A new EP release from songwriters Peter Donovan and Dune Butler gives off a vast and alluring soundscape riddled with lush instrumentation and a certain kind of character that pushes through and grabs your attention very quickly and it's this aspect that you get attached to the most.
The EP was written specifically for a film called Red Right Hand and each track on this release has its own persona and its own vibe but has a way of interconnecting with each other, and throughout it all you get a blend of Americana, classic country, Indie pop, gospel, and more all rolled up into a three songs spectrum which really does an amazing job of showcasing Donovan's ability to adapt to whatever project is given to him musically.
Now, to be clear two of the songs are under the moniker up and over, and the third is under artist Cascadia Falls so we'll start with the song "Spark" (up and over) because out of the group, it's by far my favorite track has it does boast the heaviest of cinematic tonalities to me and a lot of that has to do with the depth of the song and how he's able to distance things particularly well in the mix of it along with beautiful and robust string sections that add certain levels of tension here and there and at times even a slight haunt.
This track in particular delivers all kinds of musical hooks and vocals that feel like they drift across the song and it kind of puts you in a trance because the textures of everything have a very particular way of mending together between the banjo, live drums, all these violins and string sections, and these vocals that are soft and melodic.
The whole thing does indeed have a way of kind of taking you out of your surroundings and into someone else's for a chunk of time and that's a beautiful thing no matter what the song was written for.
This track has such a great blend of pop-infused feels in it and has a way of sticking around in your head for hours after it's ended.
The second track from up and over has a gorgeous and subtle tonality that beckons classic Jazz and an incredibly soulful gospel approach that feels genuine and from a different time altogether.
This track is called "When I Get There" which is an absolute perfect match for the vibe of the track as a whole.
Kate has such an impactful voice and sings with such intense passion that you can feel it in your bones and the whole aesthetic of this track feels authentic with a slow almost ballad-like tempo and these organs that sound like church actual organs as the main focal point instrumentally.
The other track is called "Sucker Punched" which certainly hits a very sort of vintage country vibe with a swing feel and twangy guitars all over it and one of the things I loved about this song in particular was how it felt almost like a live performance as if the players involved with feeding off of each other the whole time.
This track in particular is under the moniker of Cascadia Falls.
When you write songs for a film sometimes you do have to create different monikers or artist names as you do the soundtrack and it's a pretty standard practice but all of these songs are on the one EP which is simply called Songs for Red Right Hand.
With the release of such a beautifully full-bodied EP we wanted to reach out to Peter Donovan and his co-writer and producer Dune Butler who worked on the songs released under up and over and talk about his work on the soundtrack for the film and how he put it together along with what might be coming up next for the artist.
Here's what happened.
RAG: As we understand it, you have recently written some songs for a new film from Magnolia Pictures! How did that come about for you?
PETER DONOVAN
I have worked with the directors on multiple projects in the past. “Red Right Hand” marks the fifth time I have written songs for one of their films. Typically, when they are editing a new feature, they send me scenes that need original music, along with notes describing their vision, and ask me to compose a song that aligns with what they’re looking for. This process is consistently an exciting challenge, as it allows me to delve into various styles and genres to meet the needs of the scene. It also offers a fantastic opportunity to bring together a diverse team of musical collaborators.
Their first assignment for this film was a spirited country song for a scene where a character who’s been having a tough time drinks whiskey and dances around his house listening to old records, which led to the creation of “Sucker Punched,” produced by Bradley Laina.
After “Sucker Punched” was finished, I was given an early cut of the entire film by the directors. They mentioned they were struggling to find a song they liked for the end credits and asked if I’d be interested in writing something. This brought about a collaboration with Dune Butler, who co-wrote and produced “Spark.”
Lastly, the directors asked for a third track, this time aiming for a ’70s gospel vibe to complement a dinner party scene. Dune and I joined forces with Kate Dinsmore to write and record “When I Get There,” rounding off our contributions to the film.
RAG: I really enjoyed "Spark" especially as this was so full-bodied and lush! Did you pull from any influences on this track?
DUNE BUTLER
In tracking and producing “Spark” a lot of my influences definitely came from working at Bear Creek Studios. I’ve worked at Bear Creek for nearly a decade with producers Ryan Hadlock and Taylor Carroll. The studio runs the gambit on big names in music having come through but it definitely specializes in neo-folk, Americana artists like Fleet Foxes, Lumineers, Brandi Carlisle, Vance Joy the list really goes on. So in producing “Spark” I was able to pull on my many hours of having worked at Bear Creek as a session player and producer. The arrangement came very natural to me, from the rolling drum beat to the 4 part string accompaniment. It’s music that is very near and dear to me.
RAG: Who are some of your own personal influences as an artist musically?
PETER DONOVAN
I was raised on musical theatre, which nurtured a passion for music centered on characters and narratives and significantly influenced my approach to songwriting. My list of songwriting heroes is endless, but some contemporary writers I really admire are Julia Michaels, Butch Walker, and Brandy Clark. Their ability to weave compelling stories with catchy and concise pop songs is something I continuously aim to achieve in my non-film-related songwriting.
DUNE BUTLER
To expand on my last answer, in the world of indie folk my biggest influences are early Fleet Foxes, Bill Callahan, First Aid Kit…. My first music festival was Sasquatch 2010 and 2011 which had stunning line ups. Some all time favorites from those years are My Morning Jacket, Wilco, Local Natives, Edward Sharpe, Miike Snow, Passion Pit, MGMT, Flaming Lips. It was really a peak for that late 2000s indie scene. All also love people working with contemporary concept records like St. Vincent’s “Daddy’s Home” or Janelle Monae’s “Dirty Computer”
RAG: The EP itself is beautiful! Was it difficult to put together songs that felt so different?
PETER DONOVAN
Thank you for the kind words about the music! Each song has a distinct musical style, but I think the lyrics serve as a unifying thread, exploring themes inspired by the film, like resilience, hope, and the quest for peace. "Sucker Punched” is about being down but not out, "Spark" explores the journey from darkness to light, and "When I Get There" envisions a hopeful future.
DUNE BUTLER
To me the songs all have an underlying Americana tone that unifies them. It wasn’t hard finding the individuality in each one because the prompts from the movie production team were really clear and pointed us in the right direction.
RAG: Do you picture what you want in your head before you begin a process like this?
DUNE BUTLER
Yes and no. I think the prompts we received gave us an idea of what the overall result should sound like. However, in a process like this I find it most rewarding to start piecing the tune together and then to let my earlier decisions inform what comes next. Like building a sand castle or something, you start with a foundation, and a little spicy guitar or banjo action, bring in the vocal, and then decorate with something like the strings on “Spark” or the B3 Organ on “When I Get There”
RAG: Do you record any of this stuff at home, or is it all done a big studio?
PETER DONOVAN
“Sucker Punched” was recorded by Bradley Laina at Strange Earth Studio in Seattle, WA. The other two songs were recorded by Dune at his home studio. (Also, shout out to Ed Brooks at Resonant Mastering who mastered the tracks.)
DUNE BUTLER
"Spark” and “When I Get There” were both entirely recorded in my home/mobile studio with minimal gear. I’ve worked in big studios throughout my career for countless hours and because of that I know what a tune is meant to sound like, regardless of where it’s tracked. This allowed me to get a big sound out of limited resources, which I think is one of my production specialties.
RAG: Anything coming up?
PETER DONOVAN
My second solo album, Community Theatre, is set to release this year. Bradley produced the record, which features contributions from Dune, Natalie Colvin (who sings on “Spark”) and Kate Dinsmore. Additionally, Kate is releasing a single in April titled "High Note," which I had the pleasure of co-writing with her.
DUNE BUTLER
Peter and I have some more ideas for up and over that we need to put into action now that this project is over. I really love working with him cuz I think our writing/production ideas really compliment one another.
My psych rock band General Mojo’s will be hitting the road hard this year and has a whole bunch of music we’re close to dropping, including a sci-fi odyssey concept record called The Flat Earth Project which includes vocal contributions from Jenn Monette and Natalie Colvin (“Spark”) and Kate Dinsmore (“When I Get There”).
RAG: What are you doing when you're not working on music?
PETER DONOVAN
I also write screenplays. I have a couple of projects in development right now that I’m really excited about. One is an adaptation of a book about Bigfoot, and the other is an original horror comedy centered around a reunited one-hit-wonder band from the 90s.
DUNE BUTLER
Mostly working on cars or backpacking.
RAG: Anything you'd like to express to fans of your stuff or any info on the film before we go?
DUNE BUTLER
We want to thank you all for the support! This has truly been a one-of-a-kind experience and seeing everyone share screenshots from the movie with our songs has been so rewarding!