If you read The Third Eye regularly, you know that we love Australian guitarist Levi J. Burr. He’s a versatile musician who blends the elements of country, ambient, and fingerstyle guitar uniquely, which could be categorized as “cosmic country,” but also with plenty of psychedelic elements.
Burr has been busy in the past couple of years. His debut record, Another Domino Map, came to us in October 2023 and gathered many positive reviews, including being featured on Bandcamp’s Best Country Music list.
Along the way, Burr has secured a distribution deal with Scissor Tail Records in the U.S. and worked with other ambient maestros like Chuck Johnson.
This past October, he released his second record, Bucolic Confection, featuring collaborations with other Third Eye favorites like the Far Sound and Seawind of Battery. The new LP takes listeners on another transformative musical journey.
The Third Eye has corresponded with Levi frequently over the past year or so while charting his progress, and we recently got a chance to interview him. Check out the interview below with Levi J. Burr, where he discusses his latest record, his favorite ambient country artists, and more.
Interview with Levi J. Burr
Third Eye: Thanks for doing this interview! Can you introduce yourself and your music?
Levi J. Burr: My name is Levi J. Burr. I’m a cosmic country musician, music producer, and educator. My music combines elements of country, psychedelic, folk, and ambient.
Third Eye: Your latest record, Bucolic Confection, was released in October. What was your vision for this latest record, and did it differ at all from your previous works?
Levi: One main difference between this record and the first one is that I mixed this one myself and in my own studio. The first LP had more traditional country elements, and this one is a bit more spacey and ambient. I wanted to include more weird instruments, like the theremin and Arp synthesiser, along with the pedal steel, acoustic guitar and percussion.
I’ve always been a huge fan of shoegaze and ambient music and wanted to include more of this sound in the second album. I’m interested in any stringed instrument, too, so wanted to include some of those orchestral stringed elements in there as well.
Third Eye: We’ve talked before about your unique blend of folk, ambient, and country. What is your vision when creating music? And do you feel like there are psychedelic aspects to your music?
Levi: I’m really interested in nature, space, and history. So when an idea from one of those areas presents and I get to work trying to create something musical that fits the idea. The songs will start out being based either on acoustic guitar or synth. Then, I’ll add bass guitar and my musical compatriot, Bruce Aitken, adds his percussive flair. Next, I’ll think about what lead parts would work best.
My music definitely has a psychedelic leaning. I love the idea of escapism and find that it matches well with the natural environment. People tend only to think in terms of what can be taken from the natural environment. I’m not interested in taking from it – it provides so much bounty already. The randomness mixed with the natural pattern aspect is where the woodsy-space aspect enters the music.
Third Eye: You’ve already collaborated with great musicians in the ambient and ambient country scene, such as Chuck Johnson and Seawind of Battery. What has it been like to work with these guys? And who is one musician you’d like to work with but haven’t yet?
Levi: I’ve been very lucky to have some wonderful people agree to collaborate with me musically. Chuck played a key role in the creation of the first album. He played on 3 songs in addition to taking care of the mixing and mastering.
It was very easy to work with Chuck, and I highly valued his input on arrangements of lead parts as well as his taste in the performing and production side of things. Mike from Seawind and I started off exchanging copies of our vinyl recordings, and then I asked him if he’d be interested in collaborating on a track.
I was delighted when he said yes and loved his contribution to the track. Rick from The Far Sound and B.J. Cole are two others I’ve enjoyed working with. Their styles are so different, but fit my tracks perfectly. Musicians I’d like to work with would include Luke Schnieder, Barry Walker, and Golden Brown. I am a huge fan of all of their work.
Third Eye: Your music is very much in tune with the recent surge of ambient country and that whole global scene. Who are your favorite artists doing this type of music now, and why?
Levi: So many, and I’m bound to forget some at least! As mentioned, Seawind of Battery, Golden Brown, The Far Sound and Luke Schnieder. Plus, Andrew Tuttle, Howard Hughes Suite, SUSS, Barry Walker, Jack Silverman Quartet, North Americans, Stars of the Lid, Nashville Ambient Ensemble, Rich Ruth, Pelt, and heaps more.
Third Eye: Australia has a killer music scene now and always has, but recently, it feels like the talent—especially psychedelic—is everywhere. Why do you think your country has generated so much great music lately?
Levi: Australia has been for some time classified by the UN as a ‘restricted democracy’. There is a nanny state going on here; you seem to get fined every time you turn around. International politics are looking towards hardened positions on both the left and right, and division is rife socially.
There is so much mis- and disinformation being pumped out on a non-stop cycle that I feel people are exhausted and disillusioned. I believe that escapist, outward looking and experimental music is a response to these times as well as providing a welcome tonic for them. It’s a wonderful thing for the brain to be taken on a liberating journey by a low-flying cloud of head music.
Third Eye: Last question – What are some short and long-term goals for your music projects?
Levi: I want to be prolific. Now that I am locked in on the recording side of things, I have the tools and the ability to work reasonably quickly and release an album every 12 months. Maybe more. I love collaborating with other musicians and will continue to do so. I’m interested in purchasing and learning to play a cello and including it in my recordings along with continuing to work on my banjo and keyboard playing.
I think it’s about time to put a band together to play the recordings, I’ve only ever done one band gig with my Levi J. Burr repertoire. It was a great night and the bar was packed. Usually, when I play live, I do ambient improvised electric guitar stuff but it would be great to get a live band together and look at doing some shows and festivals of the acoustic recorded material.
Check out Bucolic Confection by Levi J. Burr on Bandcamp here.
Levi J. Burr: Bandcamp | Instagram | Official Website
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