Origami Ghosts Premiere Their Introspective Single “Washboard Mind”

Without all of the hard times, where would we get songs as joyous as Origami Ghosts’ “Washboard Mind?” Tough times may not be any fun to go through, but boy, do they ever fire up the kiln of creativity. The indie rock band is back with their latest single, a classic folk meets modern indie kind of sound. The song was inspired by a time that was very personal to frontman JP Scesniak. He was living in Paris, which sounds very romantic and all. But actually, Scesniak was living as a poor troubadour, with very little money, and even less direction.

These circumstances can’t help but negatively influence your state of mind and your relationship with others. But even in the midst of such hardship, Scesniak felt determined to continue to give his all to his partner. He made due what what we had, while remaining supremely focused on his significant other.

Taking us through the background of “Washboard Mind,” Scesniak states: “I was living in a suburb of Paris as an elementary school English teacher. I figured I’d make all my dreams come true in one fell swoop. In Paris, I’d find love and make connections that would jumpstart my career. I quickly realized that the Paris suburb (Élancourt), where I was staying, was not the fantasy I’d been hoping for. It was very isolating and put me in a place where I had to create or I’d really lose it.

“My experience there was the pressure that created the diamonds: songs, paintings, and the bulk of my novella that I aspire to finish here in the near future. The pressure that created the diamonds was the sum of the following factors: my salary (1,000 Euros a month); the job (which was challenging and at times demoralizing); the isolation (one-hour bike/train/subway ride to friends/places in the city); and a tumultuous long-distance relationship. I was mildly depressed, apathetic, and drinking a bottle of wine by myself regularly.

“At the time, I was trying to write more songs that would catch people’s attention while busking. I was inspired by Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan and wordplay from great authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Kafka, Dostoyevsky, and the like. Visual imagery like Picasso. I was leaning into the idea of being alone. Reading Notes from the Underground (novella by Fyodor Dostoevsky) was probably not the healthiest thing for me at the time, but I couldn’t stay away.”

Origami Ghosts ‘A Fine Time to Talk About Nothing’ album artwork

Getting more into the mental state of the song, he elaborates:

“I had no choice but to be introspective. I was really evaluating my life at that point and where I stood. I’d walked a lot of steps. I was ready to walk more for the right partner. ‘I walked for years, and I walked for me or her. I guess I gave myself to love.’ I continue to walk the walk, dedicating my life to myself and my partner or aspirations to find one. My mind can be cleaned by a washboard, to reset and not let setbacks and obstacles get me off track. I’m here for the entire journey: all of the time that it includes. I was struggling with my choice to not follow the ‘easy’ path and get jobs like a lot of my friends did, and was trying to celebrate my choice. My spirit needed a ‘shot in the arm’ and had to pump myself up. But I was also ready for the angels to just take me away. I was so conflicted. Scared of commitment, but craving a partner. Head in the clouds, heart in the sea. Singing helped me float.”

The release of “Washboard Mind” comes ahead of Origami Ghosts’ brand new album A Fine Time to Talk About Nothing. Coming out next week on August 8th, the album is a glorious helping of jangly folk-pop. It has a very international flavour, as evidenced by where it was written. The record was composed in small doses while touring through Europe and the United States. Parts of it were also written while Scesniak was in Paris, as well as the time he spent in Seattle and Austin. Precipitated by its international flair, the album embraces a sense of adventure and exploration. Primarily composed in a very curious state of mind, the songs delve into themes such as love, death, intimacy, drugs, counterculture, and new technology.

The album has a very personal touch as well. With all of these other things happening in Scesniak’s life, what’s more is that he had a full-fledged near-death experience when he suffered a stroke. He tries to make sense of this experience on the album track “Heaven’s Gate.” Having to go through this really scared him straight and convinced him to get off alcohol and any cannabis use.

As is becoming clear, A Fine Time to Talk About Nothing is about as private as an album can be. As a songwriter and bandleader, there’s no sugarcoating it when it comes to JP Scesniak.

Tour Dates:

08/07 –  Seattle @ the Sunset w/ Desert Sushi, Ashley Eriksson
08/08 – Portland, OR @ Shanghai w/ BLISSTER + guests
08/09 – Whidbey Island, WA @ Bailey’s Corner store w/ Haunting Autumn
08/12 – Olympia, WA @ Rhythms
08/14 – Red Bluff, CA @ The Downtown Alehouse
08/15 – Arcata, CA @ Outerspace
08/16 – San Francisco @ The Knockout w/ Xay Cole, Green Cat
08/23 – Los Angeles @ The Harmony Room w/ Fragile Gang, why try?

A Fine Time to Talk About Nothing Track Listing:

1. Washboard Mind
2. Always 3 Days
3. Philip the Bison
4. Virtual Reality Boy
5. Biking Underwear
6. The Olde Autostop
7. Counter Counterculture
8. The infinite feelings along the Milky Way
9. Heaven’s Gate
10. Love Everyone
11. When you look at me like you look at Tetris