5 minute read
The artist behind
Making Tracks
In lieu of live shows, Twin Foxes looks to GoFundMe to release latest e ort on vinyl
In early February, Providence-based indie rock band Twin Foxes released Broken Bell. The 11-track project weaves together work created over the past two years, revealing a narrative that has been given space and time to write itself out. While some albums are created in short bursts of creative impulses, this effort took the longview.
“In some ways, the recording process helped create the common thread,” says songwriter Jared Mann. “They were a batch of songs from completely random sessions. There was no direct timeline or deadline, and that was intentional. When you’re limited on time, you end up recording drums, bass, and guitars for the whole record in a couple days. This method leaves less room for experimentation. Our last record was recorded almost surgically so it was really fun to do almost the complete opposite on this one, essentially writing as I was recording. Trying different ideas and seeing what sticks.”
While other musicians collaborated on this record, including Andrew Fortin on bass, percussionist Carlos Molina, Trevor White, and Alex Yontz and Cindy Marszalkowski on backing vocals, the majority of the songs were created and played by Mann himself in his home studio in North Smithfield, Distorted Forest. “Recording in the moment is originally how I learned to record, write songs, and play different instruments, so in a lot of ways, it was fun to revert back to that,” muses Mann.
With a sound reminiscent of vintage Bright Eyes colluding with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, The Antlers, and Brand New, Broken Bell carries an introspective sound and ruminating quality. Tracks feel loose yet challenging, with vocal melodies, recorded interludes and instrumentation that feels organic and loosely improvisational, capturing that feeling of excitement that comes with jamming a song for the first time or recording a first take. It has an effortlessness that balances the heavier sonic
Pictured left to right: Jared Mann, Carlos Molina, Dan Tachon
nature of the record. It feels deep without trying too hard to get there.
With uncertainty about how best to return to live venues and how best to present live art, many musicians are putting more energy into the creation and presentation of full records, aimed at creating a private listening experience. With Broken Bell, Twin Foxes takes this approach, setting up a GoFundMe to produce the record on vinyl.
“We’ve been lucky to have vinyl for all our other releases so far,” says Mann,
TOP TRACKS:
“Doomsday Diary”:
Simple, finger-picked acoustic, under two minutes, descending chordal melodies cushioning lyrics that create the perfect prologue to the album all ending on a Neil Young-esque, satisfyingly un-resolving chord.
“You Are”:
A song written in two parts six years apart provides a unique collaboration between Mann and his past self. Interesting to hear slight changes in sonic sensibilities and style all while melding the two in a call and response bookending a turbulent six years.
“but this year, without playing any shows in 2020 and our label Midnight Werewolf having less resources after a year of setbacks, it just felt like the best move to not delay the record any further. Vinyl is really important to us. It’s the whole package, sonically and design-wise. You get the full artwork and lyrics. When you work on something like this, so much blood and sweat goes into it, you want to present it in a complete way.” Learn more at TwinFoxes.Bandcamp.com
Catalyst for Change
A competition grant program fosters Providence talent to thrive, contribute, and stay
“You’re probably familiar with the story about Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, the two founders of Airbnb who went to RISD,” says Lisa Carnevale. “That’s an example of what can come out of design, and specifically designers trained in Rhode Island.” Carnevale is co-founder and executive director of DESIGNxRI. Imagine a nonprofit economic development organization with a mission to not only promote design, but help designers and design-related businesses flourish. Think South by Southwest, but with calamari instead of cactus, and a focus on connecting and developing small businesses.
“We’re a small state,” Carnevale explains. “The market is small and the jobs aren’t really here. But resilient entrepreneurs can do well here… Our program is helping to cultivate the really valuable assets we have.”
In addition to their annual DesignWeekRI conference (planned for October 2021), DESIGNxRI runs the Providence Design Catalyst, a competitive grant program to help design businesses reach their growth goals. Each year around a dozen applicants are chosen to participate in an intensive training supplemented by $10,000 to $15,000 of seed capital to help them hit the ground running. A recent round is underway with
‘20 Design Catalyist grant recipient Anther Kiely shown with his Cardkits
awardees announced March 9 and a program launch on March 17.
Anther Kiley was a graduate of the 2020 “Covid Cohort.” A graphic designer who’s a part-time faculty member at RISD, he had an idea for “Cardkits” – fun paper cutouts that could be used for imaginative and “non-screen time” play. Each Cardkit comes as a set of pre-cut cardstock parts. To bring a kit to life, you pop out the parts and join them together with white glue. It’s just the right mix of challenging and satisfying.
Going into the Catalyst program, Kiley anticipated scaling up to huge production runs with expensive die-cut machinery. Instead, through mentorship he pivoted, investing in a digital cutting machine. “This machine allowed me to switch my model to a small and nimble scale,” he explains. “I can make small batches, test out products and figure out what people want and what sells best. We keep everything small scale, local and sustainable.”
Criteria for the Providence Design Catalyst program includes many factors, perhaps the most important being how each awardee might contribute to the economic development of the City of Providence. A final showcase event for this year’s awardees is planned for July. Follow along at DESIGNxRI.com
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