Arborea (band)
Encyclopedia
Arborea is an American musical duo combining elements of Acoustic, Folk , Blues, World Music, and Rock. Their music is associated with the Indie Folk
, Psych Folk
, Indie Rock
, and New Weird America
genres. Arborea consists of wife and husband team Shanti Curran and Buck Curran. Shanti Curran provides lead vocals, banjo (she is also an official endorser of OME banjos), Ban-Jammer (a type of Banjo dulcimer made by Tennessee luthier Mike Clemmer), harmonium, ukulele, sawing fiddle, and hammered dulcimer and Buck Curran provides, vocals, guitar, slide guitar and sawing fiddle. They both share songwriting duties, arrangements, and production. Arborea base themselves in Maine and derive a lot of the inspiration for their music from the rugged, beautiful land and seascapes of their home state, and even record some of their music in an old family cabin that Shanti’s great grandfather built during the Great Depression that is nestled along the Western Mountains of Maine.
in Wales in 2007, and The Tanned Tin Festival in Spain in November 2007. In December 2008 they spent 18 days touring in Portugal, Spain (appearing on the Islas de Robinson program 169, December 9, 2008 on the Spanish National Radio, RTVE
), Switzerland, and Italy. On May 20 of 2009 Arborea traveled to London to do a session and interview for the BBC 'World on 3' program with host Mary Ann Kennedy, which aired on June 7, 2009. They have received critical acclaim from NPR
producer Robin Hilton, who described their music as ‘memorable’ and their second release as ‘an incredibly spare and beautiful collection of songs’, and Shanti’s voice as ‘hypnotically beautiful’. They were also part of a feature article on New Psych Folk
in the August/September 2007 issue of Dirty Linen Magazine, where writer Lahri Bond described their music as 'Timeless' and 'Haunted by Deep Shadows', as well as receiving favorable reviews from the Boston Globe, the 2008 issue of Dream Magazine, in which publisher George Parsons stated that their first release Wayfaring Summer was 'easily one of the best debut albums I've heard in many moons', and the British music magazine The Wire
. In 2008 the duo was interviewed for both a Terrascope Online feature article, and the July/Aug 2008 issue of Italy’s Blow Up magazine. To date the band has released three full length albums; their debut Wayfaring Summer released at the end of 2006, the second is their Self-Titled 2008 release on Fire Museum Records...limited to 500 copies and 'Sold Out' within the first year of pressing, and their latest record is a collection of singles titled House of Sticks released on the Borne! Recordings, a sub-label of the Spanish label Acuarela Discos which is exclusively distributed in the United States by Darla Records
. In June 2009 House of Sticks received a glowing review from the BBC. Arborea has also curated a compilation record to help with important relief efforts in Africa to which all the proceeds will go to the UN World Food Program and Not On Our Watch agencies. The compilation titled Leaves of Life released 23 June 2009 on Borne! Recordings, includes notable artists such as Alela Diane
, Devendra Banhart
, and Marissa Nadler
. The artwork for Leaves of Life was created by musician and artist Hanna Tuulikki
. In 2010 Important Records released We Are All One, In the Sun: A tribute to Robbie Basho, a compilation cd that was created and produced by Buck Curran of Arborea. We Are All One, In The Sun features artists Meg Baird, Helena Espvall, Arborea, Steffen Basho Junghans, Glenn Jones, Fern Knight, Cian Nugent, and Grammy nominated Iraqi born Oud master Rahim Alhaj. The tribute made Acoustic Guitar Magazine's list of the Best Acoustic Albums of 2010, Top Editors pick for the December issue of Guitar Player Magazine, Mojo 4 Stars, as well as glowing reviews in The Wire magazine, and Pitchfork. Arborea's fourth album Red Planet was released on April 26 by the Oregon based label Strange Attractors Audio House.
Indie folk
Indie folk is a music genre that arose in the 1990s from singer/songwriters in the indie rock community showing heavy influences from folk music scenes of the 50s, 60s and early 70s, country music, and indie rock. A few early artists included Lou Barlow, Beck, Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith...
, Psych Folk
Psych folk
Psychedelic folk or psych folk is a loosely defined form of psychedelic music that originated in the 1960s through the fusion of folk music and psychedelic rock...
, Indie Rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
, and New Weird America
New Weird America
New Weird America describes a subgenre of psychedelic and indie music, often psych folk, of the late 20th and early 21st centuries.-Origin of the term:...
genres. Arborea consists of wife and husband team Shanti Curran and Buck Curran. Shanti Curran provides lead vocals, banjo (she is also an official endorser of OME banjos), Ban-Jammer (a type of Banjo dulcimer made by Tennessee luthier Mike Clemmer), harmonium, ukulele, sawing fiddle, and hammered dulcimer and Buck Curran provides, vocals, guitar, slide guitar and sawing fiddle. They both share songwriting duties, arrangements, and production. Arborea base themselves in Maine and derive a lot of the inspiration for their music from the rugged, beautiful land and seascapes of their home state, and even record some of their music in an old family cabin that Shanti’s great grandfather built during the Great Depression that is nestled along the Western Mountains of Maine.
History
The band has performed nationally with artists such as Marissa Nadler, Fern Knight, Vetiver, and Fire on Fire, and has been part of the lineup of the Portland, Maine based festival ‘Time of Rivers’ in both 2007 and 2008. On November 26 of 2007 Arborea traveled to New York City to record a session and interview for WNYC's Spinning On Air Program, with host David Garland. The session was first aired in January 2008, and re-aired on November 2, 2008. The duo has also performed internationally at the Green Man FestivalGreen Man Festival
The Green Man Festival is an independent music festival held annually in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. It has evolved from a one-day, 300 capacity event in 2003, to a three-day festival with live music including psych, folk, indie, dance and Americana across five stages, as well as DJs playing...
in Wales in 2007, and The Tanned Tin Festival in Spain in November 2007. In December 2008 they spent 18 days touring in Portugal, Spain (appearing on the Islas de Robinson program 169, December 9, 2008 on the Spanish National Radio, RTVE
RTVE
The Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española, S.A. or Corporación Radiotelevisión Española is the state-owned public corporation that assumed the indirect management of the Spanish public radio and television service from Ente Público Radiotelevisión Española in 2007...
), Switzerland, and Italy. On May 20 of 2009 Arborea traveled to London to do a session and interview for the BBC 'World on 3' program with host Mary Ann Kennedy, which aired on June 7, 2009. They have received critical acclaim from NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
producer Robin Hilton, who described their music as ‘memorable’ and their second release as ‘an incredibly spare and beautiful collection of songs’, and Shanti’s voice as ‘hypnotically beautiful’. They were also part of a feature article on New Psych Folk
Psych folk
Psychedelic folk or psych folk is a loosely defined form of psychedelic music that originated in the 1960s through the fusion of folk music and psychedelic rock...
in the August/September 2007 issue of Dirty Linen Magazine, where writer Lahri Bond described their music as 'Timeless' and 'Haunted by Deep Shadows', as well as receiving favorable reviews from the Boston Globe, the 2008 issue of Dream Magazine, in which publisher George Parsons stated that their first release Wayfaring Summer was 'easily one of the best debut albums I've heard in many moons', and the British music magazine The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
. In 2008 the duo was interviewed for both a Terrascope Online feature article, and the July/Aug 2008 issue of Italy’s Blow Up magazine. To date the band has released three full length albums; their debut Wayfaring Summer released at the end of 2006, the second is their Self-Titled 2008 release on Fire Museum Records...limited to 500 copies and 'Sold Out' within the first year of pressing, and their latest record is a collection of singles titled House of Sticks released on the Borne! Recordings, a sub-label of the Spanish label Acuarela Discos which is exclusively distributed in the United States by Darla Records
Darla Records
Darla Records is an independent record label founded by James Agren while he was in New York. Darla Record's first release was a 7-inch by Grifters, an indie rock/lo-fi band from Memphis.- Background :...
. In June 2009 House of Sticks received a glowing review from the BBC. Arborea has also curated a compilation record to help with important relief efforts in Africa to which all the proceeds will go to the UN World Food Program and Not On Our Watch agencies. The compilation titled Leaves of Life released 23 June 2009 on Borne! Recordings, includes notable artists such as Alela Diane
Alela Diane
Alela Diane Menig is an American singer and songwriter living in Portland, Oregon.-Life and career:Alela Diane Menig, she grew up singing with her musician parents and performing in the school choir...
, Devendra Banhart
Devendra Banhart
Devendra Obi Banhart is a singer-songwriter and visual artist. Banhart was born in Houston, Texas and was raised by his mother in Venezuela, until he moved to California as a teenager. He began to study at the San Francisco Art Institute in 1998, but dropped out to perform music in Europe, San...
, and Marissa Nadler
Marissa Nadler
Marissa Nadler is an American dream-folk singer-songwriter and fine artist based in Boston.-Early life:Marissa Nadler was exposed to art at a young age through her mother Pamela, an abstract painter, and her older brother Stuart, a guitarist and writer...
. The artwork for Leaves of Life was created by musician and artist Hanna Tuulikki
Hanna Tuulikki
Hanna Tuulikki is a Finnish-English vocalist, musician and artist, born in Sussex, who is involved in the Nalle and Scatter musical projects, and has also contributed to the One Ensemble of Daniel Padden. Her vocals have been compared to those of Joanna Newsom and Björk on occasion, also...
. In 2010 Important Records released We Are All One, In the Sun: A tribute to Robbie Basho, a compilation cd that was created and produced by Buck Curran of Arborea. We Are All One, In The Sun features artists Meg Baird, Helena Espvall, Arborea, Steffen Basho Junghans, Glenn Jones, Fern Knight, Cian Nugent, and Grammy nominated Iraqi born Oud master Rahim Alhaj. The tribute made Acoustic Guitar Magazine's list of the Best Acoustic Albums of 2010, Top Editors pick for the December issue of Guitar Player Magazine, Mojo 4 Stars, as well as glowing reviews in The Wire magazine, and Pitchfork. Arborea's fourth album Red Planet was released on April 26 by the Oregon based label Strange Attractors Audio House.
Discography
- Wayfaring Summer (2006), Summer Street Records
- Arborea self-titled (2008), Fire Museum Records
- House of Sticks (2009), Borne!/Darla
- Leaves of Life (2009), Compilation to benefit the World Food Program)Borne!/Darla
- Beyond the Pale (2009), Sideways Through Sound curated compilation, Australia
- "We Are All One, In The Sun: A Tribute To Robbie Basho" (2010), Important Records
- "Red Planet" (2011), Strange Attractors Audio House
- Little Darla has a treat for you, v.27: Eternal Spring edition (2009), Various Artists/Darla Records
- TEA-1 Compilation Cd (2007), Terrascope Online (UK)
- Digital version of Wayfaring Summer released in October 2007. Available through Apple iTunes, Rhapsody.
- Digital version of Arborea 'Self-Titled' released in June 2008. Available through Apple iTunes, Rhapsody, etc.
External links and further sources
- Official website
- Strange Attractors Audio House
- Arborea biography All Music Guide
- Arborea 'Red Planet' review All Music Guide
- Arborea on 'World Cafe: Next': NPR
- Darla Records - Arborea page
- Fire Museum Records - Arborea page
- Green Man Festival 2007Green Man FestivalThe Green Man Festival is an independent music festival held annually in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. It has evolved from a one-day, 300 capacity event in 2003, to a three-day festival with live music including psych, folk, indie, dance and Americana across five stages, as well as DJs playing...
- OME Banjo Gallery of Artists
- Arborea - 'Further Folk' The Village Voice
- Terrascope Online (UK) Arborea Feature
- Arborea Feature 'The Independent'
- WNYC Spinning On Air program Arborea performance
- Paste Magazine - Leaves of Life compilation
- Pitchfork - Leaves of Life benefit compilation
- Pitchfork - We Are All, One In The Sun: A Tribute To Robbie Basho record review
- Folk Radio UK Review of Red Planet plus Philadelphia ‘Sun Room’ Sessions
- Folk Radio UK: Guest mix by Arborea