Like a lot of Black folks amid the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest, longtime friends/collaborators Tawny Newsome and Bethany Thomas often spend time ruminating about their place in the world, and what they can do to contribute.
Their impetus was hearing about President Donald Trump’s announcement to hold a rally on June 19 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
June 19 is known — and historically unknown — to many African Americans as Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the emancipation of enslaved Africans.
“I remember when I was driving from Chicago to L.A. to go Tawny’s house, and hearing that [Tulsa rally announcement] in May, and I thought that’s the most insidious thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” said Thomas. “And then it was like: ‘I could say that to a lot of people, and they’re going to be like: ‘What’s Juneteenth?’ ”
Thomas and Newsome got to work on the album, “Material Flats,” which launched Oct. 9. It’s the “debut-ish’ album launched by Newsome’s record label Fine Alpinist Records.
Newsome, who now lives in California, says the album content is timely due to aforementioned events.
“When [Thomas] showed up to the compound where we recorded everything — my little home studio way out in the desert — I had a handful of demos of various things I wanted to write about that were somewhat topical and somewhat timeless,” said Newsome, who sang and played keys on the album. “And one day she just said: ‘Well, we have to do a song called Juneteenth.’ ”
Thomas, a Humboldt Park resident who grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, said the album’s “DIY” creative process fell in line from there on.
“Yeah, it fell together like everything else in this project. She [Newsome] said: ‘Yes,’ and then we just did it,” said Thomas, who sang vocals on the album. “There wasn’t really a lot of second guessing; it seemed organic and obvious.”
One of the album’s standout tracks outside of “Juneteenth 2020” is “White Balloon,” which hits home for Newsome.
“I’ve lived in a rural area all my life except for the 14 years I lived in Chicago,” said Newsome. “It can feel very freeing and you’re in touch with nature. … And at the same time, as a Black person in the middle of one of the most intense summers for racial violence and racial awakening nationwide, your brain starts to go a little bit nuts and say: ‘Well, if these white supremacists come rolling down the road, how many seconds do I have before I can sprint up that trail behind my house, get into the woods where I know they won’t find me?’ ”
The women met doing storefront theater work and were ready to step out of the shadows of the backup singing gigs (Jon Langford, The Waco Brothers, and several Bloodshot Records artists) they’ve had over the years on the Chicago music scene.
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“We have backed up and supported so many dudes, lovely dudes — no shade to them,” said Newsome, who lived in Lincoln Park and Ukrainian Village and performed at Second City during her time in the city. “But we have stood behind and beside so many men that this was a chance to call attention to that for me.”
The duo remains mindful when it comes to representation in their careers.
Newsome, whose acting chops are seen on Netflix’s “Space Force,” and the CBS All Access series “Star Trek: Lower Decks” and “The Twilight Zone,” says she’s aware that young Black girls who see her on TV — wearing box braids — may give the arts a try when seeing someone who looks like them.
“The braids were my idea,” said Newsome. “Acting is kind of a silly, frivolous career in a lot of ways, and if you can seize the moments where you can in any way help make it meaningful for other people, it’s your duty.”
Newsome also reveled in soaking up game from her “Space Force” co-star, award-winning actor John Malkovich.
“To work side by side with him and have him showing me his different scented markers for his script because he’s an absolute delightful maniac,” said Newsome. “And now we’re friends. He texts me K-Pop videos — he’s the sweetest, weirdest man.”
Regardless of where Newsome’s career has taken her, she looks back fondly on her Chicago years — she will defend the city from anyone sitting in the cheap seats.
“If anyone hasn’t lived in Chicago for at least two years, I don’t really want to hear your opinion about it because in two years, you need to get a full year’s worth of weather — no two years are alike,” Newsome said.
Thomas echoed Newsome’s sentiments.
“It’s f---ing beautiful,” Thomas said of Chicago. “There’s a lot of beauty here that the majority of people, even if you do spend two years in the city, never ever discover.”
