The Music That Accompanied Wayfarer
As much as I love playing and writing music, I’ve long considered myself a fan first and musician second. However, as I produce and write more and more, I find myself being sucked more into the self-indulgent and personal accolades side of the scale. Despite this, I still find myself being heavily influenced by the music I listen to. This playlist that I have curated for IndieBeat, highlights some of the tracks that were on repeat while I was creating my new record, Wayfarer.
This track really sparked the idea that became Bodie, CA. I became slightly obsessed with DIIV’s Oshin and I did not make the correlation between it and Bodie, CA until recently. I think the laid back and casual atmosphere of this track really carried into the recording of Wayfarer. Though sonically, DIIV is quite different than myself, their atmospheric tendencies and ambient, washed out soundscapes are similar to what I strive for.
Geographer – The Boulder
The Boulder’s influence came more in its concept then in its sonic physicality. Let me explain. If you listen to the track you have this almost lull like first verse section that is very trance and psych in nature. However, as the song pushes forward, things start to happen and the song eventually builds into a volcanic eruption of drums, synths, guitars and cello. This eclectic palette is similar to what I tried to do on Glacia but the difference I believe comes in the attention to lyrics and melody. On tracks such as Blackfoot and Vessels, I took an open approach to writing melodies and lyrics that told a story and weren’t simply place holder lyrics (which I felt some of the lyrics in Glacia were.) This adds an extra element of tension due to the emotion of the lyrical content, which is something this song, The Boulder excels at. Hopefully it was something I was able to achieve as well.
The Antlers – Putting the Dog to Sleep
The reason behind including this track was very much the same as The Boulder. The ability of the track to build and take you on not only a sonic journey but a lyrical one is something I really tried to accomplish on Wayfarer. The other aspect of this track that really resonated with me while recording was the simplicity and minimalism of it. It showed me that you don’t need to hide behind a wall of instruments and rhythms. It is ok to simply put your honest emotions on the table and let it rest as it may. It’s a brutal type of honesty and vulnerability I was scared to touch on Glacia. Frontier Town is the perfect example of this approach on Wayfarer.
Hopefully this gives you a little glimpse into my choices and I hope you enjoy the playlist all together. It is under 10 days until Wayfarer arrives, I cannot wait!
Your Artist in Residence,
/ Western Jaguar