Song Exploder

Big Thief - Cattails

Jun 26, 2019
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Adrianne's Personal Song Inspiration

  • Adrianne Lenker wrote "Cattails" inspired by her great-grandma Violet and memories of northern Minnesota.
  • She connected personal feelings of loss, childhood, and the complex emotions tied to her roots while composing it late at night.
ANECDOTE

Capturing Magic in First Take

  • Adrianne and James recorded the song's first take live after running together to sync rhythms naturally.
  • The recording captured a unique, magical moment without discussing form or groove beforehand.
ANECDOTE

Bass Drones Maintain Lightness

  • Max added drone-like bass parts using a sustain pedal to maintain the song’s lightness.
  • The band edited and arranged these parts to enhance the existing uplifting vibe without weighing it down.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app