Today we’d like to introduce you to Conor & The Wild Hunt Kierán, Thillman, And Gabe.
Hi Conor & the Wild Hunt, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We are a group that has slowly coalesced into the form you see today. Kierán has been the driving force of Conor and the Wild Hunt for over a decade. Thillman was playing with another group when they first met on a shared show-billing in 2015
About ten years later, after returning to Baltimore due to some major setbacks in Nashville, Kierán called Thillman in last-minute for a show. Afterwards, both were immediately like “yeah, we’re in a band together now”.
Around the same time, Kierán and Gabe had a chance meeting, and during a picnic sang some songs together. Kierán was absolutely stunned by her voice and hypothetically floated the idea of bringing her into the band- though it was an impossibility due to her absurdly busy schedule at the time. But about a year later they spoke more seriously about it, and she joined the band, with an immediate gif response from Thillman saying “one of us, one of us”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Thillman:
It has definitely not always been a smooth road, as we’re sure just about any band will tell you. Honestly, The biggest challenge has been running day to day operations. To start, all three of us would identify as organizationally challenged. Developing the discipline to meet and discuss a plan has been the unseen bane of our existence. We have all been in various projects, and the uncomfortable truth is that it takes so much more than loving your craft to make something that stands a chance of lasting. It takes all members of the project coming together to share a collective vision and bring it to life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Kierán:
The most accurate way to define our musical genre would be indie-folk/chamber-pop with ethereal post-rock influences. Kinda like if you combined early Death Cab for Cutie with Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens.
Thillman:
Kierán is an exceptional songwriter and vocalist. Their lyrics are rich with narrative and world building, and beautifully flow between poetry and an open honesty that makes you feel like you’re having a heartfelt conversation with a close friend. The exceptional control over their voice really brings their words to life. Combine this with their instrumental versatility and their care in crafting spell binding arrangements makes me feel lucky to be in this band.
And speaking of feeling lucky, Gabe is one of the best performers I’ve been on stage with. She has a great deal of experience in musical theatre that quite literally shows. She truly brings the music to life. Then there’s the care she brings to joining voices with Kierán, which creates a sound that is even greater than the sum of their already amazing parts. With her knack for intuitively knowing how to convey the heart of what she is singing, I find myself constantly surprised by how her nuanced, emotive vocals bring so much more depth and meaning to each song.
Kierán:
Ditto about Gabe. Will piggyback to say that her voice is one of my favorite voices I’ve ever heard. And I’m super particular, so I don’t say that lightly.
And Thillman- the dude is a virtuoso and a creative musical genius. And the range of techniques that he can pull off with deeply emotive expressiveness is astounding.
Our collaborative process involves a lot of experimentation, throwing ideas back and forth, “yes and”-ing and throwing ideas away until we find something that makes us go, “Holy shit, that’s it…”
The amount of passion, ability, and shared vision between us really allows us to craft transportive musical experiences.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Kierán:
I believe our most essential strength is how we genuinely love, care about, and support each other. We cherish creating music together, and also on a deeper level we’re truly friends and want each other to thrive.
Organizationally, that manifests as cultivating a safe space to communicate about challenges and needs and then addressing those issues together to enact lasting solutions. Not that we never backslide, but we’re always learning and adjusting. We have a culture of lovingly holding each other accountable and that keeps us on a good path.
Honorary best trait: all of us will commit to a bit without any hesitation
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.conorandthewildhunt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorandthewildhunt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/conorandthewildhunt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/conorandthewildhunt
- Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/conorandthewildhunt
