Cousins to debut 'Life, twice' album during Headwaters Music and Arts benefit concert
Aug. 16—BEMIDJI — Cousins Mary Overlie and Geoffrey Taylor didn't spend much time together as children, but the two talented musicians have found a way to connect as adults despite living hundreds of miles apart.
Overlie and Taylor have formed a group called Augmeanted and recorded a new album titled "Life, twice," which takes its name from the Anais Nin quote, "We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospection."
They will perform several songs from the 10-track debut album at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, at the historic Carnegie Library in downtown Bemidji. It's part of a 30th anniversary concert series benefiting Headwaters Music and Arts.
Both cousins were born in Montana, but Taylor's family moved to Texas when he was about 10, before Overlie was even born.
"We reconnected about three years ago," Overlie said. "We were at a family gathering and we just couldn't stop sharing ideas."
That led to Taylor joining Overlie's other band, Mudsong, for its "Cellowoman" album last year. Mudsong also includes Overlie's husband, Pete McDonnell, along with Craig Haugen and Dan Schnackenberg.
In Augmeanted, Taylor plays the five-string fiddle and mandolin, while Overlie sings and plays piano.
"The strangest thing about Geoff and I being cousins ... is we don't really have to communicate when we're improvising," Overlie said. "We just have a DNA link. Once we get going we know where we're going. It's a really wild experience."
When Overlie was planning to have some photos taken to promote the album, she arranged to do so at the Carnegie.
"We were thinking about beautiful spaces in town, and I booked the Carnegie for a photo shoot. Geoff got out his violin and we were like, 'Oh this place is music,'" Overlie commented. "I think of it as the best-kept secret in town, because every time I hand out a flyer, people say they haven't been there yet. It's a music venue, people. It's so amazing in there. It's really, really stunning."
Tickets for the concert are $8 for adults and $4 for seniors and youth ages 16 and younger.
All proceeds will benefit Headwaters Music and Arts. To purchase tickets, visit
