Coming out of quarantine, lots of the new music we're hearing is either stripped back and solitary due to isolation, or reimagined versions of old songs. Still Life, the latest album from Siri Undlin's project, Humbird, is neither of those things. Completed in a time of extreme isolation, the album turned out to be a wide and surprising collaborative effort.
Based in Minneapolis, Undlin wrote the songs in her bedroom. Then would walk across the hallway to her roommate and fellow musician, Adelyn Strei's room where Adelyn would record and produce the songs. After those two worked through the material, they enlisted help from longtime Humbird bandmates, Pete Quirsfeld and Pat Keen, then casting a wider net to other friends Rachel Ries (Her Crooked Heart), Hilary James (bathtub cig), Clifton Nesseth (Pony), Dave Power (Aero Flynn), Luke Callen, Elliot Heinz and Holly Hansen (Zoo Animal) for participation.
Ever the experimental folk artist, there are unexpected sounds brought into the mix through trial and error: violins scratching, muted wind chimes and other unrecognizable sounds. Two records in, Siri Undlin makes it clear that she's got more to do and say, and we're on board to follow her.
Humbird will also be a part of our upcoming CenterStage Minnesota concert series with The Reif Center on February 3rd! Tickets will be available soon for that.
