Katie Eckerman
Audio By Carbonatix
Plum vocalist Lucy Rowley doesn’t let anything get in the way of a great performance.
Sick and barely able to speak, Rowley hit the stage with Plum in mid-November to vie for a spot in Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding. The Valley-based teen girl’s audition was impressive, giving them a second-place finish.
“We were very excited to place even better this year, out of 90-plus acts. It’s also such a fun opportunity to make new fans and supporters,” Rowley said.
Now, Rowley, 16, is in better health, and she and her bandmates — guitarist Mira Ruiz, bassist Ella Voss, and drummer Willow Ogden — are looking forward to debuting their single “Bittersweet” on Tuesday, Nov. 25, at Rebel Lounge.
When news happens, Phoenix New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
“Bittersweet” is very personal to Rowley, as it is about her one-sided relationship.
“When I listened to the melody and was trying to think of lyrics, the first thing I pulled from it was the darker tones from the guitar, yet a very energetic and almost commanding drumbeat,” she said.
Randy Bingham and Sophia Gonzales-Bingham from RSVP Photography
“At the time, I was in a relationship. I loved the idea, but I realized it might not be meant for me. I kick this off in the first verse, with ‘I’m haunted, when I have everything I’ve wanted.’
“It almost means that even though I have what I always desired, which in this case was a boy, I found that I was haunted by an idealized version of my life, and that was controlling my decisions instead of rationalizing and being realistic.”
Rowley, a Phoenix Country Day School student, defies her age and is highly regarded by her bandmates.
“She’s a great singer,” said 17-year-old drummer Willow Ogden, a BASIS Phoenix junior.
“I love Lucy. She’s a great friend and a great singer. Her vocals are insane. She’s like classic rock, with a sort of rasp in her voice.”
The girls said classic rock is what partially drives Rowley, who helps weave melody throughout Plum’s songs.
Since Plum was founded through School of Rock, it has performed at Rebel Lounge, Last Exit Live, Rhythm Room, Valley Bar, Tucson’s 191 Toole, Side Pony Music Festival and Goodyear’s Rock the BBQ.
But they still have a handle on today’s music. Take Ruiz, for example. She grew into the guitar from her “Dora” axe to a Jack White signature piece.
“I fell in love with them,” Ruiz said about The White Stripes. “They’re very different. You don’t hear their music everywhere. I love the way Jack White’s guitar sounds.
Rowley said Plum encourages other girls to chase their dreams.
“I felt like it was important to be that beacon of hope and inspiration to show little girls like me that it’s possible,” she said.
The audience as a whole inspires Plum, who has been compared to the rock band Plush.
“Our inspiration comes from a lot of different eras, musicians and musical mentors,” said bassist Ella Voss, a Basha High School senior.
“Meghan Herring of Dollskin and deathdotgov is a great example of one of my inspirations.”
Plum will celebrate the release of its debut single, “Bittersweet,” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at Rebel Lounge. Tickets start at $14.
