Minnesota musicians Molly Maher and Erik Koskinen go way back.
Their musical partnership began nearly two decades ago in Duluth, when Molly played an indoor gig at the same time a jam band was drawing a crowd outside.
“There was one person in the audience,” she recalled. “And it was Erik Koskinen.”
That meeting sparked not only a friendship but a collaboration that would anchor both their careers in the Minnesota music scene.
Following Molly Maher and her Disbelievers' performance at KAXE’s second annual Kick It With KAXE event in Grand Rapids, the two joined Headwaters to share stories, reflect on their journey and talk about what’s ahead.
From their early days of long-distance collaboration — Koskinen was still living in Michigan at the time — to forming a tight-knit band in the Twin Cities, Maher and Koskinen have built something that goes beyond music.
“Once we caught Erik, it felt like everything started to solidify,” Maher said. “He helped me up my game. ... I think it was just because of his passion and his commitment.”
The rest of the bandmates — Steve Murray, Paul Bergen and Lars-Erik Larson — are more than just players. They’re trusted collaborators with an intuitive musical connection.
“We’ve played together so much that if a piece of hair moves, they know to shift,” Maher said. “Even if I mess up, I know they’ve got me.”
The conversation also touches on their past work with The Real Phonic Radio Hour, a live concert series held in the James J. Hill Library in St. Paul. The carefully curated series paired national touring artists with a stellar Minnesota house band.
“We recorded every show,” Koskinen said. “We should do something with them.”
The pair teased the idea of reviving the series — with a wink toward KAXE as a potential partner.
But Maher isn’t only a performer — she’s a builder. She helps connect female musicians to opportunities, runs Lutsong Music Festival each July in Lutsen and organizes the Lakeside Guitar Festival in St. Paul through her nonprofit, Music Mission. That organization — co-founded with fellow musician Todd Clouser — creates cross-cultural connections between Minnesota and Mexico, offering scholarships, producing records and supporting emerging artists.
At her core, Maher said her mission is simple: connection through music.
“We're on stage to suspend reality,” she said. “You've parked your car, gotten a babysitter — whatever it took to get here — and now we want to bring you somewhere else.”
As the conversation wrapped up, Koskinen thanked Kari and the KAXE team for their support.
“If I had pom poms, I’d be waving them,” Maher added, beaming, “for you and for this station.”
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