Mazzy Star

Mazzy Star is a band formed in 1989 by Hope Sandoval (vocals) and David Roback (guitar). Until now, they released four full-length albums: She Hangs Brightly (1990, Rough Trade), So Tonight That I Might See (1993, Capitol), Among My Swan (1996, Capitol) and Seasons Of Your Day (2013, Rhymes Of An Hour Records).

Hope and David met in the mid-80s. At that time, Hope was playing in a band called Going Home (named after the Rolling Stones' song) with her friend Sylvia Gomez, while David played in the band Opal (after leaving Rain Parade) with Kendra Smith.

According to Hope’s official website “Sylvia Gomez handed Kendra Smith a demo tape which was comprised of Hope Sandoval on vocals and Sylvia on guitar. David Roback offered to produce some recordings for them and they went into the studio and recorded an album that to this day is yet to be released.”

In December 1987, on tour after they released their debut LP, Kendra left Opal and David asked Hope if she would be interested in replacing her. Until 1989, they continued playing as Opal, before they changed their name to Mazzy Star.

In a 2009 interview, Hope recalls the first contact with David, feeling like the “luckiest person ever” after he called her, wanting to play guitar for Going Home, because she was a fan of Rain Parade.