Marilyn Kroeker
Good morning. My name is Marilyn Kroeker. I'm here to talk about a gig coming up at the ZU Gallery on September 29th, from six o'clock to eight o'clock in the listening room.
LP McKay
Can you tell us a little bit about your musical journey and kind of what inspired you to make your own music?
Marilyn Kroeker
I've been writing songs since I was in about fourth grade. Not all of them very good, Lacy. And finally, in my 20s, I really started pulling that together. And by 30s, I had had three albums I think done by then. Most recently, I've been playing in a rock and roll band called Flashback. I don't believe that we're headed for an album, but I've circled back around yet again to my Sweetwater Station times we were together for four or five years around 2016. And we did produce an album with some originals on it. It's time to do another album and I've reunited with Chris Rassmussen.
LP McKay
I was gonna say you're going to be featuring one of your Sweetwater Station bandmates at the ZU, ZU Gallery, kind of talk maybe a bit how that how you guys connected initially.
Marilyn Kroeker
Initially, I met her through her folks, we were playing music at their house one afternoon, and she was just visiting from out of state and Miraculously, she moved back to Colorado. And we instantly put together a trio called Vixen. And we had a wonderful time with that trio until Chris had to leave again. Well, I bumped into her when the Burroest was happening in Mancos she walked up and said, Hey, can we sing? I said, Have you heard us? We can see that over here. Back together? Yes, yes, it was a beautiful thing. And it is a beautiful thing. Flashback and the rock and roll has its place. Make no mistake. And I'm not saying that I'm too old for that kind of stuff. But this reunion is is tickling. It's it's a wonderful thing. It's beautiful. We call it the goosebump factor. Because we give each other goosebumps with our vocals. I mean, how much more musical can you get?
LP McKay
How has your songwriting evolved over the years? Would you say it kind of sounds like you have different hats for different purposes, right?
Marilyn Kroeker
I have a closet full of hats. Lacy, for sure. I've actually taught a little bit about songwriting. And one of the key elements is you've got to have something to say. And maybe that's overly simple, but you need to and then what does the message sound like I find it very hard for you know, hardcore, heavy metal. "I love you," really? So matching the musical tones with the message is definitely part of my mission. I took a songwriting class with a musician here in town called Yves Giraud. And what an interesting experience that was one of the things that's going to happen in ZU Gallery, you're going to hear the results of that.
LP McKay
It's fascinating to me that you aren't just a musician, you also do physical works of art as well...more tangible pieces. What brought that into your life?
Marilyn Kroeker
I was married, and it was going badly. And I learned how to be a potter during that time, I found it to be a wonderful artistic outlet. Also, you know, had physical outlet as well, you got a center that clay and they don't call it centering for nothing. So there's a little bit of mental thing going on there too. And I got good at it. At a time when I was being told I wasn't good at a lot of things. So I eventually separated from that situation and continued to pot. it fits. It fits my lifestyle very nicely. That also led to ... in the afternoon I'd take 20 to 40 minutes to do a little watercolor because I'd had a good day and I could pat myself on the head by having a little more fun. And eventually that turned into well, let's spend this day painting. And now that's evolved to Gee, the winter months are coming and the light in my studio is perfect for watercolor in the wintertime. Summers a little more pottery friendly because my studio needs to be heated and it's harder to do in the winter.
LP McKay
Yeah, yeah, that's so interesting how you kind of have just used each piece to bridge a little bit more and kind of build on the art that you're already making is do you make a conscious effort to balance like the music in the in the pottery and the other artwork? Or is that just kind of not a concern?
Marilyn Kroeker
Some days, it's quite a concern I had what was to me a shock on Friday. And I'll be darned if the first thing I didn't do was go to quilt I quilted for three days in a row and I let myself and that was okay. I've got a very important gig coming up though, that I'm very excited to do. So flipping back to guitar immediately. But yeah, I let it go where it needs to go. And it's funny because the quilt the second quilt, I did two of them. Oh my goodness. I'm very excited for the upcoming Eclipse.
LP McKay
Oh, yeah, we all are.
Marilyn Kroeker
Yeah, I totally put together an eclipse quilt.
LP McKay
I don't want to let kind of this discussion about your art go away without mentioning the Ravenhouse [Gallery in Mancos]. How did that come into your life?
Marilyn Kroeker
Well, I was an original founding member of artisans Co Op, the one that's on the corner. We started that in the restaurant space that will be the boathouse right? Next door to Raven house 20 years ago. And I stayed for five. And I had an opportunity to scoot across the street with a man who did photography. And he had many photographs of ravens. So very organically. We called it Raven house. Unfortunately, after a year, he suffered some heart issues and recognize that he needed to leave the area go to a lower elevation. And he did and he thought we would be done. And I thought, well, shoot, I know what to do. I've been sitting in on every meeting for five years. In a cooperative, I know what to do. And I'm in my 15th year. darn happy about that. And then wonderful artists surrounded by wonderful artists, you know, people come in off the street and say, This is gorgeous, and it's a group hug. I didn't do it. It's a group hug.
LP McKay
How has living in the four corners? Like where did you come from? How did you get here? And then how is that really influenced your art is kind of the bigger question there.
Marilyn Kroeker
I grew up in upstate New York. That's where I was born. But I need to tell you that my mom traveled to Mesa Verde National Park before she knew she was expecting me. She was expecting me. I think she picked me up here took me back to New York. It took me 19 years to get back here. Influence Wow. Yes. Total brag. Sorry. I have been artists in residence at Mesa Verde National Park two times. Once for songwriting and once for watercolor work. And how does it influence me? 100%
LP McKay
Where can people listen to and find your music if they wanted to preview or follow you after the show?
Marilyn Kroeker
Okay Sweetwater Stations' album stories is available on Spotify and MarilynKroekermusic.com.
LP McKay
Thanks so much for coming in Marilyn.
Marilyn Kroeker
Thanks so much. Appreciate it. Thanks for having me.
