A song about vengeful rivers, partly inspired by the saying ‘River Dart, River Dart, every year thou claim’st a heart.’ In legend, the river cried out for a human life and lured a young farm boy by calling his name; indeed, it has claimed several over the years. I wrote a chamber opera, Dart’s Love, in 2014 and librettist Tamsin Collison drew on its tendency to flood.
It’s also inspired by the monsters and spirits, from Jenny Greenteeth to the kappa (‘river child’) and kawatora (‘river-tiger’) demons of Japanese folklore, used by adults to warn their children from going too close to the edge.
I imagine the rivers of the world rising up to take us all, in the end…
'Imagine Bjork working her magic on the English folk scene' UNCUT
YOU ARE WOLF is the alt-folk project of award-winning British composer, vocalist and author Kerry Andrew. They present folk songs and lore with unusual arrangements drawing on electronica, drone, contemporary classical and alt-rock.