Before “Mount Carmell,” There was “Sweet Rosebud”

Before becoming the solo artist “Mount Carmell,” I used to sing as part of the folk duo “Sweet Rosebud,” with my sister…Our sound was characterized by harmonies, and our band by our sisterly bond and friendship.

Before becoming the solo artist “Mount Carmell,” I used to sing as part of the folk duo “Sweet Rosebud,” with my sister. We wrote many songs together, sung at many coffeeshops and open mics, won some competitions (Pot Belly Idol and a local Battle of the Bands), and regularly posted on our Youtube Channel. Our sound was characterized by harmonies, and our band by our sisterly bond and friendship.

We were a band from college all the way through graduate school, but as the years passed it became harder and harder to continue to create music together as life got busier and took us different places geographically. It is my hope that we can work on music together again sometime in the near future, but until then, here are some fond memories we created years ago - all original music!

1. Concrete Man

We did not write this song about anyone in particular. A beautiful thing about songwriting is that you can create and tell a story through song. It doesn’t have to be based on a true story or something you’ve personally experienced. You can be as creative as you want to be in your storytelling. Fiction can still communicate important truths. That is the case for this song. The chorus, “I’ve got a right to love and be loved,” is the takeaway message and ultimate meaning behind the song…everyone deserves to love and be loved.

2. Sailor Man

This is just a song about sailing and day dreaming about life at sea. I’ve been on boats and kayaks, but never sailed or been at sea, but that didn’t stop us from writing this creative song! The chorus of the song says: “The stars will be our guide, and if a nautical storm comes raging, we will set our sail to shore.” I think the song captures the beauty and safety of togetherness.

3. Big Tree

If I remember correctly, my sister and I wrote this song in a college dorm room! It’s a fun song with whimsical comparisons like “I was a blade grass, and you were a tender rose that decorated my field,” and “You were a waterfall, and I just a rainfall that fell when the clouds came and Sun said goodbye.” It’s a simple and light-hearted little song about love from our early songwriting days.

4. The Light

My sister wrote this beautiful song. It reflects on the light of Christ living on the inside of us. “There’s a light inside of me…In the darkness I’m never alone cause it lights my way back home.”

5. Follow You

This is a simple upbeat song from our early songwriting days. I can’t remember the exact inspiration behind the song, but it explores the need to have someone to follow and help guide us through life. “And I’ll follow you wherever you go. Walk in your footsteps, run in your shoes. And I’ll be waiting for you.”