Serendipity is crucial in the narrative of Witch Post. Although originating from distant regions, Alaska Reid and Dylan Fraser were drawn together by a mutual artistic vision, which flourishes on contrasts, connections, and bold creativity. Their band’s name possesses a strange significance, inspired by Alaska's encounter with a real witch post—an experience that appears to foreshadow the blend of the mystical and the concrete in their music.
Witch Post's sound combines raw, grunge-influenced textures with ethereal soundscapes, reflecting the melding of their varied backgrounds while also drawing from their common inspirations and an overarching sense of mystery.
On a picturesque Saturday afternoon in Hampstead Heath’s woodlands, CLASH spoke with Dylan and Alaska about how their differences became their greatest asset, their reliance on trust and intuition during their collaboration, the deeper artistic principles that motivate their creations, and their goal of reintroducing magic and folklore into contemporary band music.
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How did both of you first get involved in music?
Alaska: I was so young that I didn't really think about it. I listened to a lot of music with my dad when I was a child. My love for Dinosaur Jr. stems from that, as well as my obsession with Bach and Yo-Yo Ma. I also indulged in artists like Dinosaur Jr. and Guy Clark and older country music. When I began singing, I became enamored with Ella Fitzgerald. It felt very natural. My parents recognized my deep engagement with music to the point it was almost distracting, so they suggested I take voice lessons, which I did in my hometown in Montana.
I learned to sing in a classical style with a teacher named Marcia McCarry. She was older and passed away, but she was a significant influence from the time I was twelve until I was twenty. I’m not sure she would appreciate the indie rock I create today, but she always pushed me to keep things interesting and often critiqued songs for not being melodically compelling. That left a lasting impression on me, along with all the varied music I was consuming. It came naturally. When I started writing songs, I didn’t realize covers were a thing because they didn’t attract me; I assumed if I wanted to sing like the artists I enjoyed, I'd have to create my own music. I knew of The American Songbook, but that was a different realm. In rock music, I thought, “I just need to write my own!”
Dylan: My journey into music was somewhat similar to Alaska's experience with her family. My dad claims he played music to my mum's bump when I was in her womb, and he jokes this is why I'm musically inclined. My mum was quite musical herself, with my grandparents participating in folk bands when they were younger, touring around the small towns where I grew up. So, music was part of my family background. My mum played in bands during high school, and she taught me my first four guitar chords when I was eleven. After that, I began writing songs and performing at open mics and shows.
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How did your musical backgrounds shape your unique sounds?
Alaska: For me, I wasn’t solely dedicated to classical music; I was experimenting with various styles. In a peculiar way, I didn't have a strong musical community around me or peers to discuss music with. This lack of limitation allowed me to blend different influences without anyone dismissing my ideas as "weird." Growing up with an iPod and mixtapes encouraged a diverse way of listening to music, which significantly influenced my sound development. A lot of it came from how I approached learning guitar— or rather, how I didn't. My uncle, who played in punk-infused folk bands in the Midwest, introduced me to alternate tunings. That concept opened a new world for me; with my guitar and these tunings, I felt free to explore.
Dylan: It just naturally evolved for me. From a young age, I knew music was going to be a significant part of my life. There wasn’t really an option for me; my brain was wired that way. I always felt like music was my path. I wrote many subpar songs, some of which were even released, but I kept creating and putting myself out there, even when met with negativity. I remember peers being unkind about my love for music in school. Nevertheless, I was never deterred; something inside me urged me forward, regardless of the responses from others.
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What was the journey like in forming Witch Post?
Dylan: It was a gradual process that unfolded over several years. We met after I discovered Alaska's music on Spotify. Before moving to London, I used to travel from Edinburgh to King’s Cross by train, which took four and a half hours. During those lengthy journeys, I listened to new music, and her album 'Big Bunny,' her first solo effort, caught my attention. I
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Serendipity is a crucial element in the narrative of Witch Post. Even though they hail from different corners of the globe, Alaska Reid and Dylan Fraser were drawn together.