Palmyra

Floyd Virginia's Appalachian folk trio is the combined genius of three Virginia natives, Teddy (he/him), Manoa (he/him), and Sasha (they/them). The nature of a trio provides the fullness of a balanced sound, and yet gives the music space for breath. It is this breath that is integral to the nature of Palmyra’s style. It holds room for resonance and reflection.

One of my favorite things about this band is their humble approach to authenticity. They are a self produced group, built from the feet up. They produce music like they play music; real, raw, and imbued with intimacy. Palmyra utilizes traditional folk string instruments, three part harmonies, and foot percussion to bring their stories to life. Their sound calls back to old-time Appalachian music. This style encompasses a wide variety of genres, but one thing remains constant, the art of storytelling. There is a particular flavor to “mountain” ballads. To me, it’s the weaving of personal experience with that of archetypal & mythological references. This is what makes Palmyra's particular approach to traditionals so appealing. The hybrid of contemporary topics within traditional form.Their songs are deeply self-reflective. Whether or not you identify with their personal journeys is irrelevant. We can all relate to their search for meaning and understanding in this realm.

Through their musical journey they have returned to their Virginia roots. This hits close to home for me. As a child of the blue ridge myself, I spent years rejecting the moniker of Virginia. I sought acceptance elsewhere, anywhere but here. Like Palmyra, I finally found the “fountain of youth” in my own backyard here in Virginia. After their formation, and a stint in Boston, the troubadours realized their need to be grounded once again in Virginia's roots. This is evident not only from their lyrics but also their June 17th release of the album entitled Shenandoah, an ode to their transformations, both individually and as a group.

Park Bench

Sasha’s journey is front and center in the narrative of the band. In their latest release “Park Bench” Sasha describes the song as a journal entry. It documents their experience as a non-binary person. In this song they are not angry, not bitter, but instead provide the listener with a more complex reading of their disposition. Sasha’s voice is honest, bold, and vulnerable in the most confident way.

The tone and start of the song is easy going, laid back, like a warm day floatin on the breeze. A subtle backdrop for the rather hectic balancing act played out before the listener. An introspective journey that begins with the flip of a coin, conjuring images of chance, luck, and odds. It also brings to mind binary opposition. Will it be heads or tails? Man or Woman? Perhaps it lands "somewhere in the middle" or "out of reach". Then what? From here, the song is wrinkled with comparisons (i.e. a reference to eden and later a reference to satan) but smoothed over by alternative possibilities and unforeseen outcomes. Quite simply, the singer is saying life is far more nuanced and far less black and white.

The name, and the notion of a label is a cornerstone of judgment. What are you called? How must one categorize you? To which Sasha responds, "If I ever learn my name ....I'll carve it into a park bench ...til the letters don't look like anything". After all, letters are just random symbols that have been assigned meaning right? Does a name define you anymore than your preoccupation to a certain gender? For Sasha, the "park bench is a sacred place" and if ever disturbed they are content to walk away, no need to explain, peace of mind is far better than approval from a stranger.

Like the park bench, the dogwood is sacred. The park bench is the man made manipulation of nature for the purpose of support, the dogwood is the innate depiction of strength. A park bench must exist within certain limitations to be called by its name. The object is carved from wood to fit the name, whereas the title of dogwood was coined to name the tree. No matter which way the tree grows we know it to be a dogwood. The dogwood stands on it's own, without approval. Holding like a mother and scented of a father. Sasha is playing with form here, testing the listeners ability to blur the line. Is the strength of a tree not a masculine quality? The scent of a flower elicit a more feminine tone? Yet the dogwood exists in both feminine and masculine realities, and neither at all.  A whole and complete being, and it grows just fine.

Park Bench is an internal monologue on exhibition. Not for the benefit of the listener but for the release of the creator from the " weight that shoulders broad as mine could never bear". It must be working because they end the song with the lines "traveling on". An implication of positive forward motion. Keep a close eye on Palmyra, these folks are going places. Check out their upcoming release dates:

• April 20th - "River Jordan"

• May 20th - "Rolling Hills"

• June 17th - Full 7 song tape, "Shenandoah"

Visit: www.palmyratheband.com