Joining us in the studio for this joint venture between XPN Local and the Indie Rock Hit Parade is an artist whose relocation to Philadelphia served as a major career turning point. For more than half a decade, Kristine Leschper was the leader of the band Mothers. Formed in Athens, Georgia, the band grew out of Leschper’s solo project into a robust yet minimalist band. After two albums and a move north, Leschper reorganized the group and reasserted her place as the name above the title. Leschper’s solo debut, The Opening, or Closing of a Door, was released earlier this year and is a natural extension of her previous work as Mothers. Based around vintage synthesizers, clattering percussion (including plenty of handclaps), and Leschper’s soaring voice, the band stopped by our studio to perform some of the album’s highlights.
In this performance, Leschper is backed by two main collaborators from her album: drummer Garrett Burke and bassist Sammy Weissberg. The ensemble is completed by the addition of flautist Jill Ryan (from XPNFest and studio session veterans Great Time) and keyboardist Nina Ryser (a future IRHP guest and member of art-punk trio Palberta). The song selections take on new dimension in this live set, from the loud-quiet dynamic of “Picture Window” to the suite-like “Carina.”
Listen to (and watch) Kristine Leschper’s Indie Rock Hit Parade / Key Studio Session below.