New music to listen to this week: A Dead Forest Index

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A Dead Forest Index (Press image)

Nomadic duo A Dead Forest Index was originally the solo project of Adam Sherry; starting off in 2008 he then began collaborating with his brother Sam to form A Dead Forest Index.

There's a grand, sweeping momentum to their music: they craft songs that are incredibly intimate and stark to the point that they become quite unsettling.

They cite influences as far-ranging as Romanian lăutari troupe Taraf de Haidouks to music of Indian and Andalusian origin, and most recently teamed up with Gemma Thompson of Savages for their latest track "Myth Retraced", which we're premiering here on The Independent.

Have a listen and let us know what you think.

Q&A with A Dead Forest Index

What have you been listening to recently?

We've been listening to the new Arvo Pärt release 'Musica Selecta' which is a beautiful collection recordings chosen by ECM producer Manfred Eicher. Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 9, and Antony Hegarty's collaboration with J Ralph 'Manta Ray' on repeat.

'Myth Retraced’ is a stunning track – very stark – did anything in particular inspire it?

For us the lyrical setting on one side is about constant travel, a kind of perpetual state of moving. On another side it touches upon a modern disconnect of mythology and meaning, and our relationship to that, especially inspired by the paintings of Cy Twombly, Mark Rothko and Anselm Kiefer.

A Dead Forest Index with Savages guitarist Gemma Thompson - Photo by Chelsea Wolfe (Chelsea Wolfe)

What was the first gig you ever played, and what’s been the best so far?

The first gig we ever played was an EP launch at the Tote in Melbourne in 2010. We had just re-located (to Melbourne from London) and formed the basis of our band in what was a completely new city for us. The thing I remember most is blasting Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan between sets, which we still love to do. A highlight performance for us would be for last years Station to Station Festival at the Barbican Centre. We composed a new work with Savages titled 'In What I'm Seeing The Sun' and performed this together in the special setting of the Barbican's gallery space, with dancer/choreographer Fernanda Munoz-Newsome. The event was structured with four performances across 2 nights, and was a very memorable and immersive experience.

A Dead Forest Index's album All That Drifts From Summit Down is out 29 April 2016 on Sargent House

They tour the following dates with Chelsea Wolfe:

Apr 24 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Bunkhouse

Apr 25 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Crescent Ballroom

Apr 26 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar

Apr 29 - Dallas, TX @ Trees

Apr 30 - McAllen, TX @ Cine El Rey

May 02 - Memphis, TN @ The Hi-Tone

May 03 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade – Heaven

May 04 - Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle

May 08 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg

May 09 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

May 10 - Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall

May 13 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts

May 14 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s Theatre

May 16 - Montreal, QB @ Theatre Fairmount

May 17 - Toronto, ON @ The Opera House

May 19 - Detroit, MI @ El Club

May 21 - Columbus, OH @ Ace Of Cups

May 22 - Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club

May 25 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre

May 26 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge

May 28 - Portland, OR @ Revolution Hall

May 29 - Vancouver, BC @ Imperial

June 01 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel

June 02 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel

June 07 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom

June 08 - Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom