Many know Drew Gardner as one-half of the excellent cosmic guitar duo Elkhorn. But like many great creative minds, Drew has plenty of other side projects that are just as interesting as the psychedelic free rock of Elkhorn.
In June, Drew released a superb solo record, Cygnus A, via Centripetal Force Records, which received high praise (including from The Third Eye here). His music-making over the years has been deeply collaborative and improvisational, including with Elkhorn, Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidder, and his Flowers In Space band. That’s why it was such a joy to see Drew release the solo work of Cygnus A, where he plays and multi-tracks all the instruments.
With an earthy yet cosmic vibe, Cygnus A is a solo foray that explores themes of distance and nearness. The instruments used on the LP – the mbira and zither – are also fascinating and create a soothing and celestial sonic soundscape.
The Third Eye caught up with Drew Gardner recently, and he was kind enough to answer some questions via email. Check out the interview with Drew below, where he discusses Cygnus A, his relationship to the zither and Mbira instruments, and what’s happening in the New York City music scene.
Interview with Drew Gardner
Third Eye: Cygnus A is your first proper solo release, and I’m enjoying it. What struck me most about the record is the use of the zither and mbira instruments. What inspired you to use these rather unconventional instruments on the record? And what was your experience with these instruments before you made Cygnus A?
Drew: I’ve always had mbiras around and I’ve always loved the sound. A few years ago, I came by a zither and it really grabbed me. It’s possible to get a harp-like sound out of it. I’ve always liked the sound of the Indian swarmandal, which is similar. I’ve always been interested in records where the artist plays all the instruments, like Skip Spence’s Oar or Frances Bebey’s Psychedelic Sanza, so I took the opportunity to try this approach with Cygnus A. That Bebey record was a big inspiration. It has such a unique and instantly recognizable sound.
Third Eye: What’s the best movie you’ve seen recently? And why did you like it so much?
Drew: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. It really throws you into its world and it has a unique vision. Those are two qualities I also like in music.
Third Eye: Psychedelic is a term that gets thrown around in music a lot, and it probably doesn’t apply in many cases. How would you define psychedelic music?
Drew: To me, it means that the music produces an effect that’s related to a psychedelic drug experience, and/or or that it mixes well with psychedelic drugs. My interest in it in terms of musical form is that it combines drone, folk, rock, Indian music and the avant-garde. All of which I like to do.
Third Eye: The title of your new record refers to a distant galaxy that’s one of the brightest radio sources in the sky. Why did you choose that as the title? Is astronomy one of your interests?
Drew: Cygnus A is a radio galaxy, basically a kind of enormously powerful intergalactic radio station, like a XERF-style border blaster station coming across the Mexican border in the 1950s, but broadcasting from six-hundred million light years away. So it’s very far away but its signal is “close” and strong. With the record, I’m playing with themes of closeness and distance.
Mbira and zither are small, quiet instruments meant to be played close to the listener’s ears and pointing directly at them. I recorded the album in my home studio late in the COVID era, when the sense of distance from other people was at its greatest. I’m playing things on it that were helping to lift my mood at the time. I’m hoping it might have the same effect for the listener.
Third Eye: I noticed that you’re based in New York City. What’s the NYC music scene like right now? What are some things happening there that you’re really excited about?
Drew: It’s wildly active. There’s way too much to hear all of it, which has always been part of why I like NYC. There’s an interesting thing happening right now involving improvised instrumental psychedelic rock blending with jazz elements with several bands: Vague Plot, Emergency Group, Animal, Surrender!, and my own group.
Third Eye: What’s one band or record you’re listening to right now that you think everyone should hear?
Drew: What I’m listening to is often pretty odd. I don’t know if there’s one everyone needs to hear, but I’ve been listening to medieval harp music as well as the collected recordings of Eddie Lang. Also catching up with the Henry Flynt recordings I don’t have. Also— Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, a singer who accompanies himself with swarmandal.
Third Eye: Last question: What’s next for your various projects? What are some short- and long-term goals?
Drew: Elkhorn has put out three records this year and the fourth is coming out on VHF this summer. The Heavy Lidders have some cool studio material in the can. I have a quartet record coming out next year on VHF that I’m really excited about.
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