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

The Vinyl Guide Interview - For Record Collectors & Music Nerds

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22d ago 45:32

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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.

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