As part of Chamber Music NZ Puoro Taiwhanga Aotearoa’s flagship CMNZ series, dream pop luminaries French for Rabbits are about to embark on a four main-centre tour that will see the band perform new songs from their soon to be released EP.
Led by songwriter and vocalist Brooke Singer, French for Rabbits have dedicated over a decade to creating their warmly detailed and expansive sound. The project came to life when Singer began working with guitarist John Fitzgerald in 2012. For this series of shows they perform as a four-piece, with Penelope Esplin providing bvs, bass, and synth, and Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa on drums.
In July French for Rabbits recorded a new collection of songs including arrangements for a string quartet, which emerged as an intricate and powerful four track EP titled ‘In The End I Won’t Be Coming Home’, due for release in the coming months. Known for their atmospheric and seascape references, the band are also a superb live act and on this tour will be joined by string ensemble The Black Quartet.
“It’s a thrill to premiere these new works in a chamber setting, as intended, and to celebrate their imminent release with live audiences,” says Singer. “This new collection of songs explores themes including art and philanthropy, secret keeping, and silver linings. The Black Quartet weave their way through the songs, deftly evoking the sounds of Aotearoa’s landscapes – a dawn chorus welcomes us in on ‘In the End I Won’t Be Coming Home’, the swirl and eddy of a tide turning, and the blustery winds that whip around the coast are present on Baring Head.”
French for Rabbits worked with arrangers Elliot Vaughan, Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper (The Black Quartet) and Mikal Cronin (Ty Segall Band), to set 12 songs from previous releases and the new EP for band and strings.
