Long before their first full-length album, pop band MisterWives was already accustomed to the go-go-go lifestyle: the founding members met at home in New York City, where the band officially debuted in 2012. Although the group is still based in New York, lead singer Mandy Lee—who once used to require total isolation and familiar environs to focus on music—has gotten used to being away from the band’s native grounds and into the swing of finding inspiration wherever she goes.

“Life on the road all these years has truly allowed me to write just about anywhere now,” she says. “I used to really need the comfort of being with my piano at home, all by my lonesome, knowing no one was around so I could write freely, or to be tucked away in nature where nobody could hear me.”

“Don’t get me wrong: I still do love writing in those environments,” Lee adds. “But touring so much, being inspired by the constant change in my surroundings, and being around so many wonderful and inspiring people all the time has been the best thing for me. It’s forced me to get out of my comfort zone so I can keep writing while away from home.”

Below, the singer-songwriter lays out five places that have sparked inspiration, from distant memories of New York City treehouses and subway rides to the margarita-friendly city she’s writing from as we speak.

The Bronx and Queens, NY

One of the first monumental spots that comes to mind would be where it all began. I wrote the first record in a treehouse Etienne [MisterWives’s drummer] built when he was a kid, tucked away in the Bronx. I know that sounds impossible—having a treehouse in New York—but the magical home he grew up in, (which we call “Narnia” due to the abundant garden we’d cook from), the wine cellar (that for sure had a helping hand in the writing process), and the basement music studio that we rehearsed and recorded in for years created a complete playground for us. 

With all the wonderful resources we were beyond lucky to have, our tiny oasis up in a tree was an incredible little escape that allowed us to be free from the chaos of the city and explore the beginnings of the record with a battery-powered keyboard I’d take up there with me, rain or shine.

I grew up in Queens, New York, and after touring for years and seeing every corner and crevice of this country several times over, there’s truly no place like it. I’m the most thankful to have grown up in one of the most diverse places in the world, and it’s for sure had a heavy hand in my writing. During our live shows, we do a breakdown in one of our songs with stomps, claps, and snaps, and use our bodies to build different rhythms that play off each other—and that is most certainly because of all the stepping I did in middle school, which to me is so cool: to see how our upbringings and surroundings sneak into our creativity without trying.

The New York City MTA

If you go through my voice memos now, most of my songs are written just about anywhere but home. From hotel rooms to the back of our tour bus to a trip to Big Sur; there are a few from Nashville; Austin, my favorite voice memo location; Mallorca. One stand-out location, though, which is the least conventionally nice, is the train back home in New York, which is so funny to me because it’s the exact opposite of isolation. You’re packed like sardines in a metal tube with too many humans—yet somehow, I wrote several ideas for songs for our third record while mumbling a verse, melody, or lyrics into my phone with zero privacy. I think that speaks volumes about how much traveling and touring have opened me up to not limiting where inspiration hits. 

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, California

One really special memory that inspired a song was visiting the Superbloom last spring. I went with my sisters to see the breathtaking, poppy-covered California fields because our mom and grandma had a tradition of picking poppies together when they lived in Spain, so we ventured there together in honor of my grandma. I was blown away by the botanical phenomenon and all its beauty, but what hit me most was how these wildflowers weren’t supposed to grow in this environment, which felt like a representation of my life: growing and blooming through it all, despite conditions that shouldn’t allow for it. I was so moved by this, it not only sparked a song or two but steered the ship for the whole third album and wove that theme into the record. 

Sedona, Arizona 

Writing, recording, and touring is, without a doubt, the most fulfilling yet draining thing there is. There’s nothing like it, and it’s honestly difficult to ever fully disconnect from it all, considering it’s a lifeline for me. However, getting the chance to relax and take a break is important so you don’t burn out, and making time to take care of the body and mind and heart is something I’ve been prioritizing more—and it makes all the difference. 

Getting out in nature and going on hikes is my number one stress reliever. I can’t ever meditate because my mind won’t turn off, so movement is the best way to achieve a sense of peace. Finding ways to sneak that in while working is key! While recording most of the album in LA, I got to really take advantage of hikes or running on the beach or biking everywhere. While on tour, we stopped in places like Arizona, and getting to do an epic hike in Sedona recharged the batteries, too. 

Tulum, Mexico

I’m currently writing this from Tulum since we have a show in Mexico on Friday! It’s all about balance, people! Getting the incredible chance to hang on the beach for a couple of days after touring for two months is an incredible treat that I’m the most thankful for. As soon as I’m done writing this, my phone is turning off so I can do all the things I said above. Fingers crossed this goes through since the Wi-Fi is spotty and the margaritas are strong.