everett was a mentor to me in the bluegrass scene in Austin, and I was able to me one for David when he first arrived in town. Finding the right mentor is often about finding the people who are doing what you want to be doing and befriending them. Networking is really just making friends, and I always think that approaching someone with a genuine desire to connect always beats trying to sell yourself or pitch something you’re working on right away. If you’re in an industry you truly love, the people around you should be interesting people. I also always try to find people speaking up about unspoken trends, norms, or problems in the community. Those with the bravery to call out these issues are the kind of people I want to model myself after.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.biglovecarwash.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biglovecarwash
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61569635287645
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@biglovecarwash
- Other: spotify:artist:7saByt9jl1sjlpRSbQH3Vi
Image Credits
Nicola Gell
