Dirtwire and west Canadian duo Moontricks is a poignant conversation starter on societal consumerism titled “Alone.” Released via Westwood Recordings, “Alone” is a masterful fusion of high speed bluegrass banjo riffs and a half time electronic drop.
The culmination of a blend of organic instrumentation and middle-eastern nuanced production, “Alone” is a “song about rejecting societal pressures for consumerism,” explains Moontricks. “About wanting to be left alone from these pressures, and banding together around not feeling the need to chase them. Then we built the heavy pulsing drop around the middle eastern violin lines and bass. The combination ended up working well with its striking contrast.” In addition to the single, they have created a music video to underscore the song’s lyrical message.
If this is your first introduction to Dirtwire, the trio’s sound is the result of travels and performances around the globe, from the favelas of Brazil, Femi Kuti’s Shrine in Lagos, Tokyo’s bluegrass clubs, Ayahuasca ceremonies in Central America, Gamelan performances in Bali, desert festivals in the Australian Outback, and the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s modernized new capital Astana. Dirtwire plays an array of instruments both ancient and modern, including West African kamale ngoni, harmonica, space fiddle, whamola bass, Rickenbacher electric 12 string guitars, bowed banjos and jaw harps from around the globe, all interwoven into modern laptop beat creation.
Moontricks, a duo whose timeless sound captures the essence of their rugged roots. Combining their love of folk, blues, and electronic music, Nathan Gurley and Sean Rodman are blazing their own trail, merging musical worlds previously unacquainted and capturing audiences along the way. Their spirited live performances feature an assemblage of guitar, keys, banjo, and vocals atop stunning original productions. Once a best kept secret in Canada’s festival circuit, they have performed at major festivals like Lightning In A Bottle, Rainbow Serpent, and Shambhala Music Festival where they’ve become fan favorites, playing every year since their debut in 2013.
