I recently checked out the unique EP created by Abrasive Trees, titled Moulding Heaven With Earth/Kali Sends Sunflowers. It sounds like nothing else I’ve heard recently, so I was intrigued to find out more!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a short EP titled Moulding Heaven With Earth/Kali Sends Sunflowers, which we reviewed. What can you tell us about the EP and where can it be purchased?
The EP was mainly the result of several day’s work with producers Lucy and Matthew Board at their studio, Penquit Mill in South Devon. It was the first time we’d recorded as a band in a studio together, following the earlier releases which I’d mainly produced from home. Studio work can produce some special creative moments, especially when working with people like Lucy and Matt. We’re really happy with it. As you might expect it’s available on Bandcamp and the other platforms.
You also included a remix of Moulding Heaven With Earth, featuring Mark Beazley. How did the remix come about?
I’ve worked with Mark for a while and we’ve become good friends. He remixed Without Light last year and his work is always quite remarkable (his Rothko releases are all worth checking out). I love how he uses delay and distortion, plus his way of arranging remixes turns things on their heads, which is hugely appealing to me.
You’ve also just released a short album titled Communicating With Infinity. What can you tell us about that album?
Well, I created two very long drone tracks as an experiment last year. We used one of them as an intro track for our live gigs. I love drones, so it just felt right to release them.
Do you have plans to release a longer EP/album in the future?
Yes, we’re planning something for next year and writing new material. We have four tracks so far that could become half of the debut album proper. There is a live album already mastered, so we might release that this year to co-ordinate with a tour we have in the autumn.
Do you plan to release any singles at any point?
Well, we have released a few already. No doubt more will come ahead of the album.
Has the pandemic hindered your work much?
Well, yes, of course. But it’s also given us the early releases, which would not have happened in that way if we hadn’t all been living within a dystopian plague.
You’re based in Totnes in Devon, which is known for being quite alternative. What is the music scene like down there?
It’s relatively diverse and there’s a lot going on for a small town. Everyone within the music community knows each other and there’s a really interesting array of creatives, producers, touring musicians, dancers, meditators and yogis here. I think it’s a very special place, but we need a bigger venue that would make it appealing to more touring bands.
Your music is very different from the norm, making it unique! What/who influences you most as artists? What have you been listening to recently?
Within the band our influences create a weird Venn Diagram between Slint, early Sisters of Mercy, Deftones and Emma Ruth Rundle. Plus loads of others.
I’ve been listening to Kathryn Joseph, Diamond Family Archive and Death & Vanilla.
I felt that there was quite a spiritual bent to your music, would you say this is correct? If so, can you elaborate more on that?
It comes through. Mainly as I think compassion and wisdom are worth striving for and life is overwhelming sometimes – so we need a method to make sense of things. For me that’s Buddhism.
Do you have any tour dates lined up?
We are doing a small tour in the autumn:
14th October – London
15th October – Aldershot
28th October – Totnes
29th October – Plymouth
11th November – Bristol
12th November – Exeter
Any last words for the fans?
I’m not sure we have that many fans, but the ones we do have are hugely supportive, so just to say thank you.