Vancouver-based harpist, vocalist, and composer Elisa Thorn unveils her highly anticipated album, xiik, a carefully crafted exploration of melody, expression, and generosity in music-making. Whimsical, curious, and intimate, the album blends experimental indie, folk, and ambient influences while foregrounding Thorn’s harp and voice as the guiding instruments.
“xiik reflects a long pursuit of figuring out how to make the harp express melodies without being overly verbose,” Thorn explains. “I’m pretty hell-bent on getting the harp out of the ‘ornamental’ category of music. It’s tough, due to the nature of the instrument, but also because of people’s expectations.”
Recorded over the past eight years, xiik represents nearly a decade of creative exploration, beginning with Thorn’s first carbon fiber lever harp and her desire to create music that is both solo-performable and expansive in the studio. The album was co-produced by David Vertesi, who understood the nuances of the harp and helped capture its warmth and versatility, and features contributions from Dan Gaucher on drums. An alternate take of the record’s “Lullaby” was produced by LA-based ambient artist Tristan De Liege, further expanding the album’s sonic palette.
Album opener “Idle Talk” is a math-folk track inspired by the history of the word ‘gossip’ and the way female relationships have been perceived throughout history. “The earliest known origin of the word referred to a midwife, then to women who supported a new mother during childbirth, then more generally to women who were friends/supportive of each other,” Thorn explains. “Eventually, it ended up being a derogatory term during the Middle Ages and Renaissance times when the patriarchy started to see female friendships as a threat to its agenda.”
“Idle Talk” also showcases Thorn’s experimentation with unusual time signatures and instrumentation. “My favourite part of this track are the drums, played by Dan Gaucher. I’m also proud of my use of melody in this song – I have been working for a long time with getting the harp to express melody in a direct and succinct way and I feel like that really works here. It’s so fun to play!”
FOLLOW ELISA THORN ON SOCIALS:
FACEBOOK • INSTAGRAM • TIKTOK • SPOTIFY • APPLE MUSIC • BANDCAMP • WEBSITE • YOUTUBE
