Palmyra

We're excited to sit down with Palmyra for our Vinyl 5 series! Palmyra is an emerging indie-folk trio known for their haunting harmonies, intricate instrumentation, and evocative storytelling. Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains, the band—featuring members who seamlessly blend voices and instruments—crafts a sound that is both deeply rooted in Appalachian traditions and refreshingly modern.

Drawing inspiration from folk, Americana, and indie rock, Palmyra delivers music that is intimate yet expansive, weaving themes of longing, nature, and personal reflection into every song. With a raw, organic energy and a growing reputation for captivating live performances, Palmyra is quickly carving out a unique space in the contemporary folk scene.

Catch their US tour beginning March 27, 2025.

Q&A

In a world of streaming and almost limitless titles available, why do you think people are going back to vinyl?

[Sasha] I personally love the act of ending the day by picking a record, dropping the needle down, and knowing that for the next forty-ish minutes, I’m fully investing in listening to an album from start to finish. The world we live in today has what seems like an infinite supply of new music and artists, which can make it impossible to choose what/who to listen to.

I think vinyl has a ton of appeal for a lot of folks because of how physical and cool it is, and the mindfulness that comes with listening to a record from front to back, the way the artist intended.

Tell us a story about each of the records you selected, and explain why they mean something to you.

1. Twain: 2 EP's

[Sasha] I was first introduced to Twain’s music at the Newport Folk Festival in 2022. It was one of our first festival experiences as a performing band, and there was so much incredible art to ingest all around us. I saw Mat play alongside Langhorne Slim and JP Harris and wrote down his artist moniker, “Twain”, to revisit after the festival.

I was hooked after my first playthrough of his 2017 record, “Rare Feeling”, and have been a devout listener for a few years now. There’s something so brilliantly singular about his music that’s hard to put my finger on. I just know that every lyric and note and production choice works its way into not just my ears and mind, but my body, too. Huge fan. 

2. Mac Miller: Swimming

[Sasha] Easily my most listened to record in college (and possibly of all time by now). I liked Mac’s music when I was in middle and high school, but when he came out with “Swimming”, it came with a level of artistry that blew my mind.

Regretfully, I didn’t fully give into the record until after he passed, but after his death in 2018, it was the only thing I listened to for weeks. I’ll never forget listening to “2009” with fresh ears and crying in my Subaru, mourning the loss of an artist that wrecked me in a way that hadn’t ever happened before. 

3. Beach House: Teen Dream

[Mānoa] This was without a doubt myself and all of my highschool friend groups' favorite record. We loved this record to the point of obsession, often obnoxiously singing the guitar melodies at each other.

When I think of this “teen dream” I think of a particular summer night my friends and I spent on a borrowed family sailboat. We anchored in the harbor, turned off all of the electrical on the boat and just stared at the stars in silence as the whole record played. I still get tears of joy when I think of that night and the peace this album brought each of us.

4. Punch Brothers: Phosphorescent Blues

[Mānoa] If I traced my ideas, I would bet good money that Phosphorescent Blues could be the inspiration for most of my creativity that might have any real worth.  The arrangements, and specifically the unfolding of instrumental motifs has taught me so much about how to develop an idea. The record has an emotional core that continues to ring true for me a decade later. It’s not a stretch to say I wouldn't be the same person I am today without hearing this record.

5. The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You

[Teddy] I and Love and You was a huge record for me. I heard “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” on Pandora Radio when I was in 8th grade. It was the beginning of finding the bands that really inspired me to write music; The Avetts, Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, Shakey Graves, Gregory Alan Isakov…

I got obsessed with the Avett Brothers  and this was the newest record out for them at the time. I don’t know if there is a more influential record for me than this one.

Q&A

If you had (or have) your dream vinyl listening room, what would/ does it look like? What would/ does it sound like?

[Mānoa] Wow, I love this question! Okay. Well, first there are floor-to-ceiling dark wood built-in shelves that you need a rolling ladder to access all of the records. Very gothic library vibes. I'm thinking for speakers, I’d like a real statement, maybe bright red Andrew Bird Phonograph horns? And then finally, the sound. It must sound like the band is right there in front of you and the notes are jumping off the record. I want guests to come over and they enter, stop for a moment and question, “Did he really hire the ghost of John Coltrane himself for this four person casual board game night??”

What's your favorite record store?

[Teddy] We did a run out in the Midwest in December of 2024. It was my first time up in Minneapolis and we made sure to stop at Electric Fetus. I think that is my favorite record store I have been to so far. I did some pretty epic Christmas shopping while I was there. They really have it all!

When listening to records, what's your go-to beverage? Whiskey? Wine? Beer? High-end mineral water? Nada?

[Mānoa] Hmm, I think the truth is whiskey. But I can't deny the demure appeal of holding a glass of red wine whilst listening to a scratched up unknown one dollar thrift bin LP.

When you shop for records, do you make a plan or just ransack the stacks and hope for the best?

[Sasha] I love digging through crates and seeing what I can stumble upon. If I’m shopping for somebody else, it’s different! My dad got my mom a record player for Christmas this year and I spent a lot of the holiday season scouring through crates for some of her favorites; The Staples Singers, the Rolling Stones, Talking Heads. I often find it easier and more rewarding to go into a record store with an open mind and no expectations, which almost always leads to me leaving with something I didn’t know existed previously or didn’t expect to find! 

What is the most important album in your current collection? What is the weirdest? Rarest?

[Teddy] Most important - Jackson Brown (Saturate Before Using)

This is one of my Dad’s favorite records of all time and because of that has become mine. I think it is self titled but we always call it “Saturate Before Using” because that text is on the cover. I think I have two copies right now. I think I will always buy it if it is in a store. 

Rarest- Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live/1975-85

I don’t know if it is actually rare but it is big and heavy and old. It is a 5 LPs box set of live songs from The Boss!

Weirdest - Plinkety! Plank! Plunk! - The Crazy Sound of Don Davis’ Rickytick Piano

You asked for it.

On a 10-scale how much of an audiophile are you really (One: if it sounds ok, I'm ok. Ten: I'm extremely picky and need it to sound just so!)?

[Sasha] Somewhat embarrassingly, I think I score pretty low on the audiophile spectrum. I will say, though, that after spending more time in recording studios these last few years, I’ve been able to hear our songs (and friends’ music) through very hi-fi sound systems, and it can make the music feel like it’s reaching inside you in a very specific way that more lo-fi stuff just can’t do. I’m grateful at least that I can listen to most things on my phone or car stereo and still fall in love with them, regardless of the fidelity. 

Did you make mixtapes as a kid? How elaborate were they? Did you deck them out with custom ink-work? Fill them with rare grooves? Were they full of your favorites you wanted to share?

[Mānoa] The mixtape that comes to mind is not one that I made but instead received. Take yourself to 2004 and your neighbor has just burned you a one-of-a-kind disc, donned with all of her coveted iTunes possessions. On the outside of the CD, she has used each shade of Sharpie available to create a dove with a rainbow tail streaking behind it. I’ve never even come close to making a mixtape that could touch this particular rainbow masterpiece.

What are some of your favorite music films or documentaries?

[Teddy] Gotta be The Last Waltz. I am a huge Band fan and I don’t know if it gets much better than this one. Scorsese and The Band? Come on. I’ll never get tired of it. The soundtrack is a pretty classic one for me to put on in the car when I am just driving around. The Band’s music has a pretty strong hold on me. From growing up listening to “The Weight” to trying to learn to play drums like Levon Helm and pinch the strings like Robbie Robertson. They were an incredible creative force and it’s always inspiring to see some of the behind the scenes and collaboration in The Last Waltz. 

If your career had a soundtrack, what artists would be on it and why?

[Sasha] As is the case with many young artists, so much of the music we’ve listened to and been introduced to over the last five years has come from shows we’ve played with local artists all over the East Coast and inching into the Midwest. In Richmond, it’d be friends like the Great Beforetimes and The Wilson Springs Hotel. In Nashville, it’s folks like Liv Greene, Noah Fowler, and Jobi Riccio. From Philadelphia, it’s our bud Brittany Ann Tranbaugh. There are probably hundreds of artists at this point that we’ve heard out on the road and added into our heavy rotation, and many of their songs evoke the first place we heard them for me. Thinking back to before we started touring, some of the names that we all admire are The Wood Brothers, Houndmouth, The Band – and we still listen to all those bands, too! 

Any genres of music that are a hard pass?

[Mānoa] Damn, shady…. But, yeah. Probably some 25 to 50 minute SoundCloud exclusive lo-fi dance mix that could be considered “hard-style”.

Do you organize your records? If so, how?

[Teddy] I go through phases. I’ve organized by color, alphabetical, genre etc. I can’t say they ever last more than a month. Keeping things organized is hard. It is absolute chaos right now and it takes me forever to find any specific record. 

Any favorite record labels?

[Sasha] Oh, man. There are so many! A few that come to mind right away are some of the indies that host artists we all admire; Stones Throw, Nonesuch Records, RBYT (Rap Ferreira’s “Ruby Yacht”), Free Dirt, YepRoc. The list goes on! 

And of course, Oh Boy Records, which we signed to last year. They are good people and we’re so honored to be a part of John Prine’s legacy now. 

Besides vinyl or music, what else do you collect?

[Teddy] I used to collect lighters. I would go to antique stores and search for the weirdest lighter I could find. I still have a box of them. Maybe I should get back into that…

Headphones or speakers?

[Sasha] When we’re on tour, it’s really nice to have headphones to be able to create the illusion of alone time, especially after a week or two of being out on the road. I love curling up in the back seat and putting a record or podcast on, allowing myself to exist alone for a little while.

What new albums or artists do you have in your current rotation that are flipping your lid right now?

[Mānoa] I'm always gonna take this as a moment to plug my friends. While that might sound disingenuous to the topic, the truth is I love my friends' music and listen to their albums as a true fan! Today everyone needs to go check out Brennan Wedl. A certified legend straight from the homeland.

What was your first album (and how did you score it)?

[Teddy] My first vinyl was "And The War Came" by Shakey Graves. I got it and an Audio Technica record player for my 15th birthday and that was the start of my collection!

Is there any specific person, place, or moment that minted your love of music?

[Sasha] The first concert I can remember was The Avett Brothers at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia in the mid-oughts. My dad was a teacher at the time, and one of his former students was friends with the band; after the show they went backstage and came back with a signed note from Scott and Seth that I’ve still got on my wall today. It reads: “Okay, Sasha! Congratulations! For your first concert and thanks for making it US!”

I remember loving the Avett Brothers as a kid (and I still love their music dearly), and after that concert I listened to their record, “I And Love And You” every day for at least a year. There’s something so special about having personal ephemera from an artist you admire, and it made me feel so much more connected to their music, and music as a whole. 

Level Up Your Sound

As part of our Vinyl Five series, we ask our esteemed participants to play their thoughtfully picked records on a premium turntable while sharing their thoughts and feelings.

The Victrola Eastwood LP is the first full-size record player in the Eastwood lineup, featuring a 12-inch platter, enhanced speakers, and a sleek modern design. This 3-speed, belt-driven turntable comes equipped with a premium Audio-Technica AT-3600LA cartridge for superior tracking and sound quality.

Ideal for those who love the original Eastwood but want to level up in size and sound performance.