Musical collaboration

Darling Twig releases their first album

(Left to right) Belinda Derksen, Kristina Blackwood and Andrea Klymochko make up Darling Twig.

Emerging Winnipeg band Darling Twig shows bands don’t need to be formed by musicians with equal experience.

“These women are storytellers: spinn-ing imaginative lore, compelling thought and keen attention to their sense of humanness into songs marked by a sweet sincerity. The husk and earth of their voices blend and ascend into darling harmonies – an expanse of intuitive musicality,” their website says.

They started playing together in 2012 but just released their first album, Trails, on Oct. 29.

The trio started to form when Belinda Derksen and Kristina Blackwood met through roommates and began casually playing shows together.

At the time, Blackwood didn't have much musical experience, other than it being something she enjoyed. Derksen had formal training as a musician and says she had started to major in music at university but switched career paths before graduating.

When Andrea Klymochko – who was a professional musician – got involved, they officially formed Darling Twig.

Now, they make up Darling Twig.

“Strong harmony is a key feature. I’d say it’s folky,” Blackwood says. “Sometimes even a little bit country.”

Derksen jokingly disagrees with it having country elements, calling it strong female harmony folk. She says she posts the music on their Bandcamp and tags it with words such as singer-songwriter, indie and folk.

“I usually tell them, well, we have three women who sing, one who plays guitar and one who plays viola, so you can imagine what it’s like,” Blackwood says. And most people get a good idea based on that description.

Derksen says she writes most of the songs, but Blackwood and Klymochko will go off on their own and write their own parts.

The songs turn out better than Derksen imagined them, and are partly each of theirs.

While each member has different experience levels when it comes to their music, Derksen says they collaborate well together.

They’re also open to collaborating with people outside the group by organizing shows with other artists.

“We are excited for you to join us on our musical journey. Whether it is through playing a show together, art or photography, we love meeting new people and finding a balance in what we are trying to convey through our sound,” the website reads.

Purchase the album through Darling Twig’s Bandcamp and catch a preview through their website, darlingtwig.com.

Published in Volume 71, Number 9 of The Uniter (November 3, 2016)

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