On the radar: Esperi

Published on Wednesday 8 April 2009 20:43

Surprises keep life interesting, and this fact hasn't been lost on Chris Lee-Marr, singer-songwriter behind Carnoustie folk collective Esperi.

There are no guarantees when it comes to their live show, and Lee-Marr believes it's this spontaneity that sets them apart.

"There is some obvious stuff (that makes us different], like I play bells with my feet whilst singing and playing guitar, and we use some interesting homemade instruments and a hydrophone, but also the fact that the live setup is always in constant flux.

"I play a lot of solo performances but also duets or there may be three, four or five of us using drums, harp, cello and bass with all the percussive and electronic trimmings."

This seems to be what makes Esperi tick: the ability to shapeshift to suit their surroundings; a creative freedom that doesn't place too much stock in the conventions of music-making. They have been together three years now, and as well as Chris, Esperi includes his wife Cat and fellow members of The A Forest, Starling, Bullet Hell and Nomogram.

Lee-Marr cites his main influences as Mice Parade, Joanna Newsom, Adem and Iron and Wine, who he values for their "good musicianship and interesting approach". And with such experimental post-folk now seemingly leading the way, what does he make of the current Scottish music scene?

"I think it's great. All the bands we've played shows with recently (Meursault, De Rosa, Yahweh, Brother Louis Collective, The Kays Lavelle, Panda Su) have all been great and it's been a real pleasure performing alongside them."

Esperi currently have an EP out called 21:21 and are in the process of making their first album.

Discover Esperi for yourself at one of the following shows:

13 April: Drouthy Neebor's, Dundee

16 April: Captain's Rest, Glasgow

24 April: Kinloch Arms, Carnoustie

• For more blogs on the best unsigned bands in Scotland, visit Under the Radar