Willow

About Willow

“Willow” delves into gothic romance and vampiric mythology, with inspiration drawn from Renaissance France and films like Only Lovers Left Alive. Featuring Emma Spinelli on lute and Rúben Monteiro on hurdy-gurdy, the song feels like a piece of folklore brought to life – seductive, dark, and timeless.

Lyrically, “Willow” weaves a dark and seductive tale of love, mystery, and the secrets whispered beneath its branches, offering an intoxicating blend of gothic romance and timeless folklore.

See song lyrics.

Willow is an excellent combination of old French music and contemporary metal. Could this be a modern musical illustration of St. Bartholomew’s Night? On one side, beautiful, almost courtly music; on the other, horror and metal destruction.

Pearl Hunting review by Mariusz Fabin

🇵🇹 RÚBEN MONTEIRO

RÚBEN MONTEIRO is a Portuguese multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer with a diverse musical background. His projects span progressive rock, Mediterranean music, medieval and folk rock, and fusion. Rúben has a particular interest in Eastern and Western Modal Music, which informs his composition and arrangement work. Since the year 2000 Ruben has released around 19 albums, in solo and with different groups, including Albaluna, Kairós Quartet, Nubero and in his solo project.

🇫🇷 EMMA SPINELLI

EMMA SPINELLI is a lutenist and a PhD student in musicology at Sorbonne University, France. Her musical journey began with guitar and evolved through rock and pop before she discovered her passion for baroque and renaissance music.

Lute

The European lute, originating from the Mediterranean region, is a plucked string instrument with a deep, rounded back and a distinctive pear-shaped body. It gained popularity during the Renaissance and Baroque periods and typically has 6 to 10 courses of strings, producing a warm and resonant tone. The instrument is played by plucking the strings with the fingers or a plectrum, producing a warm and resonant tone.

Hurgy-gurdy

The hurdy-gurdy, also known as the wheel fiddle or wheel lyre, is a unique string instrument with a long history dating back to the Middle Ages. It’s primarily associated with countries in Europe, particularly France, Germany, and Hungary. It features a hand-cranked wheel that rubs against strings, producing a distinctive timbre often described as a blend of bagpipes, violin, and accordion.