Interview: The Imaginaries

The Imaginaries sat down with Dr. Decibel to discuss their new album, Fever, which will be available to the people next week. Not only do they have a brand new album coming, but they also have a show at the Stone Cottage Studios in Boulder on September 2nd. To learn more about the duo or to pre-order their upcoming album, visit imaginariesband.com.

Dr. Decibel: I’m your good buddy, Dr. Decibel, broadcasting high in the Rocky Mountains, coming to you today from Studio Green. That’s because I am on the phone with Shane and Maggie. They are deep into the heart of Americana, roots, and soul with a band that’s as powerful in harmony as they are in partnership. The Imaginaries are a husband-and-wife duo of Maggie McClure and Shane Henry.

Their sound is steeped in Oklahoma grit and Muscle Shoals groove. Their latest album Fever is a bold, bluesy, and deeply honest record that blends swampy rhythms with soulful storytelling. For those local to the Front Range, good news—you can catch them live right here in Boulder on September 2nd at Stone Cottage Studios, 748 Cottage Lane.

This is an intimate affair with only 40 tickets available, plus they have a livestream option for those tuning in from home or afar. I have both Shane and Maggie here—welcome to the show, and thank you for calling in.

The Imaginaries: Hello!

Dr. Decibel: Hey, thanks for joining us. Let’s dive right in. Can you give our listeners a quick snapshot of The Imaginaries and how this musical journey began for both of you?

The Imaginaries: Sure. Shane and I were solo artists for many years and met through music. The Imaginaries is our newly founded band, formed in 2019. It’s a combination of Shane’s blues-rock background and my singer-songwriter, piano-driven sensibilities. The outcome is an authentic sound that blends both of our styles and introduces a new Americana element.

Dr. Decibel: How did the sound of this record come together? Did you set out chasing any particular vibe?

The Imaginaries: Honestly, we had a batch of songs, and our sound is really steeped in Muscle Shoals because we had this opportunity back in 2018 to do a project called the One Mic Series, a YouTube series. At the time, we were still solo artists and submitted a song, hoping to be part of it. The guy running the series was recording bands around one microphone at legendary studios across the U.S. He liked our music but had only one slot left, so he asked if we could do something together.

That was the catalyst for The Imaginaries. We went to Muscle Shoals, recorded the series, and had some songs we’d been writing together that didn’t fit our solo projects. They leaned into Americana, so it felt fresh and exciting. That was really how the band started. The Muscle Shoals sound brought something new to what we were already doing production-wise. When you’re down there, playing live with those musicians, the songs naturally find where they need to go.

We didn’t set out to reference albums or chase a specific sound—it was very natural and authentic. Nothing was contrived or forced. We just let the music be, and I think that’s the best way to approach it.

Dr. Decibel: This album leans into heavier topics, including mental health. What inspired you to open up that way this time around?

The Imaginaries: Well, I think everybody goes through rough patches in life. Everyone has good days and hard days. Especially as creatives, there are plenty of hard days. For us, it’s important to encourage people and to be real and honest. There’s always a sense of positivity and encouragement in our music, but we’re not afraid to get real either.

Songs like “Little by Little” and “Constant” touch on these deeper topics. Having themes of hope and encouragement throughout, while also acknowledging struggles and how to get through them, is very important for us. We hope listeners feel uplifted and leave with a sense of hope. That’s one of our main goals.

Dr. Decibel: Oklahoma has produced some real musical standouts. How do you see your place in that scene?

The Imaginaries: It’s interesting, because a lot of people have to leave Oklahoma to gain notoriety, and then when they return, suddenly they’re a big deal. That’s kind of what we’ve done—since we’re based in Nashville much of the time and on the road so often.

People tell us they really dig The Imaginaries’ sound. We’re starting to get known for something unique. There aren’t a lot of duos out there doing what we’re doing right now, and that feels really good. Every time we play a hometown show, the crowds get bigger and the appreciation grows. We’re really grateful for that support and excited about our hometown release show.

Dr. Decibel: Alright, as we wrap up, just a couple quick questions more about you two personally. When you’re not making music, what’s your go-to way to unwind?

The Imaginaries: That’s a good question. It’s hard to get Maggie to unwind—she’s a workaholic! But for us, it’s unplugging. I’m fine just chilling by the pool and doing nothing. Sometimes we just need to get away. That’s what we did last weekend—hung out by the pool for two days, no work, closed the laptops, got off the phones, and had real conversations.

We also love watching movies—recently we’ve been revisiting classics we grew up with.

Dr. Decibel: What was the last one you watched?

The Imaginaries: Weekend at Bernie’s, man. Does it get any better than Weekend at Bernie’s? Every time I watch it, I just laugh my ass off.

Dr. Decibel: A true classic! Definitely one of my favorites as well. Alright—last question: what’s a song by someone else that you always want to turn up when it comes on?

The Imaginaries: Good question—there are so many. One that always gets cranked is “Wildflowers,” the opening track off Tom Petty’s record. That whole album sounds incredible. Also, “You Wreck Me.” Such a killer song.

And then “One Headlight” by The Wallflowers—that’s another one we love.

Dr. Decibel: Man, those are all great choices.

The Imaginaries: It’s tough because we love so much music—it really depends on the mood. It could be anything from Prince to Stevie Ray Vaughan to Stevie Wonder.

Dr. Decibel: That’s the beauty of radio—you never know what’s going to hit, and sometimes it’s something unexpected that just lands perfectly.

If you’re just joining us, we’ve been on the phone with Maggie and Shane of The Imaginaries. They have a show coming up in Boulder on September 2nd at Stone Cottage Studios. Only 40 tickets are available, but there’s also a livestream for those who can’t be there in person.

Big thanks to Maggie and Shane for joining us today. Their new album Fever is out now—or will be very soon—and you can stream it on all major platforms or grab a copy at ImaginariesBand.com. For tour dates, videos, and more, follow them on social media at The Imaginaries on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and check out their latest videos on YouTube.

That’s The Imaginaries—soulful sounds, powerful stories, and Oklahoma roots running deep. Go give Fever a listen—you won’t regret it. Thanks again, guys.

The Imaginaries: Thank you so much for having us. We appreciate it.