Pittsburgh’s genre-warping quartet Sleeping Witch & Saturn return with “Mother’s Day,” a shimmering, slow-burning single that teases the tonal evolution of their upcoming second LP. Known for blending post-punk’s brooding undercurrents with the melodic sway of new wave and the textured grit of indie rock, the band pushes their sonic boundaries further while holding tight to their emotionally-charged core.
“Mother’s Day” is a track that breathes with space. Built on a steady groove and nostalgic sensibilities, its refined production gives the song a cool clarity, allowing each element — from the glassy guitar tones to the wistful synth lines — to unfold with intent. The vocals are a standout: sardonic yet tender, expressive without excess, and tinged with an unmistakable vulnerability that lingers long after the track ends.
We sat down with Sleeping Witch & Saturn to learn all about the track, the inspiration behind it, their processes and much, much more here at Music Crowns!
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Hey guys, welcome to Music Crowns! How are you doing?
Wonderful! Thank you for having us!
Sleeping Witch & Saturn have been together since 2017. How did the band originally come together, and what drew each of you to this project?
I had been writing some songs as a side project, and I posted on Facebook about being a full band together. Both Rowdy (guitar/synth) and Anna (bass) reached out. Nelson (drums) plays in another band with Rowdy and came in a bit later through that. This is the first project we’ve all been in together.
Congratulations on your new single ‘Mother’s Day!’ What inspired the track, both lyrically and sonically?
Thanks! The song is about familial trauma, and it reflects on expectations of unconditional love despite mistreatment. Those situations create a lot of confusion, and the lyrics are from the perspec<ve of someone looking back with resentment while still grappling with how to process it all.
Nothing specifically inspired the music other than the general mood brought on by the subject, but one of my biggest influences is The Velvet Underground, and I think that comes through.
There’s a moody, almost sardonic tone in ‘Mother’s Day’ – how do you approach balancing emotional depth with that off-beat, throwback groove?
The irony within the song, where the chorus straddles the line between genuine and sarcas<c, is sort of baked in with the very bittersweet instruments and melody. But the music lent itself to a lighter, poppier approach that just made sense the more we played it. I like when the tones or themes of the music and lyrics oppose each other. I think it mirrors the layers of life more accurately.
What was the recording and writing process like?
For me, the music and lyrics came together almost instantly, which is rare. When we started playing it together, I think it only took a few runs to get it finished.
We played it out for a long time before recording it. When we finally got around to it, it felt very familiar. And we spent a long time on production, making sure everything felt right. We tried to figure out where it should lie on the pop-rock spectrum and tweak the production accordingly. Ultimately, I think we got a very unique recording out of it.
You’ve shared stages with acts like Feeble Like Horse and Pink Turns Blue. What have been some standout moments from performing live so far?
It’s just nice to play venues that we enjoy. When we get to play with bands and people that we like, that’s always great. But atypical shows and strange events are some of the most interesting parts of being in bands. We played this punk bar and got in a fist fight outside, and we played a local library event where we essentially opened for children. Both of those shows are memorable.
What’s one thing you hope listeners take away from Mother’s Day or the new LP?
We hope that people can connect with it, and maybe get something out of it. If it can help anyone just by resonating with them then that’s the best thing.
And finally, what does the rest of 2025 hold for Sleeping Witch & Saturn?
We’ll soon be releasing a music video for Mother’s Day and doing a small tour in August. We’re also gearing up to record some new songs, so some more singles are on the horizon.
