Ben Copperhead Unveils New Single/Music Video, “Franny and the Songbirds”

Ben Copperhead (previously known as Baby Copperhead) recently announced his forthcoming LP, Wailing Viridescence, due April 28 via Shimmy-Disc. Following the release of the record’s first single, “Copperhead Vagabond,” today, Copperhead shares the second single, “Franny and the Songbirds,” alongside an accompanying music video.

“Franny and the Songbirds” highlights Copperhead’s compositional and arranging skills for string quartet, his exuberant Stringed Serpents: Jessica Pavone on viola, Tom Swafford on violin, and Brent Arnold on cello. The song was inspired by his timid window-gazing cat, Franny Kaede’s (Kae-chan) relationship with migratory birds. It also pays tribute to an injured migratory bird that he found and helped transport to the local non-profit, Wild Bird Fund, during the process of making this song. The music video was directed by a drummer and filmmaker, Jonathan Levy, who captured a classic NY story of ornithologist Franny (played by actor Fatma Layla Girle) and birds in action. It was shot entirely in NYC and Central Park.

Commenting on the new track, Copperhead shares:

“‘Franny and the Songbirds’ was written in 2020 during the lockdown on my nylon-string classical guitar. It’s about the day in the life of my eccentric cat Franny-Kaede aka ‘Kae chan’ who is very independent. The dark closet ‘dungeon’ is her favorite place to sleep and she loves to watch birds from the window. The song unravelled into unexpected places harmonically so I thought a string arrangement would be a nice setting for the song. I was thinking along the lines of some Beatles classics with strings, like ‘Yesterday’ or ‘Eleanor Rigby.’”

“At first, I wrote a string trio arrangement for this song but then decided to add the 4th voice to make a string quartet. Voice and guitar were recorded together to tape, then I had the strings come into the studio later. Brent Arnold, who also played cello, and Mike Tarantino engineered the string sessions.”

To celebrate the record, Ben Copperhead will host a record release show alongside his “Stringed Serpents” at Nublu in NYC on Thursday, May 4 (7:00 PM). Jace Clayton and Chris Moore (of Negative Approach) will also perform that evening. Tickets and more information can be found here.

Wailing Viridescence Track Listing:

1. Copperhead Vagabond
2. Sweet Control
3. Franny and the Songbirds
4. Moon Rabbit
5. We Stand Tall
6. She I
7. Laughing Gymnopédie
8. Be the Henchmen
9. Low Joy
10. Feline Feminine

Ben Copperhead ‘Wailing Viridescence’ album artwork