#5140, Witches, Sirens, and Female Spirits

From the “witch camp” settlements of northern Ghana to sirens, forest spirits, and sorceresses of various folk tales, explore music about mythicized women through the centuries on this edition of New Sounds.

To this day, hundreds of Ghanaian women still live in banishment, accused of witchcraft. But through the record titled I've Forgotten Now Who I Used To Be, produced by Ian Brennan, their musical stories reach new ears. After their “Witch Song”, the Toronto-based Ukrainian duo DIVKA tells the tale of “Rusalka”; a mythological mermaid who lures men to their deaths in the rivers of Eastern Europe. And they’re not the only ones who are fascinated by this folk legend: Oakland-based vocal ensemble Kitka and American indie rock band The Decemberists join them with “Sirens” and “Rusalka, Rusalka / Wild Rushes”.

Later, DIVKA returns with “Enchantress” to tell the story of “a girl compared to a conniving black bird and accused of enchanting a young man; a grey falcon,” woven with bandura (a Ukrainian harp) and viola textures. Then, the Strasbourg collective Lolomis presents “Ezlani”; a song inspired by a path that leads to the cursed woods. Composer Sarah Kirkland Snider’s “The Witch” comes next, with words written by Nathaniel Bellows and sung by Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, recounting a faint memory of a forest spirit, “grim and unafraid”.

Near the end of the show, you’ll hear an a cappella rendition of Cowboy Junkies’ “Witches” from Belgian vocalist Sophie Tassignon, as well as Knut Hamre and Steve Tibbetts’ “Huldreslått”; an instrumental composition featuring the Norwegian fiddle hardingfele, setting the scene for a huldra – who, much like her predecessors, entices men to their deaths. - Sırma Munyar

Program #5140, Witches, Sirens, and Female Spirits (First aired 5/13/26)

ARTIST: Witch Camp (Ghana)
WORK: Witch Song
RECORDING: I've Forgotten Now Who I Used To Be
SOURCE: Six Degrees Records
INFO: https://witchcampghana.bandcamp.com/album/ive-forgotten-now-who-i-used-to-be

ARTIST: DIVKA
WORK: Rusalka
RECORDING: folk fatale
SOURCE: DIVKA
INFO: https://divka.bandcamp.com/album/folk-fatale

ARTIST: Kitka
WORK: Sirens
RECORDING: The Rusalka Cycle: Songs Between the Worlds
SOURCE: Kitka 
INFO: https://kitka.bandcamp.com/album/the-rusalka-cycle-songs-between-the-worlds

ARTIST: The Decemberists
WORK: Rusalka, Rusalka / Wild Rushes
RECORDING: I'll Be Your Girl
SOURCE: Capitol Records
INFO: https://www.discogs.com/master/1330324-The-Decemberists-Ill-Be-Your-Girl

ARTIST: DIVKA
WORK: Enchantress
RECORDING: folk fatale
SOURCE: DIVKA
INFO: https://divka.bandcamp.com/album/folk-fatale

ARTIST: Lolomis
WORK: Ezlani
RECORDING: Boukane
SOURCE: Buda Musique / Machette Production
INFO: https://www.discogs.com/master/3443339-Lolomis-Boukane

ARTIST: Sarah Kirkland Snider
WORK: No. 8, The Witch
RECORDING: Unremembered
SOURCE: G.Schirmer/October Stone Music
INFO: https://sarahkirklandsnider.bandcamp.com/album/unremembered

ARTIST: Sophie Tassignon   
WORK: Witches
RECORDING: Mysteries Unfold
SOURCE: RareNoiseRecords
INFO: https://sophietassignon.bandcamp.com/album/mysteries-unfold

ARTIST: Knut Hamre and Steve Tibbetts
WORK: Huldreslått
RECORDING: Å
SOURCE: Hannibal Records
INFO: https://www.discogs.com/release/2892410-Knut-Hamre-And-Steve-Tibbetts-%C3%85