Call Me Black Wolf: a musical essay

David Newberry and I tell the story of Ernest Thompson Seton and the Natures Fakers Controversy, using music, fiction and the sweet voices of many wolves.

After many years of trying, I finally got to collaborate with one of my favorite humans, musician and Banter King, David Newberry. Our piece together sits somewhere between sound collage, audio documentary, storytelling and essay. It's a little bit like Radio Lab? Or This American Life? But also--we hope-- not at all.

David wrote a great article for VANDOCUMENT explaining how our audio piece ties in with Klasika. Basically, Ernest Thompson Seton created the Woodcrafters movement and his nature writings and ideas are a major source of inspiration for Czech woodcrafters and tramps. As you'll see from the article, David is a bit skeptical about my fascination with Europeans who like to play cowboy. In the end though, I think he does a pretty entertaining job of explaining why it might be worthwhile.

Let us know what you think! I especially want to know: what is this? Is it a musical essay? Wolf-based word art? Semi-musical reality thing? And, more pressingly: should we make more?

Blog cover photo by David Newberry

Photo of David Newberry and Barbara Adler by James Meger

Released March 5, 2015

Story performed by David Newberry & Barbara Adler
Composition by Barbara Adler
Bass, Effects: James Meger
Electric Guitar, Vocals: David Newberry
Pianet: Barbara Adler

Instruments and sung vocals recorded by James Meger at SlugBait Studios, February 2015. Mastered by Vilhelm Sundin