The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds

Ep498: Birthing the End – Closing a Chapter of SWANS with Michael Gira


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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 entire album from memory.
  • Recently rediscovered early Led Zeppelin's brilliance.

Order the SWANS LP "Birthing" here.

Commercial free, high resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide

Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/2Y6ORU0 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36qhlc8

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