Gerygone & Twig
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Gerygone & Twig

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Band Alternative Folk

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"Gerygone & Twig"

What makes music fascinating? Why does it live in our hearts and flourish in our minds? Some of us may never know those answers. However, there are three young people in the Matanuska Valley that might know the secret. Separately, these young adults are talented artists, each have experiences with multiple musical instruments. United they make an eclectic sound that is unique and pleasing. Celebrating that sound, Grace, Alex, and Rainy have collaborated on their first CD.

Grace Kari, aspiring filmmaker and photographer is currently a student at Mat-Su College on a scholarship program studying communication and color design. She began playing music at an early age, starting with a recorder. She can play saxophone and steel drum. On the album, Grace plays guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Alex Lindgren is a multifaceted musician that plays instruments that range from upright bass, banjo, and mandolin to synthesizing static noise with Gameboys. Currently he is teaching himself how to play violin and has extensive interest in experimentation music. Rainy Hastings, Colony High School junior plays banjo, guitar and xylophone. The trio shares in the entire process of music making when it comes to their band: Gerygone & Twig.

Inspired to perform together by friends and family, the trio were encouraged to put together a CD and continue to play gigs throughout the Valley at various venues. Gerygone & Twig’s music style is much like the band’s name, eclectic. Making music professionally since August 2012, after encouragement from music teachers, Janet Stotts of Alaska Children Choir, and Julia Cannon, Gerygone & Twig play dynamic harmony jazz with influences by groups like Sufjan Stevens, Laura Marling, Andrew Bird and Fleeting Foxes, the trio sometimes tour with Marching Band Solo.

The album came together through a collaborative effort because friends and family, “wanted to share our bounty and there was no other way without making an album,” Grace stated. With Kickstarter, an ingenious funding platform for ambitious and imaginative people, Gerygone & Twig’s debut album is about to become a reality. Since Kickstarter’s inception in 2009, they have funded over 35,000 creative project and raised over $450 million in pledges.

With a creative drive the trio maneuvers through technical challenges with a strong understanding of musical theory. While Grace can sometimes spend a while evening with 2 to 3 measures of songs, Rainy has volumes of poetry to extract lyrics for songs. Alex writes music first and lyrics fill in the spaces for the songs.

Gerygone & Twig claim to not have a lead singer and they pool resources for harmony and chorus. While performing on stage, the trio encourages other musically inclined people to perform with them, provided they have the same musical tastes. Between sets they encourage people to share poetry and spoken word performances.

Gerygone & Twig feel that it’s important to love what you’re doing. Sometimes being an artist isn’t about money. Even in winter, there’s opportunity to enjoy their music. While everyone seems to take a break, it’s even hard to get gigs, tavern owners expect people to stay at home; however, Gerygone & Twig feels, “winter needs music.”

Currently Gerygone & Twig are performing music from their debut album at Sophie’s Café at 9191 E. Frontage Road, Palmer. Find Gerygone & Twig on Facebook/birdandstick.

Editorial note: Gerygone & Twig’s name comes from the Acanthizidea peep-warbler song bird from South East Asia to New Zealand. According to Rainy, “Twig is a verb and ties-in the imagery, encompassing the whole existing metaphase.” “And it’s fun!” - The Mat-Su Monitor, written by Robert Rootes.


Discography

The Slee-Py(Debut album, to be released April 5th 2013).

Photos

Bio

Gerygone & Twig(don't worry, we can't pronounce it either) is a troupe of folk and indie songwriters stationed in the Mat-Su Valley. Their music is a most commendable brew of jangling silverware, twanging banjos, & rosy voices blooming from soft mandolins and guitars. They'll tell you most winsome love stories in fields of yellow where all the depths of lyric blue and wisdom shall be reached. With songs inspired dearly by Grizzly Bear, Sufjan Stevens, the Lumineers, and Laura Marling, the band is made up four people who each bring their own important qualities to light. All are delightful vocalists, one a professional photographer, another a painter and graphic designer. The percussionist makes beats from wounded vintage records, and the bassist started making music on his gameboy when he was young.
The foursome have filled the rafters of many coffee crafting facilities around the Valley after getting started as performers in August 2012. When they perform, various costumery adorn their bodies and environment, starting with birds stationed in their hair and sometimes sprouting enormous flowers from their spines. After successfully doubling their recent Kickstarter project fundraising goal to pay for the packaging, they have finished recording their debut album entitled the Slee-Py, which will be released on Friday, April 5th with a festive and celebratory show in the evening. The group plans to flourish with their music together for years to come.