Tim Showalter’s hellishly abrupt near-demise late last year via a car accident was hardly the sole inspiration for Strand Of Oaks’ disarming new release. There was plenty of real-life drama before the accident to form the angst-ridden basis for what is easily Showalter’s most cathartic musical statement to date. Really, it was the culmination of a series of mini-mental breakdowns that began quite out of the blue, when Showalter was touring overseas for 2012’s Dark Shores, an album he wasn’t particularly proud of. On the road nonstop for two years, he was witnessing his marriage unravel from afar, and pretty much hating what he saw in the mirror. Emotionally spent and creatively unbound, he churned out 30 songs in three weeks. Ten of those made HEAL, an LP as off-putting as it is invigorating, and one that abandons the folky trappings of previous Strand Of Oaks releases—perhaps for good. Showalter will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new feature on him.
Showalter: I’ve made my best music in Akron, Ohio. Its a town that is very dear to my heart. My producing partner Ben Vehorn’s studio is based there, and it seems like every person I’ve met there is instantly a friend. Ben also works part time with this boutique pedal company. If you’re like me and always on a spiritual tone quest, finding the right pedal is like reaching nirvana. When it came time to make HEAL, EarthQuaker generously gave us every single one of their pedals! There are moments on some guitar solos where I think we signal chained at least 15 pedals at once. The amp rattled with the might of Thor’s hammer. Also Julie Robbins, who runs the company with her husband, gives the greatest hugs. Seriously, she is amazing. Buy their pedals and shred fucking face.
