The Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy has shared a new song called "Slint, Spiderland" written during and inspired by quarantine for NPR's Morning Edition Song Project.
The initiative brings artists together "to capture life in the era of COVID-19 by writing an original song that describes this turbulent moment."
In addition to sharing "Slint, Spiderland," Meloy spoke with the broadcaster at length about navigating the challenges of stay-at-home orders, watching the 2014 Lance Bangs documentary Breadcrumb Trail about Slint's 1991 album Spiderland, and his role in ongoing political unrest in the U.S.
Meloy said of the track:
I don't know that it particularly spoke to the current moment in any way other than it felt completely disconnected from it. Thing is about the lockdown and the quarantine, once we got past the initial [concerns] — like, how to get food, how to teach our kids and do our jobs at the same time — once that pattern had emerged, our lives as a stay-at-home writer and a stay-at-home illustrator were sort of bizarrely normal. … And so I think that was the moment: "Here I am getting lost in watching this documentary. Meanwhile, this thing is happening outside."
The Decemberists were scheduled to bring their 20th anniversary tour to Toronto last month but had to postpone due to gathering restrictions. That tour is now scheduled to take place next year.
The band's last full-length album was 2018's I'll Be Your Girl, and they released an EP titled Traveling On later the same year.
Listen to the song below, where you can also hear Meloy speak with NPR about quarantine.
The initiative brings artists together "to capture life in the era of COVID-19 by writing an original song that describes this turbulent moment."
In addition to sharing "Slint, Spiderland," Meloy spoke with the broadcaster at length about navigating the challenges of stay-at-home orders, watching the 2014 Lance Bangs documentary Breadcrumb Trail about Slint's 1991 album Spiderland, and his role in ongoing political unrest in the U.S.
Meloy said of the track:
I don't know that it particularly spoke to the current moment in any way other than it felt completely disconnected from it. Thing is about the lockdown and the quarantine, once we got past the initial [concerns] — like, how to get food, how to teach our kids and do our jobs at the same time — once that pattern had emerged, our lives as a stay-at-home writer and a stay-at-home illustrator were sort of bizarrely normal. … And so I think that was the moment: "Here I am getting lost in watching this documentary. Meanwhile, this thing is happening outside."
The Decemberists were scheduled to bring their 20th anniversary tour to Toronto last month but had to postpone due to gathering restrictions. That tour is now scheduled to take place next year.
The band's last full-length album was 2018's I'll Be Your Girl, and they released an EP titled Traveling On later the same year.
Listen to the song below, where you can also hear Meloy speak with NPR about quarantine.
