E042 – Kevin Bianchi of Vanishing Shores: Ghosts, Maps, and Enduring Hope

🎙 Post-punk Heartstrings – Episode 042
Guest: Kevin Bianchi of Vanishing Shores
Special Guest: Mark Feldbush
Title: Ghosts, Maps, and Enduring Hope

In this intimate and far-reaching conversation, Kevin Bianchi—frontman of Cleveland-based indie rock/Brit-pop outfit Vanishing Shores—shares the story behind the band's formation, his personal musical journey, and the emotional and lyrical depth that defines their sound.

Kevin reflects on:
• 🎸 The spark that led to forming Vanishing Shores and his path into music
• 🧭 Early projects that helped shape his current sound
• 🎧 Influences from Paul McCartney, Neil Finn, Elvis Costello, Bruce Cockburn, and Mark Heard

We dive deep into Kevin’s lyrical world:
• 👻 The recurring presence of ghosts in songs like “In Between” and “Monologue + Transcript” as metaphors for memory, loss, truth, and the Holy Spirit
• 📝 The personal significance of lines like “We want the truth like ghosts” and “Hope is a dark train”
• 🌊 Reflections on Bande-son pour la survie and Maps, and how isolation and introspection informed their creation
• ⭐ Favorite lyrical lines from “Long Gone” and “First Light”, and the stories behind them

Kevin also pulls back the curtain on the Vanishing Shores sound:
• 🎙 The role of collaborators and layered vocal harmonies in crafting emotional impact
• 🥁 The intensity and energy brought by the rhythm section, both in studio and live
• 🎹 The atmospheric use of synthesizers to shape mood and texture
• 🌅 The meaning behind the band name Vanishing Shores and its thematic resonance

💿 Later in the episode:
We’re joined by Mark Feldbush to discuss the upcoming benefit compilation album No Distance Between Us: A Benefit for Ukrainian Refugees, supporting the humanitarian work of the International Rescue Committee. Kevin shares his motivation for contributing to socially conscious projects and how music can be a vehicle for empathy and action.

This conversation is a journey through the poetic and sonic world of Vanishing Shores—a band rooted in introspection, spiritual yearning, and emotional honesty. Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering their music for the first time, Kevin Bianchi’s insight offers a rich and rewarding listen.

You can find the music of Vanishing Shores at the following links:

Vanishing Shores website: https://vanishingshores.com/

Bandcamp: https://vanishingshores.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanishingshores

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vanishingshores5514

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4o1hUb6mX2C3QpeF8r8lzX?si=l1x02d9YSdSOGOo2lv3HHw

Please look the band up and support!

You can find Post-Punk Heartstrings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PostpunkHeartstrings

 

Post-punk Heartstrings can now be found onYouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjKWsuzqWiSY0vln1Py5ahg

 

Please come by and follow the page and say,“Hello!”