Q&A: Momma Makes Fearless Lollapalooza Debut
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY KIMBERLY KAPELA ☆
Audrey Hertel
MOMMA REFLECTS ON THEIR DEBUT LOLLA PERFORMANCE — Momma brought its signature blend of 90s-inspired indie-rock to Lollapalooza on Saturday, Aug. 1, making its festival debut with a rain-soaked set. Led by founders Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten, the band delivered a guitar-driven performance built on fuzzy grunge riffs and infectious hooks. The set featured fan favorites including “Speeding 72,” “I Want You (Fever),” “Motorbike,” and “Medicine,” alongside selections from Welcome to My Blue Sky, the band's latest record, which expands upon Momma's guitar-driven foundation with lush textures and deeply introspective songwriting.
That emotional connection is exactly what Momma hopes listeners take away from their music.
“I just always thought that music should be an escape, so it should be like a welcoming environment, and you should be able to lose yourself in it,” Weingarten says to Luna.
Following the performance, Luna sat down with Momma for an exclusive conversation about preparing for one of the biggest shows of their career, the surreal experience of making their Lollapalooza debut, the energy of the Chicago crowd, and what's next as the band continues building momentum behind Welcome to My Blue Sky.
Audrey Hertel
LUNA: Thank you for talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar with you yet, what kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
ETTA: An energetic one. It helps us out too, so we definitely try to hype the crowd up as much as we can.
LUNA: It’s been a year since the release of your Welcome to My Blue Sky record. How has it felt to watch listeners connect with the record over time?
ALLEGRA: Very surprising. I forgot that it's out, and then when we don't tour for a while, and then we end up touring, it's still like a living, breathing piece of art that people are still connecting to, even though it is in the past for us.
LUNA: Lollapalooza crowds are known for their energy and diversity. What do you hope fans take away from your performance this year?
ETTA: That we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
LUNA: You’ve built a solid reputation for your live shows. How do you keep your performances fresh and engaging for both longtime fans and new listeners seeing you for the first time?
ETTA: I feel like we get particular about the setlists depending on the show or festival. We don't take ourselves too seriously, so I think just having fun and looking at each other is what keeps us at least engaged.
LUNA: Can you describe the energy and atmosphere at Lollapalooza? What are you most excited for? Any fun surprises that we can expect?
ALLEGRA: I feel like it's more similar to what I would think a British festival would be like. I feel like we were really in the trenches and people are very dedicated. It’s not an easy festival to be at.
LUNA: What goes on backstage for you to ensure you play your best set? Any pre-show or post-show rituals or regimens that you do that helps get you in the right headspace?
ALLEGRA: It's pretty wholesome. We all hug each other and say, “have a great show.”
LUNA: Momma has always been known for turning your live shows into electric, unforgettable experiences. In a time when the world feels more chaotic and divided than ever, what does punk and rock mean to you right now? How do you channel that spirit into your music, your performances, and even your role as artists in 2026?
ALLEGRA: I just always thought that music should be an escape, so it should be like a welcoming environment, and you should be able to lose yourself in it.
ETTA: That’s actually interesting though because there are some people who can really do that and that is their like safe place, then there's also people who can't really let loose. I feel like I can't really tell what that's even really about, but I feel like the energy that Allegra is describing is something that should be spread here, and people shouldn't feel ashamed or embarrassed or weird because it is just a community environment and it's an experience.
LUNA: How do you hope listeners — especially your femme audience — can connect with or find power in this new era of music from you? What emotions or messages do you want to leave with them?
ALLEGRA: I have the same advice for everybody, but I would just say to get good and your craft. If you play guitar, drums, bass, sing, just dedicate a lot of time to it and practice a lot. Try to not be intimidated. Just own it and know that you’re good and feel confident.
LUNA: What is fueling your fire right now that’s pushing you into this new era of your career?
ARON: We're really searching right now for what we want. All of us have a certain level of disillusionment, and then we're trying to channel that into feeling really excited about what we can bring to the table, rather than looking to other bands to inspire us.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like that you would like to share with Luna?
PRESTON: Feeling great. We're feeling energized. I love being in Chicago. Chicago's awesome. And we have a tour with Basement in October, and we're working on a record.
Audrey Hertel
