PREMIERE | Eliot Eidelman, "Swallow Bird"

Eating lemons out in Ojai with Eliot Eidelman; photographed by Natasha Heaszl.

Many a wide-eyed purveyor of the world's vast landscapes has postulated about the numerous tales, arts, visions and so on created by the road rolling wanderers. Something that has become a trope across the globe is the construct of the drifter that is experiencing the world in its rawest and most combustible form. Imagine the stories that can be told, the movies/songs/albums/ad nauseum that can be made (and have been made) about what happens along the way to the plucky highway sprinting rider that is living from Greyhound station to Greyhound station. The mythic journeymen, the nomad individual that casts off the conventions and trappings of being settled somewhere to discover themselves and gain a new understanding of the worlds that surround us. Witnessing the movements that span from coast to coast, to the southern, northern, and everywhere in between (and beyond the compass points), chronicling the creative circuses that spawn the stuff that journalists and fans pontificate about in perpetuity.

Dotting these rustic Rand McNally maps is Eliot Eidelman, delivering the vibrant and vivacious “Swallow Bird” from the upcoming album Silhouette. The Bay Area, Atlanta, New Orleans, everywhere artist set up a humble home in the Ojai, California canyon whilst fine tuning a record collected from the experiences of traveling the world, living within those liminal spaces, contending with the pandemic, juggling gigs, and trying to figure it all out. Reconnecting with Wand's Evan Backer, Eliot delivers a rugged Americana homage to the perennial flâneur that sings benedictions for the towns, wood side streams, interstate tributaries, lonely trails, and everything the connects the spirit to the self, surroundings, and our fellow folks.

A resume that notes works from Berkeley collective Splendor All Around, Realization Orchestra, Gentleman Surfer, collaborations with Victoria Williams, and countless other luminaries and contributions; Eliot Eidelman embodies the effusive spirit of embracing a naturalistic freedom that observes existence in all of its rollicking glory. “Swallow Bird” unconsciously arrived from the artist’s birdwatching proclivities, inspiring an ornithological hymn of unbridled exaltation of the inherent gifts offered by the loving arms of mother earth. The rowdy, exuberantly riled up energy recalls the vagabonds that have caravanned through the years with the spirit of the 60s flying high, fused with the DIY ethos that believes the possibilities in life truly are infinite (providing artistic exhibitions with the fervor of unfettered confidence).

Eliot Eidelman enjoying a proper morning bowl; photographed by Natasha Heaszl.

The down home session captured by Natasha Heaszl exemplifies the holistic, rhythmic harmony of "Swallow Bird" it its most joyful essence. Eidelman hams it up for the camera; robe, scivies, and all. Going about the morning making eggs crudely akin to the feathered friend of the song's namesake, Eliot indulges in some nature watching, parading about the tiny house as the musical ensemble of Celeste Evans, Maka Moon, Kelsie Nicole, Sonora Rae Johnson transform the cozy wooden cabin into a chapel in communion with their audience of trees, mountains, flora, and fauna. "Swallow Bird" is a rock & roll hymn of sanctuary for the roadrunners of the weary world to help find respite in those special places that assuage and feed the insatiable wanderlust of the globe-spun soul.

Popping out in Ojai with Eliot Eidelman; photographed by Natasha Heaszl.

Eidelman shared some privy notes on the creative process behind the song:

I started writing “Swallow Bird” when I was pulling out of my friend Helyn’s place in Austin, where I stayed for a few days while making a cross-country move from New Orleans to Ojai. Even though I was preoccupied with the logistics of packing up and getting back on the road, somehow the winds of change blew this tune into my brain and luckily I had the wits to capture it as a voice memo before forgetting all about it.

Manger les fruits de la vigne avec Eliot Eidelman; photographed by Natasha Heaszl.

Over a year later, while still getting settled into my remote tiny house trailer that’s featured in the music video, out of the blue that same tune popped into my head. I was able to dig up the voice memo and finish the lyrics in a single sitting. It just flowed right out of me. I love it when that happens. I would describe the tone of the song as being spiritual nature hippy transcendentalist meets no fucks given slacker punk.

Eliot scoping out the scene with that lounge chair lean, complete with fresh pressed orange juice; photographed by Natasha Heaszl.

During COVID I acquired some cheap binoculars and got really into checking out all the birds in the neighborhood while endlessly thinking things over. I haven’t really thought about it until now, but I guess I’d say that’s where the inspiration for the song came from.

Eliot Eidelman’s album Silhouette arrives January 10.