My Favourite Things is a Brooklyn-based project known for their rich blend of indie pop, soul, folk, and dream pop, led by songwriter Dorothea Tachler. Over the years, the band has built a sound that balances emotional depth with organic instrumentation, drawing from classical training, personal storytelling, and a wide range of influences—from Bach and the Beatles to Nick Drake and R&B. Their fourth album, Find My Way Home, marks a thoughtful new chapter, shaped by years of change, reflection, and growth. In this interview, we talk with Dorothea about songwriting, inspiration, and the stories behind the new record.
Q: In your opinion, what are the essential qualities that make a “good songwriter”?
I guess as a listener, originality, authenticity… I know at this point its hard to write songs that have never been there before. But if you write about something that happened to you with authentic feeling and reflection, then it can offer a uniqueness because a well expressed personal experience about something deep is still is unique, I think. Sure, I love a song that is also interesting musically/composition wise and has cool instruments, but even a simple song with little to no instrumental accompaniment can be unique and amazing.
Q: What is the basis for writing attention-grabbing music in this day and age?
I think that depends on the individual listener, it seems like a lot of mainstream music has pumping beats, and little to no melody. To be honest, I don’t understand today’s mainstream pop music for the most part, but maybe I am too old at this point! I miss a good catchy chorus or melody. But there is still new music that grabs my attention when I hear something that is musically interesting, and speaks to me, or makes me feel something. When it is real, authentic, and sounds beautiful, or inspiring or unique.
Q: Can you pinpoint some specific songs and songwriters that changed the way you write music?
That is a really hard question. I think I have so many influences, and it started with Bach and Beatles as a child, since I was exposed to classical music a lot when I was little and also studied classical music. It depends what I listen to, and I always go through different listening phases. I was listening to a lot of old Soul and R’n'B music in the last years, and so this influenced some songs on this album like “Let it all go” and “New York City”. But I listen to all kinds of music, yeah I love a good folk song, like a good Nick Drake song thats just with guitar and his voice, but I also love nice dreamy pop music that makes you want to dance and dream.
Q: Do you find it hard to be inspired by your peers? Can you name any new artists you find inspiring?
Oh sure, there are many artists/bands that inspire me, they are too many to name, and a lot of them aren’t “new” artists...
Q: For your new album, what inspired the lyrical content, album title, and overall vibe?
Usually on these albums, I process life and emotional challenges, hardships, losses. I had a lot of those since the last album from 2017 - the pandemic took its toll, and a big shift in my social environment, and generally people that once felt close Usually on my albums, I process life’s emotional challenges—hardships, losses, big changes. Since my last release in 2017, there’s been a lot to navigate. The pandemic really took its toll, and I went through a major shift in my social environment. People who once felt close drifted away, and that sense of change and reckoning runs through this new record.
Q: Do you find that you ruminate over writing songs and hold on to them for a long time before including them on a record? Or do you prefer to write them, release them, and be done with them? Do you ever re-visit old material to do a re-write or once it’s done it’s done?
Sometimes a song can take a while, and it needs to sit for a bit, and I keep coming back to it. It can take several times to come back until the song makes sense to me. I always wait for this certain feeling, when it makes “click” and you know, this is what the song needed. Once its released, however, I don’t usually go back to it again.
I have released singles, yes, and in that case it went like write/record and release, but when you work on an album, it takes time, sometimes years until its finished.
Q: Were there any lessons you learned in the writing and recording process for your current release that you will take with you into your next project?
There are always new things to learn in the recording process, especially technical things, like software knowledge, etc. studio wiring when there’s a mysterious hum somewhere, etc. I think I learn over and over again to not rush myself through the writing process and to not let myself be too influenced by what others say. Waiting for the moment when I know what the song needs seemed to be worth it this time!
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