motel void

Fans of Sarah Rose and Sarah Nienaber—Portland, Oregon’s mercurial dream pop duo Shady Cove—might have anticipated the band’s second album, Part II (due August 30). Mid-way through their self-titled debut (2022, Park the Van Records) is “Shady Cove Pt. 1.” If their debut announced the longtime collaborators’ return to songwriting and world-building after leaving Portland for rural Oregon, Part II announces the band’s renewed commitment to the pop song as a vehicle for introspection and creating an immersive listening experience, environments at once expansive and intimate.

MOTEL VOID: How did your relocation from Portland to rural Oregon (Shady Cove) influence the themes and sound of your debut album?

SHADY COVE: We were pretty isolated through almost the entire process of making that record. There’s sort of a boundless freedom hidden in that kind of loneliness, and I think you can hear it in the songs.

MOTEL VOID: What motivated your return to Portland, and how did it impact the creation of Part II?

SHADY COVE: The pandemic ended and we needed to work. We moved back before the first record was officially finished and we thought our old band, Candace, would maybe take on the songs. That did not happen of course, so we called it Shady Cove and just moved on. We never stopped recording, just kept putting one foot in front of the other until another album eventually took shape.

MOTEL VOID: How has bringing in Devon Shirley as a drummer influenced your music and live performances?

SHADY COVE: Devon adds a level of dynamics to the songs that we could never achieve on our own.

MOTEL VOID: Can you describe your approach to songwriting and how it evolved between your first album and Part II?

SHADY COVE: I think our approach to songwriting has stayed pretty consistent. Sometimes we have a solid idea going into it, other times we work in a more stream-of-consciousness way by trying tons of ideas and seeing what sticks. We almost always record as we write and worry about learning how to play the songs live later.

MOTEL VOID: Your music reminds me of my favorite band Beach House. What kind of music is inspiring you at the moment?

SHADY COVE: Thank you! Thanks a huge compliment. Lately we’ve been listening to Hyrdroplane, Tara Clarkin Trio, Arthur Russell and always streaming NTS.

MOTEL VOID: Do you plan to tour in support of your new album?

SHADY COVE: No plans as of yet .. but never say never.