Music Business. While artists rightfully focus their attention on the first word, there’s no avoiding the second. Creating the art is hard enough—but getting it out into the world takes a rare kind of perseverance and grit.
Since the music industry began its digital transformation, I’ve watched countless artists explore different strategies when releasing new music —shifting from full albums to singles and EPs, skipping streaming platforms in favor of physical-only releases, and bypassing labels and going independent.
New England’s Session Americana are taking it to an extreme—perhaps unintentionally channeling their inner Wu-Tang Clan. Whereas Wu-Tang famously produced and sold only a single copy of their 2014 release, Session Americana opted to turn their recently recording album into a one-of-a-kind listening experience. They produced a single copy of the new Island Barn Cafe, complete with an expansive booklet about the album and housed in an elegant, custom-made package. Known simply as The Artifact, it is making its journey from one person to the next, carrying the joy of music each step of the way.
Said Ry Cavanaugh about the approach:
I don’t have a really good answer for why we released this record this way. We were just brainstorming in the van and this was the idea we came up with. It’s pretty cool with the recycled fleece box, the little Sony player and really good sounding headphones, The book is great, too. It’s been a little bit of chore keeping it moving. I think its landed on a few doorsteps that weren’t really able to get in the spirit of the thing, but most people have really gotten the whole vibe and been psyched to get it and were able to thoughtfully listen to it. I think that most people have kind of coalesced into an attitude that recorded music is worthless. Worse, it’s actually pretty annoying to hear music while you’re grocery shopping, pumping gas, eating a bowl of soup. I don’t see how we regain any sense of value unless we can somehow make our work scarce. It will be interesting to see how younger generations deal with this issue. This project – the artifact concept – is definitely an effort to give some value and meaning to our own work, even if it means less people hear it. It’s a bit extreme, I guess, but something had to be done differently.
Even though the album isn’t available to buy or stream, you can get a taste in the form of a new video for “When the Dust Has Settled,” the album’s lead-off track. The song is quintessential Session Americana – organic and freewheeling yet impeccably crafted. Billy Beard and Jon Bistline lay down an insistent rhythm while Dinty Child’s accordion and Jim Fitting’s harmonica weave across the song. Guests Kris Delmhorst and Jennifer Kimball add vocals and piano, respectively. And Ry Cavanaugh sings about love’s resilience, “Who knew this would be the one after all these years and all these times and all these songs we’ve sung”.
Cavanaugh offered some insight into the song and how it was recorded:
We were lucky that Kris (Delmhorst) really dug in on this tune. I had pushed it as far as I could go, even recording an aborted version with the band way back during the “Great Shakes” sessions. The idea came while I was hiking in Eastern Oregon and it was … well.. dusty. But I really only had the hook and most of the first verse that was usable. Kris and I pushed ideas around for a few weeks leading up to the sessions. She really did come up with ALL the good ideas including the bridge and the outro. We recorded this pretty much live in a makeshift studio above Skal on Vinalhaven with Jennifer Kimball joining on piano. Scott (Sell) came out from Rockland with his cameras and got some great footage.
Twangville is honored to premiere the video for “When the Dust Has Settled”. It not only gives you a taste of the album, it gives you a peek into the recording process.
FAN TESTIMONIALS ABOUT THE ARTIFACT
Proud to be recipient #3 of The Artifact: @sessionamericana ‘s #saislandbarncafe album! To slow down and breathe in this airy recording is a gift, a privilege. I’ve been lucky enough to share the same space for many a quiet or sometimes rowdy (sometimes both!) night with Session Americana, and Island Barn Cafe is the closest thing on record to that experience. The Artifact taps into a musical adventure long forgotten, where sharing records from your collection was the only way to get your ears on whole albums and deep cuts that told the whole story and transported you to places you might never get a chance to visit. You can hear the rooms this music was performed in; no plug ins, no studio voodoo needed. You can hear the joy and friendship of the musicians as they laugh and cajole. Once upon a time it was perfect Tuesday’s every week, and boy, were they! As I sit and listen to Island Barn Cafe, I am wrapped in the warmth of memories of the Lizard Lounge and those smiles and singalongs and how it felt when another night was done and we all wandered (stumbled?) out into the cold and snowy Cambridge night. – Brett
Our family hosted this gnome of an Artifact and loved each and every song! – Nancy L.
This a great idea. I’m honored to have been part of the Artifact. I love all of the material especially “When the Dust Has Settled” and “It’s a Big Ole Goofy World”. Well done. – Ed
Grateful, in awe, and wholly in love only begins to describe how I feel for the band I’ve seen more than any other over the past 16 years – Session Americana. They have leveled up & I’m honored to have had my hands on this gem ????????To think I couldn’t love this band more, they go ahead and do something like this; expanding my musical heart & making me a perpetually proud Pleasure Society member for-EV-er!… I didn’t want to give it up, but music is meant to be shared & that’s the name of the game. I hope/bet everyone who hears it after me loves it as much as I did. — Marinda
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.