Vancouver-based harpist, vocalist, and composer Elisa Thorn unveils her highly anticipated album, xiik, a carefully crafted exploration of melody, expression, and generosity in music-making. Whimsical, curious, and intimate, the album blends experimental indie, folk, and ambient influences while foregrounding Thorn’s harp and voice as the guiding instruments.
xiik feels like eavesdropping on the inside of a mind at play – Thorn’s harp and voice flicker between mischief and meditation. By turns whimsical, grounded, and emotionally raw, xiik invites listeners into a world where the harp sheds its halo and starts to dance.
Listen here : https://ffm.to/xiik
At the heart of the album is “Idle Talk,” a track inspired by the history of the word ‘gossip’ – from midwives to supportive female friendships, later reframed through the lens of patriarchal oppression. With a playful yet intricate time signature, Thorn describes the track as “math folk,” featuring the dynamic drumming of Dan Gaucher and melodies honed to communicate directly through the harp.
xiik captures the generosity of an artist who creates not to impress, but to invite. It’s experimental music that still knows how to feel good. With xiik, Thorn expands the harp’s vocabulary into something unmistakably contemporary and uniquely hers.
Elisa Thorn has collaborated with artists such as Haley Blais, Ora Cogan, Tonye Aganaba, Mother Mother, Loscil, Wallgrin, Lief Hall, and Mauvey. She has performed at festivals including Jazzotpad (Poland, 2023), Women from Space (Toronto), Campbell Bay Music Festival (Mayne Island), TONE Fest (Toronto), Constellation Festival (Squamish), POP Montreal, Suoni Per Il Poppolo (Montreal), Wonderment (Victoria), and Vancouver International Jazz Festival. She is also the curator of the Woodland Patio Series and an associate with the Vancouver Improvised Music Society, fostering accessibility to challenging and abstract music through community-driven presentation.