The TonearmToday on The Tonearm Podcast, harpist Mary Lattimore and vocalist-composer Julianna Barwick join host Lawrence Peryer to talk about 'Tragic Magic', their collaborative album recorded in nine days at the Philharmonie de Paris' Musée de la Musique.
The two artists flew to Paris just days after the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, carrying heavy hearts and a decade's worth of shared musical instincts. Given access to an extraordinary collection of historical instruments — harps dating from 1728 to 1873 and vintage analog synthesizers — they made a record that processes grief, wonder, and the strange event of being sent to Paris in the aftermath of the disaster back home.
The pair also discussed the utilitarian recording spaces hidden inside one of Paris' architectural gems, the physical and emotional experience of playing centuries-old instruments, and the spontaneous decisions that shaped individual tracks. The conversation moves through the making of "Stardust," "Temple of the Winds," and "Rachel's Song"; the role of looping in Julianna's practice; Mary's complicated early relationship with the harp; and a shared devotion to James Turrell's light installations.
A conversation not to be missed … tune in: https://podcast.thetonearm.com/julianna-barwick-mary-lattimore-like-tears-in-rain-tragic-magic/
AccordionBruce