Review Fix Exclusive: Murmur’s Ryan Patrick White Talks ‘The Boundless Black’ And More

Review Fix chats with Murmur’s Ryan Patrick White (Call It Arson, Jagged Visions) who breaks down the band’s new project. “The Boundless Black.”

Review Fix: What was the creative process like for this album?

Ryan Patrick White: In the beginning I would bring rough song ideas and also unused older completed songs to Pete. Then we would re-imagine them through the Murmur perspective together. Right from the start we began combining lyrics and ideas in whichever way would fit the song best. I remember writing the bridge for “Long Before the Light” at Pete’s house. The first time we played it fully through felt haunting and already completed. I think something happens when collaborating with other musicians. If you’re open to critique and sometimes even sacrifice, the end result will be something greater than the sum of its parts. Two heads are better than one in some cases, when the ego is burned alive. We take music so seriously that I believe it ironically allows us to maintain an innocent creative process. The last song we wrote was The River. Pete and I sat down in the live room at Silver Bullet and wrote the music and the lyrics within a half an hour. It’s truly evolving. We never expected to hire a string section and guest vocalists. It simply called for it. I’m excited to begin the next album and see how esoteric the process becomes. We already have a full lengths worth ready to forge. 

Review Fix: What’s the standout track? How was it written?

White: My favorite track is Serving Shadows. This one’s process, and a couple others, had what I considered a supernatural element to it. They all do to a degree. This just happens to be my subjective favorite. Strangely enough, our audience seems to have weirdly diverse favorites. I also really love The Curse and an unreleased track that we saved for the EP,  named “Quietly Into the Night” From the same session. 

Review Fix: You guys have been doing this for a long time. How does all that experience create a different feel for the music you create here?

White: We have both always loved many genres of music. Hardcore is where I found my sanctuary and inspiration. Pete is from the hallowed earlier generation, and I always looked up to him and his work. It just makes sense that now this is what we are working on. It was always leading to these parts of the path. Our managers Jay and Daman are old CTHC friends. As is Greg Thomas, who produced The Boundless Black. Different styles feed different needs. This is our calling. I think it’s a collective effort, we are building the perfect loyal and loving team. Silver Bullet was the perfect place to record. We may never go anywhere else. The Connecticut woods are in all of our blood. The New England history is sometimes unsettling and gothic. The land seemed to have a say in our work. And the artwork from Stephen Kasner and Jacob Bannon is absolutely breathtaking. It all embodies exactly what we try to portray musically. The sound is just a little different, the family is still the same. 

Review Fix: What has this journey as a group been like?

White: Amazing and always developing. It’s exciting to get a chance to now perform this music live. This is the first band I believe Pete and I have ever been in that released a full length without even playing a first show. We cannot wait to be on stage as Murmur. We are honored to work with all these talented people. 

Review Fix: What makes the Conn. music scene unique?

White: Between Boston and New York we have somewhat of a division amongst ourselves. We are a schizophrenically wealthy and poor state. I think the tug of war created a powerful breeding ground for music. With the Long Island Sound to the south and the thick dense forests covering the state, one can still hide and seclude if need be, amidst all the cities and transit. Like graffiti in CT, I think the woods/city contrast creates an entirely unique style. I feel that way about a lot of states. We all have our dialects and it’s fun to explore. 

Review Fix: What’s next?

White: We are releasing an EP this summer and are already mapping out a second full length. We are honored to be playing our first show with Droneflower at Lyric Hall in New Haven on June 12th. Then we are planning a performance of the entire album for end of summer, as an official record release show.