Witch Post's spellbinding EP 'Butterfly' and goodbye to Charli XCX's 'Brat Summer' • FRANCE 24

Key Concepts

• Witch Post: A musical duo consisting of Alaska Reid (USA) and Dylan Fraser (Scotland), known for blending indie rock with folklore-inspired themes.
• Folklore & Supernaturalism: The thematic foundation of the duo’s songwriting, drawing from their respective cultural backgrounds.
• Synesthesia: A neurological phenomenon where sensory inputs (like music) trigger experiences in other senses (like seeing colors), as described by Dominique Fils-Aimé.
• Chakra System: A spiritual framework used by Dominique Fils-Aimé to categorize her albums by color and energy centers.
• DIY Production: A "rough and ready" recording methodology involving bedroom studios and remote collaboration.

---

1. Witch Post: Collaboration and Creative Identity

Alaska Reid and Dylan Fraser formed the duo Witch Post after meeting at a Charli XCX concert. Despite living 4,000 miles apart, they bridged the geographical gap through a shared passion for indie rock and folklore.

• Origin of the Name: The name "Witch Post" was inspired by a 17th-century architectural feature found in the Yorkshire Moors—a post carved into a fireplace to ward off spirits. Coincidentally, the carvings often feature the St. Andrew’s Saltire (the Scottish flag), symbolizing the intersection of their two cultures.
• Creative Process: The duo emphasizes an organic, non-pressured approach to songwriting. They intentionally differentiate their duo work from their solo careers by leaning into supernatural and fantasy-based storytelling.
• Production Methodology: Their EPs, Beast and Butterfly, were recorded in tandem using a DIY approach. They utilized various locations, including Montana and London, as well as friend-run and bedroom studios, resulting in a cohesive, "rough and ready" sound.

2. Dominique Fils-Aimé: Storytelling and Spirituality

Canadian-Haitian musician Dominique Fils-Aimé discusses her fifth album, My World Is the Sun, which serves as a deeply personal exploration of family history and spirituality.

• Family Legacy: The album features a 1970s recording of her mother’s voice, which Fils-Aimé weaves into the record, ending the project by singing back to her mother’s original track.
• Synesthesia and Chakras: Fils-Aimé experiences music through color. She aligns her albums with the chakra system; My World Is the Sun is associated with the color purple and the crown chakra, representing a fusion of "fire and water."
• Artistic Philosophy: She advocates for "getting back to the child in us that just wants to play," noting that her song "Phoenix Rising" was born from an impromptu, playful session with an upright bass.

3. Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Authenticity over Trends: Both acts express a desire to avoid conforming to specific music scenes. Alaska and Dylan state they prioritize songs that excite them personally rather than chasing commercial trends.
• Folklore as Identity: The artists argue that folklore is not just a fantasy element but a core component of cultural identity, particularly in Scotland, where it is deeply rooted in the national psyche.
• The "Chasing" of Songwriting: Alaska and Dylan describe the songwriting process as a perpetual "chase" for the best possible song, requiring a lack of fear and the abandonment of preconceived notions.

4. Notable Quotes

• Alaska Reid (on the duo's formation): "We were very reluctant to have a band. It kind of just happened organically."
• Dominique Fils-Aimé (on her creative process): "Transforming ourselves sometimes is not about becoming someone new, but about getting back to the child in us that just wants to play."
• Dylan Fraser (on their recording style): "We had no budget for these things... it was very sort of DIY and like, rough and ready."

---

Synthesis and Conclusion

The video highlights a shift toward highly personal, narrative-driven music that transcends traditional genre boundaries. Whether through the "witchy" folklore-inspired indie rock of Witch Post or the chakra-aligned, ancestral storytelling of Dominique Fils-Aimé, both acts demonstrate that modern music production is increasingly defined by remote collaboration, DIY ethics, and a return to childhood curiosity. The common thread is the use of music as a vessel for exploring identity, history, and the intangible aspects of the human experience.