SWANS founder Michael Gira discusses his final orchestrated album "Birthing," his creative process, and plans to transition to a simpler musical approach after decades of creating intense, transcendent live performances.
Topics Include:
- Michael introduces "Birthing" as SWANS' final orchestrated album.
- Future SWANS work will be much simpler.
- He's 71 and finds intense performances physically demanding.
- No clear vision yet for his next musical phase.
- SWANS will tour US in October, then Europe.
- He finds Australian tours difficult due to jet lag.
- Triple vinyl/double CD includes concert film and documentary.
- Marco Porzia filmed the SWANS documentary.
- Christopher Nicholson filmed a solo performance in Norway.
- Great shows happen when "the music plays us."
- Natural venue acoustics enhance the performance experience.
- Songs transform and lengthen throughout tours.
- One song evolved to 82 minutes during tour.
- Three-hour sets leave performers exhausted afterward.
- Songs begin on acoustic guitar before band elaboration.
- He listens to guitar sound hole to hear potential harmonics.
- Directs band through gestures during live performances.
- The recording happened immediately after European tour ended.
- Uses same old Guild acoustic guitar for decades.
- Vinyl editions required some song edits for length.
- Gira doesn't listen to much music anymore.
- He art directs all SWANS releases personally.
- Created unique limited editions with handmade elements.
- Has done crowdfunding since 2000 for recording budgets.
- Once recorded personalized songs for top contributors.
- Will miss the elation of building live crescendos.
- No current plans for more fiction writing.
- Reluctant to write autobiography despite family encouragement.
- Can mentally play e
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