Exclusive track premiere of ‘Psycho’ by the psych-country duo Andrea & Mud, taken from their upcoming album, ‘Institutionalized,’ out April 19, 2024.

The rockabilly classic ‘Psycho’ is a murder ballad written from the killer’s perspective. Originally written by Leon Payne, aka “The Blind Balladeer,” Andrea & Mud reimagine the song as a cinematically psychedelic romp through a lens of Santo & Johnny’s ‘Sleep Walk’ and Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks soundtrack. The vocal duet continues a lineage of murderous lovers like Bonnie and Clyde, Natural Born Killer’s Mickey & Mallory or Terrence Malick’s Kit and Holly in Badlands.

“This is an old song by Leon Payne that had a huge resurgence a few years ago. I’m not even sure why. It must have been in something. How cool is it that everyone was falling in love with this super creepy song, best done by Eddie Noack in 1968? I love that. We knew that if we were going to record it, it was gonna have to stand out like a mug. Hence me singing the lead and Kyle being the psycho on the choruses. One of my all time favorite recordings that we’ve ever done. Damon Moon always adds so much with the mellotron and the way it starts with Mud counting it off and then his delicious baritone guitar, making it sound like a new ballad by Orville Peck, has me melting every time I hear it again.

I’m not a huge fan of any of the lyrics in particular, especially the one about the puppy, but I do love Mud’s idea to put some tremolo on the backup vocals. I think he heard that before on an obscure classic country song (go figure), and wanted to try it on this. And it really works. That’s one of my favorite parts of any song we’ve ever done.

This version of ‘Psycho,’ to me, sounds like Ennio Morricone did the score for the Alfred Hitchcock movie Psycho. It’s dreamy and surreal, but traditional enough to be sentimental. And that baritone guitar! I think this song is perfection. I do have a killer idea for this music video. Be looking. It’ll get made eventually. Just think, what would Norman Bates do? Andrea Colburn

“Honestly, the inspiration here is that I thought we could do it better than the versions of ‘Psycho’ I’ve heard before. Fight me. I’m sure this ain’t what you’re looking for but this song sounds like the color magenta to me. It’s got dark aspects and very bright notes to it. Also it sounds like a fun excuse to play Bass VI. I just love the narrative between the narrator and his presumed dead mother. And my sling blade quotes, if you listen REALLY closely in the fade out.” Kyle “Mud” Moseley

Andrea & Mud, the cinematic psych-country duo, crafted their latest album, ‘Institutionalized,’ while living in a converted barn in rural Georgia. The record delves into their personal struggles, highlighting mental health issues and their relationship dynamics. Despite the dark themes, their music serves as a form of therapy, reflecting their honesty and exceptional songwriting skills. With nods to classic country and influences ranging from Bakersfield Sound to spaghetti Western, Andrea & Mud create a unique blend that captivates listeners and sets them apart in the Americana scene.

Headline photo: AndreaColburn

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