Just Us Folk

As a group that has always strived to expand the idea of what a string quartet can sound like, the Fretless has moved even further with the release of its sixth album, Glasswing. Starting with its debut album, Waterbound, its repertoire has been a mix of original, traditional and cover tunes. The group has also collaborated with singers like Ruth Moody, Oliver Swain and Norah Rendell. 2021’s Open House, was an all-vocal album of cover songs featuring vocalists like Taylor Ashton, Dan Mangan, Celeigh Cardinal, The Bros. Landreth and Lady Phyl.

Glasswing comprises all original compositions with three songs written with Winnipeg singer-songwriter Madeleine Roger. It’s the first time someone else has been part of the Fretless’ creative process.

At last year’s Summerfolk Festival in Owen Sound, ON, Karrnnel Sawitsky and Ben Plotnick explained the concept behind the new album.

“We wanted an album that was wholly composed by the band,” said Karrnnel. “It was the first time we opened up the Fretless writing room to a singer-songwriter.”

Since the release of Open House, the group, which also includes Trent Freeman and Eric Wright, has occasionally toured with Madeleine on board to handle the songs.

“So it didn’t feel like we were welcoming in a stranger for Glasswing,” Karrnnel said. “She was someone we knew really well. Plus her taste and creative spirit was exactly the right fit.”

As one might imagine, having another person involved in the creation of material had an effect, Ben explained.

“We tried our best to sort of write both music and lyrics simultaneously,” he said, “though on one song we had the music first and on another it was the lyrics first. We also tried to make a record where the instrumentals were lyrical and melodic themselves.”

In this way the hope was the songs didn’t stand out from the instrumentals in terms of vibe, character or feel.

Since its formation in 2011, the Fretless has toured across Canada and around the world. In doing so it has been an inspiration to many other musicians. Prior to talking with Karrnnel and Ben at Summerfolk, I had the opportunity to interview the Australian trio Appoline at the Celtic Roots Festival, where they shared how influential the Fretless had been to them.

“Honestly, when we hear things like that it blows our minds”, said Karrnnel. “Even though the world is more accessible through digital media, it’s still kind of a black box in terms of who listens to your music, where they listen from and how it connects with them. So to hear that is pretty cool.”

Although the Fretless has only been to Australia once, the members are obviously encouraged to go back.

As a group that pushes the boundaries of what a string quartet can do, it’s no surprise they take the same approach to their non-Fretless projects. Eric and Trent make up the award-winning electronic duo Speaker Face, using synthesizers and sampled beats in conjunction with keyboards, violins and voice. Ben is based in Nashville, where he’s an in-demand concert and studio player. Karrnnel writes a lot of experimental music for a full band along with releasing an album with banjoist Daniel Koulack called Fiddle & Banjo: Tunes From The North, Songs From The South.

“All of those things really contribute to the sound of the Fretless”, said Ben. “The instruments we have (three fiddles and a cello) have such specific parameters but we really try to push what those instruments do, and find new ways around things. I think we benefit from doing a whole pile of things.”

“We don’t do the Fretless 300 days a year but we’re never apart for more than a month and a half”, said Karrnnel. “So it’s never rusty. It’s fine balance.”

In the creation of their boundary breaking music, the members of the Fretless approach it in an old fashioned way.

“We come at it like folk musicians, sitting around in a circle bouncing ideas off each other”, said Ben. “It’s a truly democratic process. It may be inefficient and slow but it’s really great and we love it. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”

For more on The Fretless and Glasswing, go to https://thefretless.com.