Winnipeg jazz/ rock combo Flying Fox and the Hunter Gatherers were inspired by insects for their new EP Fruit and Ash.
They will be playing the Owl Acoustic Lounge, May 27.
“ We‘re pretty pumped to get it out,” said vocalist bassist Lindsey Collins.
He noted frontman Jesse Kraus was inspired by insects and nature to write the four songs.
“He used Mother Nature to draw parallels to the human experience and to tell an interesting story,” he continued.
“ He grew up on a farm in Langley, so he comes from a more pastoral life. He really like nature documentaries so we see a lot of that on the DVD player in the van,” he said.
He said songwriting was a little different this time because they lost their keyboard player and trumpet player.
“We had to find a new trumpet player and I had to fill in those extra parts on the bass,” he continued.
They recorded the CD and mixed it over two separate weekends.
“ We had these four songs that just deemed to fit together very well,” he continued.
“ It took all of 22 hours. And we even had a choir. I’ve never worked with a vocalist as professional as Jesse. He’ll do three or four takes and we’ll have what we need, ” he said.
“The whole experience was very fast. We recorded it and sent away to be mixed and nine days later it was done,” he said.
It will be released on small independent Winnipeg record label Transistor 66 which is home to the Crooked Brothers, Scott Nolan and Magnificent 7s.
“So that’s pretty exciting for us,” he said.
In addition to their tour, they are planning on working on a set they can busk.
“We’re friends with Maria In The Shower, and they busk. It seemed to be a smart way of making a little extra money.
They have trimmed the band down to a lean, mean five-pice band, but still have lots of brass as Kraus also plays trombone, while Andrew Littleford plays trumpet and they also have a new saxophonist as well.
While they made an impression during their first visit to Lethbridge by wearing giant plush animal heads, for their rendition of “Where the Wild Things Are,” the masks are staying home this tour.
“ They are still retired and in my basement. there are lots of beads of sweat on them. We did that for a year and a half. But there comes a time to either take them off of keep doing it for the rest of our lives because people come to expect them,” he said. They are also playing the National Arts Centre in Ottawa this summer.
” That’s going to be really special.”
But in the meantime they are looking forward to returning to the Owl Acoustic Lounge.
“We have many friends there. We hope to see some familiar faces out there,” he said.
