In this harvest season, Blackwillow Starling discuss their latest album Thornaeppel, and what they garnered from the early seeds of the writing process.
Blackwillow Starling
The Process of Change
In what ways has your song writing changed with the new album? (Nora)
I think in terms of collaboration our writing has changed. Michael and I are getting better at working together on music. We each have a different approach to writing and although we very much loved to collaborate at times on our first album, co-creating for some of it became challenging. It’s gotten easier as we understand how the other works.
We’ve both branched out into songwriting styles on our latest album with different feels. Michael explored some beautiful acoustic textures and nuance in his song Echoes Answer and my new work with vocal narrative in the song Ascend the Dark that Holds Us. The latter being a retelling of the story of Branwyn whilst weaving in a message of hope and resilience. We were excited to try these new approaches to writing on the album.
In truth, I’m looking forward to continuing to learn about one another as we write together and see where that leads us.
The Enhancement of Spirit
Do you personally use pagan music in your spiritual practice? (Nora)
Sometimes.
Nature herself is the finest musician and the sound of nature can be so calming. The sounds of wind, water, crickets, and birdsong bring me to a place of peace and induce a meditative state. Sounds of nature are my first choice. Silence is a close second.
If I use music, I’ll play ambient music. It’s rare that I play anything with lyrics as it becomes too literal. Ambient music or drumming allows the vibrational flow I usually prefer for spiritual focus.
The Appearance of Something New
What has surprised you most about your new album “Thornaeppel”? (Michael)
When Blackwillow Starling was conceived, I had the notion that my role within the band was going to be based on acoustic guitar and some bouzouki or octave mandolin. As the band has progressed, and along with the tracking for Thornaeppel, I found myself leaning not only toward adding a new string instrument, that being mandola, but then also adding creative parts with bodhran and other drum instruments. I have always admired great bodhran players, and there are techniques and styles I would love to become more proficient at, so it’s been a great learning experience.
As far as the band as a whole, there are three songs on Thornaeppel that fall under more of a drone classification: Alas, the Sun has Come, Grandmother Moon, and Ascend the Dark that Holds Us. The only song that includes drone on the self-titled debut album, and that being solely on a vocal level, is The Answerer Sword. To see Blackwillow Starling move a bit more in this direction wasn’t an all out plan – it was where the creative process brought us. We became interested in shruti box, some darker tones, and the three aforementioned songs came into place.
The Interpretation of Tradition
What is your favorite track from Thornappel and why? (Michael)
The time of year most definitely influences what my favorite songs, and bands, are at the moment. So, with the caveat of me being able to change my mind four months from now, I am going to go with All Among the Barley, a traditional English folk song dating back to 1851. It is mid-September as I write this so I am certain that the season is influencing my reasoning. Originally a multi-vocal only song, we constructed a piece with nylon string guitar, our vocals, melodeon, and low whistle. The mix on the song moves it into a dark and dusky place. I feel like it’s just before sundown and the sky is filling with a thin layer of clouds. It’s slightly damp and the air is cool. It’s been a long summer and now is the time to gather up the last of what has been sown.
The whistle in the song has an air of mysticism and space about it. It makes me feel like there is a spirit within the barley fields themselves; a spirit that is prepping for Mabon to be complete so it can become even more apparent and in touch with the human world with the Samhain season. I also do enjoy the vocal interaction that happens throughout the entirety of the song. My vocals stay deep and mellow which adds to the heaviness of the song. The lyrical sentiment is one of reverence, of course. I interpret that as one of solemn respect to those who have worked and tended the land and, mostly, to the grain itself.
All Among the Barley
Now ’tis come September, the hunters moon’s begun
And through the wheat and stubble ’tis heard a frequent gun
The leaves are pale and yellow and kindling into red
And the ripe and bearded barley is hanging down its head
The spring is like a young man who doesn’t know his mind
Summer is like a tyrant, the most ungracious kind
The autumn is an old friend who loves with all she can
Cause she brings the bearded barley to glad the hearts of man
The wheat is like a rich man, he’s sleek and well to do
The oats are like a pack of girls, laughing and dancing through
The rye is like a miser, he’s sulky, lean, and small
And the ripe and beaded barley is monarch of them all
All among the barley, who would not be blithe?
When the ripe and bearded barley is smiling on the scythe
All Among the Barley lyrics from traditional English folk song, performed by Blackwillow Starling, from their album Thornaeppel released 2026.
Blackwillow Starling in their natural habitat at Pagan Spririt Gathering
For more information about Blackwillow Starling, including their collected articles here on Pagan Song, their bio, and links to their sites on the web, check out Blackwillow Starling’s author page here on Pagan Song.
Featured photo of barley field is in public domain.
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