Esben and the Witch's Rachel Davies

[the_future_modernes]

Esben and the Witch - They Use Smiles to Bury You

Source Magazine Interview: Esben and the Witch

Arriving on stage in a mist of dry ice, and lit mainly by a pair of Victorian style streetlights, Esben and the Witch begin their set with a wave of guitar feedback, leading into debut single 'Marching Song'. Alternating between vocals and floor tom/cymbal, singer Rachel Davies cuts an imposing yet detached figure, backed up by multi instrumentalists Tom Fisher and Dan Copeman, although much of the synths, drums and bass come courtesy of samples.

...
You all swap instruments so I guess you can try anything but there is only three of you.
Rachel: We approach that with positivity rather than a hinderance though. Were not trained musicians either.
Thomas: We have a lot going on live too, like triggering samples and building up layers still. No backing tracks though, so sometimes the songs are slightly different to the original recordings. This allows us to re-imagine them live on stage to the audience.
Rachel: We can re-connect to the songs that way too and freshen them up.MORE

Interview – Esben and the Witch

The band, aka Rachel Davies, Thomas Fisher and Daniel Copeman, are currently on tour following the release of Violet Cries earlier this month and allow Sloucher a few moments snatched conversation before they go on stage at The Harley.

The band’s name, Esben and the Witch, derives from a Danish fairytale involving magic, murder and witches. Why did they decide to name the band with such an unusual name?

“It is something we stumbled upon, we liked the story and the imagery involved and the subtle malevolence and the odd messages intrinsically involved in all fairytales.MORE

Esben and the Witch - Marching Song (live)

(WARNING FOR lots of blood and bruises in below video.)
Esben and the Witch - Marching Song Offical Video

Esben and the Witch - Lucia, at the Precipice