Premiere: Ok Cowgirl’s “God Made A Farmer”
Photo credit: Michelle LoBianco
The title "God Made A Farmer" immediately conjures a particular vision of America, but Brooklyn indie-rock outfit Ok Cowgirl aren't interested in reinforcing familiar imagery. Consisting of singer songwriter Leah Lavigne, Jake Sabinsky, John Miller, Ryan Work, and Matt Birkenholz, Lavigne uses rural iconography on their latest single as a starting point for a much larger conversation about empathy, community, and the ways people often stereotype one another from afar.
Arriving ahead of the band's sophomore LP Rhinestone Cowgirl on August 21 via Easy Does It Records, the Alex Farrar-produced track (Wednesday, MJ Lenderman) showcases everything that has made Ok Cowgirl one of New York's most compelling exports: soaring guitars, memorable hooks, and Lavigne's emotionally direct songwriting. Beneath its heartland-rock sheen, however, "God Made A Farmer" is ultimately a plea for curiosity over judgement and a reminder that shared humanity matters more than the labels we place on one another. We spoke with Lavigne to learn more about what inspired “God Made a Farmer”, premiering today via REVERIE Magazine.
REVERIE: Hi Ok Cowgirl - we love the new track! "God Made A Farmer" is an interesting title because it immediately evokes a certain image of Americana. What drew you to that phrase, and how does it connect to what the song is actually about?
Lavigne: The title of this song was inspired by a painting on the wall at a local diner where my parents live in northern Michigan. I grew up in the suburbs, have lived in New York City for 12 years now, and have spent a lot of time in small-town rural Midwest visiting family. It’s always fascinated me how people in these different places misunderstand and stereotype each other. We get caught up on superficial differences and fail to see all the more meaningful ways we can relate to each other. That’s what I wrote this song about.
REVERIE: You've worked with Alex Farrar again on this album. What does he bring to the process that keeps you coming back, and how did this record differ from making ‘Couldn't Save Us From My Gut’?
Lavigne: We love working with Alex. He has great ideas and is super easy going and down to earth. Alex has always understood that my storytelling and the emotions behind the song are the center of gravity for our music making. We tracked most of this record live, sitting in a big circle, and I think that communal energy injected some magic into these recordings.
REVERIE: Your music often sits somewhere between classic heartland rock and contemporary indie rock. Were there any particular records, artists, or sounds that became touchstones while writing this album?
Lavigne: So much good music around that time! I love listening to music that sounds very different from mine when I’m in a deep writing phase. It helps me compartmentalize and not overanalyze what I’m listening to or what I’m working on. I listened to a lot of Nourished By Time, L’Rain, Caroline Polachek… also, damn that Lil Yachty record “Let’s Start Here.”
But the sound of this record was probably influenced by some of my faves like Hurray For The Riff Raff, Adrianne Lenker, Dutch Interior, MJ Lenderman, and Plains (Waxahatchee and Jess Williamson).
REVERIE: Ok Cowgirl has spent years building a community around the New York DIY scene. How has that environment shaped the band's identity and the way you approach songwriting?
Lavigne: I think it has kept us grounded. In the past couple years we got signed by a label, started getting opportunities to play larger venues like Music Hall of Williamsburg, had a song in a Netflix series, and saw our streaming numbers go way up. I’m so proud of all of those accomplishments, but at the end of the day that’s not why we make music. I write songs as a tool for catharsis, strengthening my relationship with myself, and making meaning out of my life. We play in a band together to enjoy each other's company, experience flow state, and make memories. If you asked any of us what the highlights of Ok Cowgirl have been, it won’t be when a song broke 100k or we played the largest stage. It will be the improvised ambient jam session we had after hours in the studio while drinking 100 Budweisers, or the backyard show we played at SXSW with The Infinites (who we love), or when Alex Farrar started to adopt our weird lingo like adding the syllables “ington” and “tonious” to the end of random words.
REVERIE: Finally, if "God Made A Farmer" is someone's introduction to Ok Cowgirl, what do you hope they take away from the song before they hear the rest of the album?
Lavigne: If “God Made A Farmer” is someone’s introduction to Ok Cowgirl I hope they walk away excited to hear more catchy melodies, ripping guitars, and earnest lyrics.
