Episode 130: Jarboe

Since the mid-80s, Jarboe has been an important figure in the musical underground. While many will have first come to know her through her mesmerising performances as a member of Swans from 1985 to the band’s initial breakup in 1997, Jarboe has now been releasing music under her own name for roughly 35 years.1991’s Thirteen Masks showcased her versatility as a singer and songwriter and with each successive release Jarboe has continued to explore the possibilities of compositional architecture. From the harrowing intensity of 1998’s Anhedoniac, to the drone-metal-infused Mahakali ten years later, to the beautiful and highly atmospheric Illusory from 2020, Jarboe’s next musical step can never be predicted. Sightings (released this Friday on Consouling Sounds) builds from an experience Jarboe had several years ago where a particular vireo bird appeared in her garden every day for a whole summer, seemingly performing directly for her. Recordings of this bird’s versatile song became the foundation for the album’s centrepiece “Vireo Serenade”. Once the idea of Sightings was born, Jarboe brought in several friends and collaborators, (including Thor Harris and Father Murphy’s Freddie Murphy and Chiara Lee) to help create an album that once again explores new musical terrain, while continuing to signpost her enduring Buddhist meditative practices. Jarboe joins me to discuss the album, nature, danger, creativity and how she navigates the music business as a DIY artist who has never courted mainstream attention. Visit The Living JarboePre-order Sightings from Consouling SoundsThanks to Dom at 3-Nation Check out my latest album ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Real Silence on Drama Recorder⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My music on AmpwallPodcast artwork and logo: Get A Real Job KidIntro music: “Detachment” by Tom Osman This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tomosman.substack.com