White Magic
Billotte in 2003
Background information
OriginBrooklyn
Genres
MembersMira Billotte

White Magic is a psychedelic folk rock group formed in Brooklyn and led by singer/guitarist/pianist/composer Mira Billotte.[1] Billotte performs under this moniker both with accompaniment or solo, using a daf, shruti box, and singing a cappella. Invoking both traditional and experimental folk, White Magic's sound ranges from loud psychedelia to meditative trance.

History

White Magic's original lineup was formed in 2003, after Mira Billotte moved to New York City. Billotte composed the songs, sang and played guitar and piano. Miggy Littleton (Blood on the Wall, Ida) played drums, and Andy MacLeod played guitar.[2] Before White Magic, Billotte played drums, sang, and composed with her sister Christina Billotte (Autoclave, Slant 6, Casual Dots) in Quix*o*tic.

The subsequent lineup consisted of Billotte, "Sleepy" Doug Shaw (HighLife, Gang Gang Dance) on guitar,[3] Tim Koh (Ariel Pink) on bass, and alternating drummers Tim Dewitt (Gang Gang Dance, Dutch E. Germ), Jesse Lee (Gang Gang Dance), and Jim White (Dirty Three, Cat Power, Nina Nastasia).[4] Tim Barnes (Silver Jews), Samara Lubelski, and Shahzad Ismaily[5] have also played with White Magic for subsequent recordings and live shows.

White Magic joined the Drag City roster in 2003, and in 2004 releasedThrough The Sun Door EP to general critical praise.[6] They garnered attention when the song “Don't Need” appeared on the compilation The Golden Apples of the Sun (Bastet) curated by Devendra Banhart in 2004. Drag City released the band's debut full-length album Dat Rosa Mel Apibus (The Rose Gives The Bees Honey) -- a reference to the Rose Cross[7]—in 2006,[8] followed by 2007’s Dark Stars EP, with critical praise from Spin Magazine.[9]

White Magic recorded the song “Long Time Ago” with Hal Willner, Saturday Night Live's musical director, for the compilation Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys produced by Willner and conceived by Johnny Depp and Pirates of the Caribbean Director Gore Verbinski.

In 2007, Mira Billotte recorded Bob Dylan's "As I Went Out One Morning" on the soundtrack album for the Todd Haynes film I'm Not There on Columbia Records. In USA Today, Ken Barnes stated that: "... the soundtrack was a winner, featuring such gems as...Mira Billotte's As I Went Out One Morning and the first official release of Dylan's own, stunning version of the title track.”[10]

They also appeared on The Wire magazine's "Wire Tapper" compilation along with The Slits' “Earthbeat.”[11] White Magic was named a 'best new band' by The Village Voice in 2008.[12]

They toured extensively headlining in the U.S., UK and Europe, and opening for like-minded musicians including Animal Collective,[13] Sonic Youth, Joanna Newsom,[14] and Will Oldham.[2] White Magic performed at many music festivals, including five of the ATP (All Tomorrow’s Parties) festivals, each curated by artists, Sonic Youth, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Stephen Malkmus, Slint and Dirty Three.[15]

In 2012, White Magic performed at both the New Folk Festival at Zorthian Ranch[16] in Los Angeles, and at the Quiet Festival in Portland, Oregon. In 2013, Mira Billotte performed for the live score of Jem Cohen’s film, "We Have an Anchor",[17] singing her own compositions at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, along with members of Godspeed You Black Emperor, Guy Picciotto (Fugazi), and Jim White of Dirty Three.[18] This performance was repeated in March 2015 at both the Barbican Theater in London[19] and the Sonic Protest Festival in Paris.

In July, 2015, White Magic released “I'm Hiding My Nightingale” EP on Leaving Records.[20] Ariel Pink played guitar accompaniment for the title track, a cover of an early Can song .[21] Billboard Magazine reviewed the track favorably, saying ”White Magic is a lot of things -- dark, hopeful, mystical, yearning -- but it's never not lovely....”[22] Interview Magazine reviewed the track and its music video the month of its release.[23]

Discography

Albums
  • Dat Rosa Mel Apibus (2006, Drag City)
Extended plays
  • Through The Sun Door EP (2004, Drag City)
  • Songs of Hurt and Healing split EP with American Analog Set (2005, Ouch!)
  • Dark Stars EP (2007, Drag City)
  • I’m Hiding My Nightingale EP (2015, Leaving Records)[24]
Singles
  • "Katie Cruel" single (2006, Drag City)
  • "New Egypt" 1-song release, limited to 1000 cds (2008, Southern)
  • "White Widow" single (2011, The Mysteries)
  • "Out Beyond The Moon" on LAMC#6 split 7-inch with Cass McCombs (2013, Famous Class Records)
Compilation appearances
  • The Golden Apples of the Sun compilation (Bastet)
  • Wire Tapper compilation (2004, The Wire Magazine)
  • They Keep Me Smiling compilation (2004, United Acoustic Recordings)
  • "Long Time Ago" on the Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys compilation (2006, Anti)

References

  1. ↑ Dank and Dreary, It Was White Magic's Night to Howl. The Washington Post. 13 Dec. 2007.
  2. 1 2 "True to moniker, White Magic enjoys good luck". 17 September 2004. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  3. ↑ "White Magic | SPIN". Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  4. ↑ Ratliff, Ben (2007-01-06). "A Little Folk, a Little Rock and a Lot of Minimalism". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  5. ↑ "Shahzad Ismaily".
  6. ↑ "White Magic: Through the Sun Door EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  7. ↑ "Dat Rosa Mel Apibus".
  8. ↑ "White Magic: Dat Rosa Mel Apibus". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  9. ↑ "White Magic, 'Dark Stars' (Drag City) | SPIN". Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  10. ↑ "Don't turn a deaf ear on these films - USATODAY.com". usatoday30.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  11. ↑ "The Wire Tapper 16 - The Wire". www.thewire.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  12. ↑ "Best new band | WHITE MAGIC | Arts & Entertainment | Best of NYC® | Village Voice". Village Voice. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  13. ↑ "WHITE MAGIC | First Avenue". first-avenue.com. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  14. ↑ "Julian Cope presents Head Heritage | Unsung Forum | joanna newsome/6 organs on tour in uk". Julian Cope presents Head Heritage. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  15. ↑ "White Magic". All Tomorrow's Parties. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  16. ↑ "The New Los Angeles Folk Festival". lafolkfest.com.
  17. ↑ "Jem Cohen: Punk-Rock Nature". The New Yorker. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  18. ↑ Pareles, Jon (2013-09-27). "'We Have an Anchor,' a Film With a Live Score". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  19. ↑ "Members of Godspeed, Fugazi and Dirty Three soundtrack Jem Cohen film in London next year - The Wire". www.thewire.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  20. ↑ "WHITE MAGIC f. ARIEL PINK "I'M HIDING MY NIGHTINGALE" (CAN/INNER SPACE)". Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  21. ↑ "Exclusive Track Premiere and Interview: White Magic". The Huffington Post. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  22. ↑ "White Magic Conjures Hope on 'Runaway,' Tease New EP". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  23. ↑ "Exclusive Video Premiere: 'Runaway,' White Magic". 13 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  24. ↑ "White Magic - I'm Hiding My Nightingale - Stones Throw Records". www.stonesthrow.com.
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