Teach Me to Find Those New Ways to Be Born Again Meg Baird
Espers | photo by Alissa Anderson | courtesy of the artist
Artists
Espers Everywhere At present: Beloved Philly psych-folks reflect on life ahead of their hometown reunion
Espers | photo by Alissa Anderson | courtesy of the creative person
Family. Work. Relationships. Relocation. Life.
These are things that closed a affiliate on Philadelphia's Espers in 2010, not long after the release of its final album, 3, in 2009. "It might have been 2010, mayhap sooner, like toward the release of the album, I'1000 not certain," said One thousand thousand Baird, the old singing Epser(southward) of how the ring dissolved.
And that is information technology: Espers gently faded out simply as they faded in, on a billowing, beautiful, undoubtedly dark and cumulous cloud of psilocybin-laced folk touched by occasional thunderbolts of electricity. Now, with the looming possibility of reissues of its brief catalog — iv woodsy, gauzy, tactile albums and EPs — co-Epsers Baird, Greg Weeks, Brooke Sietinsons, Helena Espvall and Otto Hauser return to their rural, ancient-to-the-hereafter roots tied (and unmoored from) folk'south traditions.
Maybe it's simply for ane dark (August 24 at Wedlock Transfer), but the pairing with the like-minded Andy Cabic and his ring Vetiver is perfect. Cabic'due south handcrafted, shapeshifting, urbane folk was introduced to the earth in 2004, the same year as Espers initial anthology, and the 2 in the birth of the modern folk movement, unified by the (then) farther adventures of newbies Devendra Banhart, Ólöf Arnalds, Animal Collective and Faun Fables, as well every bit the return of alternative folk elders such as Clive Palmer, Bert Jansch and Vashti Bunyan.
Calling from San Francisco, where she'south lived for six years, it is odd speaking with Baird about Espers soon, as we have discussed her solo work (albums such equally 2011'south Seasons on Earth and 2015's Don't Weigh Downwardly the Light) without ever discussing Espers' slip into darkness.
"It's strange talking about Espers now, but not in a negative mode," said Baird, days earlier leaving for Philadelphia and rehearsals with her quondam band. "More of it is surprising that we're here. It has been good, prissy, that we're revisiting the quondam fabric, and I'one thousand glad nosotros are able to play music together again."
When talk of new material became apparent, Baird states that she and Weeks discussed every bit much, but thought better of the prospect – for now. "We're too scattered to the current of air," Baird said. At the same fourth dimension reunion was still a glimmer in Espers collective; promoters had heard through the grapevine that reissues were forthcoming and that Espers pals in Vetiver were property courtroom for its anniversary.
Suddenly, the quintet that last fabricated 2009's Espers III began chatting reunion more seriously.
"Every bit if we always really broke up," said Baird with a laugh. "I wouldn't want to live that infinite again full fourth dimension. Only, Vetiver is celebrating its ain anniversaries [2008's covers album Thing Of The Past]. Nosotros played with them in the past. Otto plays in both bands. Information technology was just magic timing the states getting dorsum together, or timing magic."
Looking at the union of friends such as Vashti, Devendra, and Vetiver at that time, it was comfy being part of a brother-and-sister hood of agreeing folk. "It was cozy, yes, but that's not an unusual thing, having artists who plays similar music hanging and working together. " Baird goes on to mention how the press ("only not you, A.D."), picked up the gauntlet of eerie folk unification and placed it upon the music journalism pall of its time in which to gawk at lovingly and preciously. "I remember that probably a lot of musicians who were in that moment may have gotten burnt by some of the media, some of which was mean. Nobody likes being labelled. It was just people sharing. Information technology was a squeamish moment, though, with all of u.s.a. at one time thinking and doing somewhat similarly. Information technology gave hush-hush and DIY scenes visibility they may not accept had otherwise and [brought] artists out who may not have done so otherwise. It was all very positive for a spell there."
Considering the foundational elements of Espers and what they did every bit a unit of measurement, Baird believes it allowed her to better empathise an utilise more than collaborative elements in her own music going forward. "The solo work is a great outlet, but the magic of true collaboration, not to sound corny, is amazing," she says. "What you tin accomplish through that is bigger when you're non focusing on yourself."
In that location was not a pinpoint moment as to what folded Espers. They finished commitments to Espers III, and band members were on the move, and dealt with life issues. "And death. We had missed the memorial for our friend [Philly folk guitarist] Jack Rose, and that was weighing on u.s.a.. At that place was only a lot of life change going on, and we but never reconvened. It wasn't a discussion. It just stopped."
It was like sand or dust. Espers blew abroad. Presently, that same sand has blown the way of Philadelphia and local rehearsal stages, where they're but happy to be reunited and playing onetime songs, "rather than worrying nigh new ones. We all live in such scattered spaces," stated Baird. "When we're all playing together and flowing, and we're getting to enjoy the music and the voices, it's great. And in Philly, it is the people that will make this special."
Before I go, Baird asks if there's anything that needs further clarification. "Things get blurry and fuzzy in translation," she noted. All the same, in my interpretation, if Espers didn't go blurry and fuzzy, it wouldn't exist them.
"Well said."
Espers plays Wedlock Transfer on Friday, Baronial 24th; tickets and more data can exist found at the XPN Concert Calendar.
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Source: https://xpn.org/2018/08/22/espers-interview-meg-baird/