Copper Wimmin Reunites
Catching up with the popular west county vocal trio, which is having a reunion concert in Sebastopol on April 29
By Candra Anaya
A cappella trio, Copper Wimmin, is scheduled to perform in their hometown of Sebastopol for the first time since 2006. The show will take place on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Soft Medicine and is expected to sell out.
Copper Wimmin is composed of three vocalists: Alyx Autuori (formerly Benham), Kiranjot Kaur (formerly Tenaya Wallach), and Sophia Mallie. They met in the Santa Rosa Children’s Choir in 1987. Singing together since their pre-teens, they officially became Copper Wimmin and released their first album, American Tyranny, in 1998. Equal parts political, spiritual, and hopeful, Copper Wimmin instantly found themselves the sirens of an eager audience that unified generations of individuals fighting for equality and change. They solidified themselves within the indie music scene, earning accolades as finalists in the Lilith Fair talent search and becoming silver medalists in A Cappella Harmony Sweepstakes. They were featured on NPR’s Democracy Now, and on the Showtime television series, The L Word. They produced two more full-length albums, Etheric Bodies in 2002 and The Right To Be Here in 2005.
Copper Wimmin dissolved (amicably) in 2006, allowing each to chase their personal destinies.
Alyx co-owned Sebastopol boutique, Milk & Honey until 2010, birthed two musically inclined children, and presently teaches private vocal lessons, including kids the same age she was when she happened upon Kiranjot and Sophia in the children’s choir.
Kiranjot moved to India and studied Indian classical music for 5 years, then taught music workshops abroad in Argentina, Chile, Columbia, and Ecuador. As she deepened her understanding of using music as a spiritual tool, she created Mantra Mamas as a devotional and interactive practice with her audience.
Sophia became a yoga instructor and a sound healer. She weaves a combination of intelligent sequencing, breathing techniques, and uplifting music into work with her students. Faithful to her passion for musical expression, Sophia continued singing and songwriting. In 2014, she released her solo album, Ready Now, under the artist name Sophia Mae Lin.
I had the chance to catch up with Copper Wimmin ahead of their upcoming show at Soft Medicine in Sebastopol.
Candra: Tell me, how did you decide to reunite?
Sophia: I was visiting Alyx at Ragle Park during the pandemic. We were reminiscing about the past and how singing with Copper Wimmin was like no other creative process in our lives. Alyx had the outlandish thought of us singing together again [and] I was open to the idea. The pandemic helped me realize what was really important to me. Over the years, I’ve sung in other bands and nothing ever moved me the same way as singing with Copper Wimmin.
Alyx: Copper Wimmin has always been so special to me, and I had been dreaming of us getting back together for several years. Then Kiranjot moved back to the United States, and I knew it was time to reunite.
Candra: How does singing together now differ from before?
Sophia: There’s way less drama than we had during our teenage years! [laughs]
Alyx: We are more nuanced with our harmonies and arrangements. We are softer now and clearer on our purpose.
Kiranjot: I have been adamant about creating a new way of singing together that includes the audience singing with us.
Candra: Tell me more.
Kiranjot: We each bring our individual strengths [to our shows] and a healing creation emerges from [integrating] Indian note singing, yogic practices, breathwork, and crystal bowls.
Candra: Kind of like Sweet Honey in the Rock marries Kirtan and they have a baby named Sound Healing? [laughs]
Kiranjot: Yes! [laughs]
Candra: That’s quite different from your years of a cappella past.
Kiranjot: Yes, Copper Wimmin concerts are no longer an audience/performer event, but rather an immersive experience where each person is an active participant.
Candra: This brings me to your newer releases. Tell me about them.
Kiranjot: Heart Full of Flowers was our first release. It was also our first music video [past or present].
There was so much upheaval during 2020 that we were moved to bring our voices together again for healing, transformation, and the empowerment of women.
Candra: It’s interesting that it was 2020 when Copper Wimmin reunited. The rest of the world was falling apart, but you were coming back together.
Sophia: I feel like the three of us are here for a reason—to be a force of healing through the power of song.
Candra: Your latest release, Zeba, I found incredibly soothing during this tumultuous time.
Kiranjot: Thank you. I wrote it as a lullaby for my son.
Candra: What can we expect from Copper Wimmin moving forward?
Alyx: We are currently recording our fourth album, Heart Full of Flowers, named after our single. We are also gigging again. In April, we are performing in Oakland, Ashland, and of course, our hometown show in Sebastopol.
Candra: I’m sure your fans will be thrilled to see you in person after all these years. Any final thoughts you’d like to share?
Sophia: I’m so grateful we reunited. Kiranjot and Alyx are my soul sisters. I hope we get to sing together when we are 90 years old, knitting on the front porch.
Candra: May it be so. And may I be your next-door neighbor.
Copper Wimmin: [laughs]
Candra: Tell us how we can reach you.
Kiranjot: Our website is best for direct links to buy our music or tickets for our shows. www.copperwimmin.org
Alyx: You can also follow us on social media.Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/copperwimmin]. And Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/copperwimmin/].
Candra: Thank you so much, ladies. It’s been a joy.
Copper Wimmin’s reunion concert is on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 7 PM at Soft Medicine, 186 North Main Street, Sebastopol. Tickets are $22 in advance and $30 at the door. Advance tickets are highly recommended, as it’s expected to sell out. For more information, and to buy tickets, click here: https://copperwimmin.org/events.
Candra Anaya is a freelance writer who lives with her family in Northern California. When she’s not writing she can be found momming, meditating, or meowing with her Siberian Forest cat, Solstice. She can be reached at: https://thewritetobefree.wixsite.com/website