A Dinner Party with Miya Folick: Recapping an epic evening with The Wild Honey Pie
Editors Note: This is Part 2 of our first dinner series with The Wild Honey Pie. If you haven’t caught Part 1 featuring Rosie Carney, you can read it here.
In late June, we hosted another unforgettable night with The Wild Honey Pie proving that their "A Dinner Party with…" series is basically event nirvana.
Focusing on co-mingling the senses, our second event combined an incredible Mediterranean meal paired with complimentary cocktails and a wildly impressive performance by singer-songwriter, Miya Folick.
A powerhouse vocalist, Miya Folick is part spacey alt-pop and part anthemic grunge rock. Perhaps more accurately described as a wholly atmospheric arrangement of sounds anchored by her vocals.
Before the room was lured towards Folick's hypnotic vocals, attendees dinned and dinned well. The talented staff at Checker Hall served a delicious three-course rustic Mediterranean meal leading in with classic hummus and pita. An entree of Mediterranean chicken with couscous and tahini brownie bites followed.
Each course paired harmoniously with the subtle notes of orange and honey in our original Rock and Rye. Guests ordered Slow & Low Old Fashioned and 1884 Juleps (the mint was such a great complement to the meal).
Miya took to the stage just as dessert was being served, humbly introduced herself and began to serenade the crowd. Playing songs off of her debut LP, Premonitions, Folick captivated the room.
Currently touring across the States with Bishop Briggs, seeing Folick perform in a setting for fifty really feels like a novelty. And we don't think we're too bold in saying everyone who was in the room that night feels the same way.
We had the pleasure of connecting with Miya for our latest Straight-Up Q&A. We chatted about her first public serenades, favorite snacks, and more. You can check it below.
Q: Aside from our Wild Honey Pie event, have you been known to serenade dinner party guests?
A: This is bringing up a cursed memory. I'm 18 in Venice, Italy with my parents. We're having dinner in St. Mark's Square. My dad tells everyone that his daughter sings opera and says "Miya! Sing an aria!” I am horrified and embarrassed. I resist but my dad insists. There's a standoff until the rest of the restaurant starts telling me to sing and out of desire to just get everyone to stop I stand and sing some Mozart (I can't remember what exactly). I was really unhappy about it and it was probably pretty painful to watch.
I used to think about this memory and think my dad was being annoying but I see it differently now. My dad just wanted to make the evening more special. I was selfish and thinking only about my own experience instead of thinking of music as something I could share. This was several years before I started this music project and realized that music is something you give to people.
Q: If you had to pair your favorite dessert with a song, what would your combination be?
A: Corn Almond soft serve from Magpie's in Silverlake and Cherry-Coloured Funk.
Q: You have so many great performances coming up in Europe and the States - are there any particular cities you are especially excited for?
A: I'm VERY excited to play all the festivals we are booked for this summer. Probably Barcelona in particular. I've never been to Spain.
Q: We’ve read you wanted your debut album, Premonitions, “to feel welcoming and make people want to sing along,” - what are some of your favorite songs to sing along to at the moment?
A: I have a new song that I have been playing solo live. I'll probably play it at the Wild Honey Pie dinner. It's great for singing along :) Outside of my shows, my favorite singalong moments are when I go to my friends' shows. I've seen Your Smith play several times in the last few months, and I had so much fun screaming all her lyrics.
Q: Favorite place to eat in Los Angeles?
A: I am truly one of the most boring eaters. My girlfriend and I like to keep the fridge stocked with broccoli, carrots, hummus, pickles, boiled eggs, granola, almonds-- these types of snack foods. I'm happy with a meal of snacks. But, when we want to do something a little more exciting we like to go to Good Measure in Atwater Village. The food is delicious and it's not too loud in there. I really do not like loud restaurants.
Q: In your opinion, is it better to be Slow & Low or High on Rye?
A: I think you need a little bit of both. You gotta speed up to slow down.
Q: The road less traveled or the path of least resistance?
A: Road less traveled. Though sometimes I fantasize about the path of least resistance.
Interested in attending “A Dinner Party with…” event? Visit The Wild Honey Pie’s website for upcoming events in a city near you!
Photo Credit: Tina Chiou, @ohwowtin
