Hours after Barack Obama took his oath of office on Jan. 20, 2009, Carrboro, N.C., burrito joint Armadillo Grill hosted an old-time music jam. That night, Andrew Marlin, a self-taught guitarist, found a complement and foil in Emily Frantz, a well-studied fiddler. The collaboration that started then quickly adopted the name Mandolin Orange, and the duo’s debut, Quiet Little Room, arrived in 2010. Third album, the magnificent This Side Of Jordan (Yep Roc), Mandolin Orange surges with a full band’s depth without sacrificing any of the front-porch closeness or weary sincerity of previous efforts. Mandolin Orange will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new feature on the duo.
Emily: Mulberry Silks is a fine fabrics store in Carr Mill Mall, a quarter mile away from our house. It’s been around for 25 years and has the best selection of garment fabrics I’ve seen anywhere. Whenever you see me in a dress, chances are very good that I made it. The ladies at “the Mulb” got me into sewing, and there’s been no turning back ever since. I go into withdrawal when we tour, and have even brought my machine with me a time or two … This store has loads of natural light from their huge mill windows, and is like a sanctuary for anyone who loves fabric/fashion/fiber arts.
