About this episode
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.
