Babe the Blue Ox drummer Hanna Fox said she speaks for herself when she talks about the band's recent big-label signing.
"I know what the others (band members) would say, but for me, I can truly attest I'm getting more sleep," Fox told the Deseret News during a phone interview from Los Angeles. "I've been sleep deprived for six years.Fox explained that since the band signed to RCA Records last year, it has more time to focus on music, rehearsals and writing, rather than non-stop self-promoting tours and public relation plugs.
"We can carefully take time to make a record - something we couldn't do before," she said.
Babe the Blue Ox, featuring Fox, guitarist/vocalist Tim Thomas and bassist/vocalist Rose Thomson, will play the Cinema Bar, Tuesday, May 21, with Cibo Mato. Doors open at 7 p.m.
"In the past we slept on fans' floors, and now we are set up in hotels," Fox continued. "It's comfortable, but there was a real nice exchange of hospitality when we were guests at people's homes."
Babe the Blue Ox unofficially formed in 1989.
"Actually we were just a bunch of friends who moved to New York together after we graduated college," Fox said. "We began playing music together because Rose and I lived together."
But the band's love of music can be traced to the members' child-hood.
"Tim's mom is a classical singer, and he and Rose were in bands all through school," said Fox. "I listened to a lot of different music that was on the radio. We're all children of the '70s and listened to everything from hippie tunes to pop and dance music. Our musical tastes are broad, and we listen to anything that's interesting to us. It keeps us open to new ideas. And living in New York helps. There are a lot of different styles of music out there.
"It's also a great perk to make music for a living," Fox went on. "We are making something we really enjoy. And in the past, we built an audience by touring - endlessly. Now with the label backing us, it feels like we just got a grant. After we signed, we were able to quit our day jobs. We are very lucky, but we take it as it comes. If the contract doesn't pan, we'll find different ways to get the music out."