Mama Said - Change In The Weather (2025)

The spring of this year brought not only colors and warmth, but also a notable musical event – the debut album of the California rock band Mama Said. The trio includes vocalists Jen and Latifah, longtime friends, and guitarist Derek, Jen’s husband. The band had previously made a name for themselves with several singles, and now they are ready to present their full-length album titled “Change in the Weather, “scheduled for release on May 23. On the day of the album’s release, Mama Said will mark the occasion with an important performance — they will open for The War & Treaty, which is undoubtedly a significant step forward for the young band. Mama Said’s music offers a fresh take on classic rock.

Change in the Weather was produced by Jimmy McGorman — yeah, that Jimmy McGorman, the man who’s worked with Gwen Stefani, Cher, Goo Goo Dolls — so right off the bat, you know the production’s locked in. And it shows. The album also features drummer Marc Slutsky (yeah, from Adam Ant’s crew) and guitarist Steve Fekete (who’s played with, no joke, America the Band), giving the whole thing a clean, tight, professional edge.

But that’s just the surface. Underneath the radio-ready sheen, this is a deeply personal record. It’s about love, about figuring out who you are, about those fragile, invisible threads that hold people together. The storytelling here doesn’t feel forced — it comes from a place that’s clearly lived-in, experienced, and wrestled with.

“Change in the Weather” features many real hits that you’ll find yourself humming after listening. And the first title track, “Change In The Weather,” is one of them. Right away, you feel the groove of good old rock. But the real hook lies elsewhere – the girls, Jen and Latifah, showcase the harmony of two female voices. When they sing together, their voices sound especially harmonious – their intonations intertwine, and their timbres complement each other well. This moment easily grabs attention, but Mama Said doesn’t stop there: in the track “The Needle,” the band maintains the energy and confident rhythm. The song is built on a vivid, rich sonic background, based on tightly compressed percussive chords of acoustic guitar. These are supported by an electric rhythm guitar, while a solo riff adds melody and sustains the tension.

After the energetic and dense “Change In The Weather” and “The Needle,” tracks like “Gimme” and “Diamonds & Cigarettes” stand out. These songs demonstrate a different direction in Mama Said’s sound – lighter, with a distinct lean toward pop aesthetics. Despite the rather serious themes in the lyrics, which touch on the painful sides of love and unstable relationships, the musical arrangement is much more accessible. The same goes for the mid-tempo “My Kind of Crazy.” All of this shows that the band does not confine itself to the boundaries of the rock genre and aims for sonic variety, openly experimenting with form. This approach makes their music more multifaceted and potentially appealing to a broader audience.

I was especially struck by the tracks “Itch,” “Feel Good Revolution,” and “Dying or Living” – in my opinion, they showcase Mama Said’s genre flexibility. “Itch” is a powerful, rhythmically rich track with a distinct boldness and energy. In contrast, “Feel Good Revolution” offers a more atmospheric sound: smooth drums, bass, and dynamics create a balance between relaxation and underlying tension. “Dying or Living” stands out with its dark charisma and dramatic delivery –Jen and Latifah’s vocals sound particularly expressive, giving the track a cinematic quality. All of these tracks highlight the band’s variety of approaches and confidence in experimentation.

Like the acoustic “Down to the River” – although this song leans more toward a ballad, it clearly blends retro and modern elements; this is exactly the sound the band is aiming for. By the end of the album, you realize everything sounds incredibly vivid. The album is strong on its own – there’s absolutely nothing that needs to be changed, and most importantly, you don’t want it to end.

But then comes the finale — “Everybody.” Big rhythm, solid groove, and a vocal that punches right through. It’s got that driving energy that makes you sit up straight, like the band’s saying, yep, this is how we’re wrapping it up. And it works. It lands hard, but instead of closing the door, it kind of dares you to hit play again. Feels like a very conscious move — like Mama Said knew exactly how to stick the landing and leave a mark. The arc of the album builds naturally, and this final track pulls it all together with real intent and impact.

If you’re into classic rock, this one’s gonna hit the spot. The whole album pops with color and leaves a solid impression, even if you’re not head-over-heels for every single track. But the real kicker here is the energy — it’s loud, it’s full-bodied, and it doesn’t let up. That intensity carries the whole thing. Bottom line: Change in the Weather is a gutsy debut from Mama Said, the kind that earns a spot on the shelf next to your go-to rock records. Keep your eyes on May 23 — this one’s gonna make some noise.