Though she’s just 23, Lexi Weege has become a regular part of the Pioneer Valley music scene over the last several years, with gigs at The Parlor Room in Northampton, Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton and a number of other venues.
The Westfield singer-songwriter, who usually plays piano or guitar on her jazz-blues numbers, performs with a couple different groups: Weege & The Wondertwins, with whom she’s just finishing up recording a new album, and The Franklin County Sweethearts, a band she formed with friends.
“There’s no greater joy than singing with people you love,” she says. “It’s pure magic. That’s absolutely my favorite thing about both groups!”
In fact, Weege says she’s been something of a hired gun since graduating from high school, “singing anywhere and anything with pretty much anyone.” That’s involved some strange shows, like one last year at the Newport “Guac-Off” in Rhode Island: “We had to climb down a giant cliff with my Yamaha piano to get to a secret beach. It was insane!”
Q: Describe the work you’re doing now.
Lexi Weege: Aside from Weege & The Wondertwins, my friends and I have a project called The Franklin County Sweethearts, which consists of myself, Madeline Laporte and Tom LeBeau (and occasionally Josh Allen on cajón). We decided early on to only do covers we love, which has been a blast: I’d say 30 percent Beatles, 50 percent classic country and 20 percent originals.
I’ve also done lots of session work and have gotten to sing backup vocals for all sorts of wonderful artists. I think Christa Joy’s album was one of my favorites to do.
Q: What is your creative process like?
L.W.: I get my best thinking done when I drive, usually listening to “golden oldies” radio. Lyrics almost always come first and some sort of melody follows. I usually race home and bang out some chords to go with it on my piano. Lately, however, I have uncovered my mama’s old Fender acoustic guitar and have been crafting some country tunes. I’ve been trying to learn how to yodel.
Q: What does the new album by Weege & The Wondertwins include?
L.W.: Three-part harmony, some organ and delicious guitar action. Our trio consists of myself on lead vocals, Tom Del Negro on lead guitar and vocals and AJ Del Negro on bass, vocals and sometimes piano. All three of us are left-handed Virgos, which I always thought was pretty cool.
Q: How would you describe the group’s sound?
L.W.: We love and play all different types of music, so it’s always been difficult to slap a genre on what we do. We often call it “pretend jazz,” but there is a lot of blues in the project, a little hint of country and a great influence from what we call “crooner” music (Frank, Dino, Nat, you know).
Q: What did you do most recently that relates to your art?
L.W.: Made plans to mix my album! So excited!
Q:What other music have you been listening to of late?
L.W.: I’ve really been enjoying “Gilded Palace Of Sin” by The Flying Burrito Brothers and the two Gram Parsons solo albums. Those harmonies defy gravity. I saw Miss Lauryn Hill a few months ago and have been listening to her “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” on loop. I’ve also recently rediscovered The Beatles’ “Rubber Soul” and would love to cover the album live some day.
Lexi Weege & The Wondertwins perform at New City Brewery in Easthampton on May 12 in a free show with Austin, Texas musician Dwight Smith. Visit: lexiweege.com.