The Wiz: Borito - What We Have Now (Album + Interview)
What connects summer vacation, a pajama party and a misspelled Mexican dish 🌯? "Borito" - "What We Have Now", an album and an interview.
A confession: about a month ago, two days after their album came out, I messaged singer and guitarist Yael Copeland. My main point was: every time they had released a single since summer, before I even knew who it was, I thought, "Hey, this sounds like Borito 👂!"
They describe their indie and dream-pop sound, and the spirit of their debut, as a feeling of summer vacation. For me, it was even more innocent: early adolescence, a first kiss, that sort of thing!
Even a month later, that warm, pleasant feeling accompanies the whole album: delicate guitar, a soothing voice and a space filled with synthesizers. Contemporary, cohesive and, perhaps above all, innocent 🌬️.
I want to thank Yael for taking time to answer my questions, and apologize for taking so long ⏳.
The beginning:
Copeland formed the band with Shahar Levi, a producer and drummer with extensive experience behind mixing desks. He met Yael while working sound at a festival. They decided to make something together, and he moved toward the stage, behind the drums 🥁.
Shahar says the transition is challenging but joyful.
Having grown up as a drummer, he would always feel the urge to play while working behind the desk. Yet at the kit, it is difficult to switch off his technical instincts and simply be the drummer.
He says he is gradually learning to let go, with the band keeping him in check when he gets carried away and loses connection with them.
The other band members are bassist Yoni Deutsch
and Sivan Dahan on keyboards and backing vocals. Amit Tena and Sean Faraj played keyboards on the album.
Contemporary indie and pop 🎶 strongly influenced the band. Yael says Shahar's mixing and mastering were what ultimately gave the record its sound. The two produced their debut independently.
Their reference points included "Men I Trust", "Alvvays", "TOPS", "The Orielles" and Dayglow.
The timing of the album 📀:
Like much of the music industry, Yael found it a strange time to release music. The initial pandemic shock brought their plans to a halt.
Eventually they realized it would not end soon. Their music was made to bring joy and a little light to a sometimes dark world. Rather than remain idle 🛌, they wanted to keep going and turn listening time into moments of comfort.
Beyond home:
Copeland adds that although culture suffered a heavy blow, virtual doors opened to more distant places 🌎. The global crisis made the internet an even more central playground, pushing the band to build connections in the Netherlands, England and even South Korea. Discovering new work around the world from the sofa encouraged mutual support and optimism.
Yael explains that many overseas bands occupy a similar visual and musical world. International feedback compared "Borito" with established acts. That sense of familiarity felt pleasant and probably helped radio stations and magazines welcome them.
Live shows 🎙️
They managed a few small performances whenever restrictions allowed. Seeing an audience was satisfying and reassuring, a sign they were moving in the right direction.
How do you launch such an innocent album at a time like this?
With a pajama party, naturally! Here they are in onesies 🛌, filmed at David Gorensteyn's studio.
And here is a February performance filmed for the Yellow Submarine JLM studio series:
Even after the past year, the band remains optimistic about real concerts. Recent improvements give both them and the rest of us another reason to smile.
They emphasize that they live here in Israel, love and respect the local scene, and especially appreciate its extraordinary strength in the current period.
And, of course, why "Borito" 🌯?
The dish initially seemed rather heavy for such light, sweet music. The explanation is simpler: they went through a sunny period eating burritos at Taqueria and decided to borrow one of the menu's stars.
Yael points out that the food is spelled "burrito". The deliberate misspelling suited their childlike innocence, rolled off the tongue and made people curious. So they went with it.
A new, old album 💿?
The record had been ready for about a year before release, but the timing felt right. They wanted to introduce themselves to the world little by little, revealing more with each step until the full album arrived.
Having celebrated that achievement, they feel it is time to move on. The pandemic delayed the release, but from the outset they intended to begin a journey rather than simply put out an album and stop.
They met many good people who became friends and filmed live sessions around Israel with them over the past year. Finishing the album freed time for those sessions and new material, with plans to begin recording album two soon 😋!
Now we just have to wait for new "Borito" music, or take a live bite at Levontin 7 on March 29.
Enjoy!
O.Miz🎧
Comments