They arrived from Chicago. Two of them were sisters. One worked a coffee shop. Met his wife, the pianist, and married. There was a fifth member, as well, and that made what together they called Willowfair.
We adjusted mics and rolled a borrowed piano across from our studio’s neighbor, a group that gives music lessons, and we discussed the name. They wanted something that met the mood of what they were doing and “willow” fit the first part fine, a natural thing for the classic instruments yet a drooping image like the branches of that tree for the melancholic of their melodies. And as for “fair,” lone male and vocalist, Ryan, says it’s less renaissance and more like a something happy to lift and balance the sadness of the willow.
And with that said we steeped the group and ourselves some tea and did sound checks. Right away it was apparent this “Willowfair” had some homage to one Over the Rhine. Sweet it was to listen to the cello and two violins reading what they’d wrote for a more rockish piano. I’ve always loved classical instruments woven into modern use; I suppose I could stretch and say that love’s a little something like the gnarly wonderful companionship in the branches of a certain willow.
The rest of the results of the day, of course, you have before you. Enjoy it. We did.
Don’t forget to take the free downloads.
Contact the group directly by visiting their official web site or MySpace.
Thanks,
Riley.
February 12th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Beautiful to hear the strings mixed in with this. Great job.
May 7th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
This song needs like a beautiful violin solo.
The one here is just, too connected to everything else.
The violin isn’t telling me how she feels. The violin is just telling me that she agrees with the band.
That cello is a bit distracting initially. Wish the wife did
more harmonically with her husband in the song.
Pretty. Pretty song.