“Welcome to the Pandemic Disco” Chorus
What I need to know
What we tried to grow
We put it on the table
It’s on the table baby
It matters what we say
Yes it matters what we say
We hold up the roof we love in our boots
Yes we love in our boots
We shine this light for life
We’ll make it all alright
Keep holding the truth
Keep holding the roots
We hold up the roof
What I need you to know
I need you to grow
We’re making a garden stay with me
We want this to be
Like musicians all over the World, New York City’s Warp Trio entered the Fall of 2020 with a full instrumental record ready to go, but no tour to play it on. In light of their forced hiatus from road life, and in efforts to make something positive out of these dark days, they decided to get to work on a new record that would not only reflect on this unique period, but also one that they would purposefully not be able to feasibly take on the road. Rick threw down some beats and bass, Mikael added his keys and synths, and after Josh & J.Y created a lush Disco-esque orchestra of strings, they reached out to some of their talented and inspiring vocalist, filmmaker, animator, and dancer friends to collaborate on a project that aims to show a small glimpse of the roller-coaster of feelings and experiences lived by folks in this time of tumult.
After many hours of home recording, “Zoom-Jams”, and a few All-Night film shoots, Warp Trio’s Pandemic Disco Fantasy was born. Clocking in at a little over half an hour, P.D.F. is a six-track video concept album that musically posits the Warp Trio alongside several guest vocalists (Likwuid, Mirah, Raina Sokolov-Gonzalez, Daniel Henri Emond, and Claire Wellin) as soloists with an orchestra. Each track is accompanied by a video chapter that tells the fantastical stylized story of the narrative. Visually, the movement talents of Emily Haughton, Sophia Qin’s psychedelic animations, and the filmmaking prowess of Andrew Wells Ryder help bring the music to life.
Against the campy imaginary backdrop of a “Pandemic Disco”, the record explores some of the very real and serious issues that have been brewing for years, but have come to light within the current climate; police brutality, racial and class equity, mental health, and media distrust, among others, with the overarching theme being a message that even though things are rough, we can (hopefully) all pull through and emerge stronger on the other side.
credits
released August 20, 2021
Written and Recorded by Warp Trio, Likwuid, Mirah, Raina, Daniel, and Claire.
Warp Trio is…
Mikael Darmanie - Piano/Keyboards
Josh Henderson - Violin, Electric Bass, Guitar
J.Y. Lee - Cello
Rick Martinez - Drums, Synths
Mixed by Nick Smeraski
Mastered by Greg Saunier
*Piano Tracks engineered by Iver Atkins at Skillman Music
*Electric Bass and Electric Violin Re-amped by Drew Guido
+Supplemental "Orchestral" cello parts recorded by Julia Henderson
Though Dreyblatt’s compositional method is largely complex, his songs have the hard-hitting simplicity of rock 'n’ roll. Bandcamp Album of the Day Aug 15, 2023
This debut classical piece from UK musician A Sea Warren captures the grandeur of the natural world in melodies that recall Aaron Copland. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 14, 2023
There’s a quiet beauty to this remix album of compositions by Michael Vincent Waller, with contributions from JLin, Prefuse 73, & more. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 1, 2024
Somber, beautiful string meditations abound on the debut album by Oxford cellist and composer Lou Lyne and her ensemble. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2024