Pan by Luis Betancourt

Shortly before the pandemic began, I was obsessing over the music of Arthur Russell. The breadth of styles he fearlessly explored, the depth of feeling he was able to mine from whatever medium he chose, and his steadfast resistance to being categorized all resonated with me. I myself was growing increasingly frustrated by the limitations of composing predominantly on the guitar. What's more, I had also torn a ligament in my fretting thumb that made it nearly impossible to play for 6 months. Ironically it was an acoustic guitar riff I had written (which anchors the song "Somn") that steered me in a refreshing (to me at least) new direction. Utilizing MIDI synths, keyboards, an Akai MPD 226, Logic software, and an electric bass guitar, I began fashioning new compositions out of simple melodic ideas. Given the increasingly digital context of the spring/summer of 2020, it felt like what I was creating was of the time...that is, it was marked by a sense of isolation in its realization, a utilization of technology to communicate my ideas, and a real-time feeling of processing all the "new," both musically and lyrically. I'm not sure if I will ever make another album quite like this, or if I even can. I doubted myself throughout, because it wasn't necessarily my "niche." But all I needed to do was revisit my old friend Arthur..."first thought, best thought."

So here it is. PAN. The title is my shortest ever. Sure, it's the first 3 letters in pandemic, but that's more coincidence. I thought of this album as panning my sound and perspective, both figuratively and literally. I thought of the dissonance between entering my middle years in a city that is very much a magnet for youth, and the feeling that this city keeps one younger than they might be on paper...the so-called Peter Pan effect. And I thought of that expression, "I hope it all pans out." Because in a year of exceptional uncertainty, social upheaval, and change, my hope was that it all pans out in the end.

Luis Betancourt is a songwriter living in North Hero, VT. His songs incorporate a variety of guitars (acoustic/electric, baritone, bass), electronics/programming, and vocals to create a homegrown, intimate and sometimes experimental vibe. Elements of folk, pop, psych, & rock can be heard throughout. Besides his solo project, he also regularly performs and records with AVO and the Whiskey Spitters.

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