Tag: Sean Trischka

WATCH: Sean Trischka, “Why You Been Gone So Long” (feat. Jacob Jolliff)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Sean Trischka
Hometown: Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Song: “Why You Been Gone So Long” (feat. Jacob Jolliff)
Release Date: May 19, 2023 (single); June 2, 2023 (video)

In Their Words: “50 years ago, almost to the day, Clarence White melted faces and stole hearts when he sang ‘Why You Been Gone So Long’ at a show in a small room in Stockholm, Sweden. The recording of this essentially punk-rock performance can be found on The New Kentucky Colonel’s Live in Sweden record, which has been living rent-free in my head from the moment I heard it.

“The ruggedness of Clarence’s voice paired with the comfortable looseness of the band reminded me why I love bluegrass, but also why I love rock music. I wanted to do something that would pay tribute to both the song and the energy of that version.

“I played all the instruments on the basic track and, during recording, left a space for a guitar solo that I assumed I’d clumsily crank out myself at a later date. But as dumb luck would have it, I had lunch with Jacob Jolliff shortly after recording and immediately thought his unabashed, incredible, stream-of-consciousness playing style would be perfect for the track. We recorded his performance at my apartment in New York City – and he melted my face and stole my heart.

“As for the video, it’s my chaotic visual rendering of a bluegrass/rock mind-meld. I hope you enjoy. <3” – Sean Trischka

Photo Credit: Sam Kassirer

LISTEN: Stash Wyslouch, “Lord Protect My Soul”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Stash Wyslouch
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Song: “Lord Protect My Soul”
Album: Plays and Sings Bluegrass Vol. II
Release Date: April 30, 2021

In Their Words: “Everything on Plays and Sings Bluegrass Vol. II is a product of years of experimentation with traditional bluegrass. Instead of giving this Bill Monroe classic the four-part gospel treatment, I thought it would be fun to contrast the original melody and lyrics with an onslaught of polytonal backup melodies played in unison. In bluegrass I tend to gravitate towards the gospel flavors, and in my own music I tend to gravitate towards the ‘absurd’ and unexpected. This track exemplifies those two worlds colliding. Accompanying me on the unified front of polytonal backup is Duncan Wickel (fiddle), Max Ridley (bass), and Sean Trischka (drums).” — Stash Wyslouch

Photo credit: Mariel Vandersteel

WATCH: Sean Trischka, ‘Dark Windows’

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Sean Trischka (featuring Julian Lage)
Hometown: Boston, MA
Song: "Dark Windows"
Album: The Shuffle

In Their Words: "In the late Winter of 2015, I dropped my phone in the toilet and was, in turn, phoneless for about a week. In that time, I went on a few hikes in Dover, Massachusetts, which helped me re-realize just how dependent we all are on our magical screens (not news to anyone, I know). The song is essentially about the W.O.S. (World of Screen) and how we find ourselves satisfied, despite missing out on so much.

For the video, I decided to use old home movies from my childhood — a time when I was not completely sucked into the W.O.S. — as a stark juxtaposition of how much society's presence has changed in such a short period of time. I, of course, had to incorporate some pixel-y '90s bitmap fonts to really take it home. And the real kicker: I recorded the demo and wrote the lyrics entirely on my iPhone." — Sean Trischka

Photo credit: Louise Bichan