Listen to Everything is Recorded’s Spring Equinox playlist

“What if folk music had ‘gone digital’ in the 80s, just as reggae had?” asks Everything is Recorded’s latest collaborative release Temporary. It’s an ambitious thought, born from the mind of XL Records owner, DJ and producer Richard Russell, and is explored through a globetrotting series of collaborations with Sampha, Noah Cyrus, Florence + The Machine, Nourished by Time and more. But, at Temporary’s raw and intimate core is a dedication to folk music’s timeless, bottom-up storytelling, reimagined for the 21st century.

“Reggae in the 70s was the folk music of Jamaica, then it embraced 80s technology and dancehall was born,” Russell tells Dazed. “Folk music didn’t really update like that, so it didn’t feel relevant to me when I was growing up. But I’ve grown to appreciate it.”

In execution, Temporary is centred around conversations with its cohort of collaborators, and songs take on a wide range of narratives. There’s BERWYN’S heart-wrenching ode to his late father set to backing vocals from Florence Welch and Alabaster DePlume’s cinematic instrumentation, and Sampha’s search for stable ground amid the maelstrom of modern society, accompanied by the soaring vocals of Laura Groves. 

However disparate, these tales are tied together in the timeless referents of the folk tradition – mention of bluebottle flies, meadows and the changing of the seasons reach beyond the veil of the 21st century to grasp at the more permanent aspects of the human condition. It’s in this spirit that Everything is Recorded have prepared an exclusive playlist to celebrate the Spring Equinox, continuing their longstanding tradition of releasing music along astrological lines.

Catch Everything is Recorded’s exclusive Spring Equinox playlist above, as well as Richard Russell’s guide to listening to the tracks, below. 

There’s quite the ley line running between the Zodiac cards on the Temporary cover, the Equinox and Solstice releases, and today’s Spring Equinox playlist. Do you consider yourself a spiritual person? Why structure your releases like this?

Richard Russell: Music is my focus, I’m definitely not any kind of expert on astrology but I do find it super interesting, I started noticing astrological connections between people I worked with a while ago. I’ve produced for some strong Aries types like Gil Scott Heron and Damon Albarn, and worked with some sensitive Pisceans like Bobby Womack and Lee “Scratch” Perry.  I always get on great with Taureans I work with like Adele, Giggs and Samantha Morton. Powerful bunch! 

As for whether I’m a spiritual person… that’s a big question. I’d say we all are. Maybe some are more aware of it than others.

With the collaborative and organic nature of the Everything is Recorded releases, I can imagine there have been some pretty memorable or serendipitous moments from the recording sessions. Are there any that stick out to you?

Richard Russell: There have been so many moments I will never forget, the nature of the people I’ve been working with is out of this world. The nonverbal communication aspect, of everyone playing music together and things taking shape; it’s so powerful and mysterious.

Recording Maddy Prior from Steeleye Span at her house in Cumbria with Ezra Koenig and Jack Peñate, over a drum machine, and it sounding so natural, that was amazing. Jah Wobble coming in and overdubbing basslines was kind of a dream come true. Sampha always blows my mind. Florence was just like a channel for inspiration, such an exciting person to work with. Roses Gabor and Laura Groves, who are both heavily involved in the live shows as well as the record, are such amazing spirits, natural talents. Every moment.

Walk us through this playlist. What sort of feelings were drawing on when you put this together?

Richard Russell: As a Pisces, spring is my time! I wanted the playlist to have a groove you could lock into that would sound good on a spring morning, so a kind of optimistic soulfulness. But maybe with a bittersweet quality as well. And also an opportunity to include more unsung classics by people like Nautic and Andrew Ashong alongside some of my favourite songs by heroes everyone knows like Dilla, Prince and Sade. And there’s nothing that is straightforwardly hip-hop on there, but there are songs that have been used as the foundation of some great rap records.

Are there any tracks on there that you have particular memories associated with? 

Richard Russell:  The new Bon Iver track “Everything is Peaceful Love” is awesome, it’s timeless and captures this moment for me, the album coming out and the sun coming out! Whereas the Bernard Wright and Starpoint songs are both 80s cuts I fell in love with as a teenager: I heard them both on Street Sounds compilations. 

There’s a bit of time travelling going on, old and new together. Spring is eternal, hope is eternal!

Where were you when you made this playlist?

Richard Russell: In Dorset at my kitchen table, on my laptop.

How should we listen to the playlist?

Richard Russell: Walking outside with headphones on in the daytime, ideally through a park, maybe acknowledging the trees, with a spring in your step! Or you can listen to it at home early evening. Listen to it from start to the finish – it’s only 90 minutes, and there’s the incredible final tune by Raphael Saadiq which has two hidden songs at the end, so it’s worth getting there.

How are you spending the longer, brighter evenings this year? 

Richard Russell: I’m trying to leave the studio at a decently early time and have a good long walk with my dog Bobo.

Listen to Everything is Recorded’s exclusive playlist above, and check out some exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from Temporary’s studio sessions below.