Maddie Vogler - While We Have Time (2023) [Hi-Res]

While We Have Time is an exploration of the small, yet profound beauties of everyday life. The title track is a reflection on the passage of time and how we use the time we have been given with our loved ones. This song occupies a space deeply tied to my personal sense of nostalgia. Both “Ropa Vieja” and “The Need To Be” navigate how family and culture shape our identity and the way we move through the world. The opening track, “The Need To Be,” is an energetic composition that depicts the struggle and joy of exploring your own identity. “Ropa Vieja” is a song I wrote for my grandmother. She left Cuba with her family when she was sixteen, leaving everything behind when they moved to Chicago. Like many immigrant families, my grandma’s language was not passed down and as a result I did not grow up speaking Spanish. I remember going to family parties when I was younger and not being able to understand many of my relatives. Over the last few years, I have been practicing Spanish with my grandma, talking and reading books together. “Ropa Vieja” is about the things that are lost when families feel the need to assimilate, but is also a celebration of my grandma and of my family’s roots. The song’s title is named after a well-known Cuban dish that I like to eat with my grandma. “Industrielle” is named after a piece of IKEA furniture in my house and musically explores the process of self-assembling furniture. “Hymn for August” is dedicated to all of my students, who I am constantly in awe of and inspired by.

The album artwork, created by Chicago visual artist Diana Cisneros, further delves into the idea of generational womanhood, depicting the hands of my immigrant grandmothers. This project is my way of honoring where I come from and the people who have made me who I am.

Maddie Vogler - Alto Saxophone
Tito Carrillo - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Matt Gold - Guitar
Jake Shapiro - Piano
Samuel Peters - Bass
Neil Hemphill - Drums

Tracklist:
1.01 - Maddie Vogler - The Need to Be (5:04)
1.02 - Maddie Vogler - Corridors (7:39)
1.03 - Maddie Vogler - Ropa Vieja (7:07)
1.04 - Maddie Vogler - Industrielle (7:40)
1.05 - Maddie Vogler - While We Have Time (4:51)
1.06 - Maddie Vogler - Hymn for August (1:47)
1.07 - Maddie Vogler - Between Wakefulness and Sleep (5:04)
1.08 - Maddie Vogler - Sunday Colors (6:08)
1.09 - Maddie Vogler - Check Engine Light (5:13)