Joanna Schubert saw no point in buying flowers. Why spend money on something so beautiful, she wondered, if she was only going to watch it wither and expire? But over time, she began to understand the power of savoring something fully while it is still was there.Making the decision to buy a bouquet has become a symbol of embracing life in all its states by planting a flag in the field of now.
It's a sentiment reflected in Schubert's decision to name his musical project Oropendola, after a bird he found in the Peruvian Amazon. Filling her mornings and seeping into his dreams, the bird's song was a complex and fascinating mix of textures that seemed to encapsulate the entirety of existence, from the first gurgling of birth to the final death rattle. "Oropendola" translates as golden pendulum, which in itself illuminates the balance between states of being. With that in mind, and about to turn thirty, Schubert took the name of the bird and bought some flowers.
The confidence in these acts of self-revelation is reflected in the eleven songs that make up Oropendola's impressive debut album, Waiting for the Sky to Speak. These tracks undulate with energy and emotion, swinging like a pendulum from fun to serious with deft Technicolor brushstrokes. The album is a bouquet of sound and color, a celebration of choosing life even in the face of the ephemeral and finding movement even in the midst of stillness.
The songs on Waiting for the Sky to Speak were born out of a time of existential and literal immobility. When the world went into lockdown during the pandemic, Schubert was counting on feeling like his life had been at a standstill for years. He was ready to climb out of the mire of fear and doubt and move on, embrace joy and sing through the static. "Aren't we tired of waiting in the chrysalis?" she sings on "Chrysalis," expressing discomfort in the face of stagnation, while at the same time acknowledging the invisible growth in these suspended states. The choice of album title, then, is spot on: the phrase, which comes from the album's opening track, "Rorschach Sky," points to the missed opportunity to spend your life waiting for something when life happens around you. "If you're waiting for some kind of response from heaven," says Schubert, "you're not seeing beauty and movement in each passing moment."
Throughout this collection, Schubert's skill with orchestration and arranging, which he studied at university, is on full display. The album's sonic palette blends the orchestral sounds of clarinet, flugelhorn, harp, and strings with searing synths, grooved drums and bass, adventurous vocal manipulations, and soulful piano. The result is a kind of kaleidoscopic chamber pop that pays homage to both Kate Bush's grandiose theatrics and FKA Twigs' digital balladry.
The production is enhanced by the texturing talents of co-producer Zubin Hensler, who also served as mixer. Despite never having met before working together, the two teamed up during the height of the pandemic at Hensler's studio in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, recording between 2020 and 2021. The liminal space created by a world on pause led to developing an album. that sounds limitless. Songs as diverse as the searing "Shimmy Up Melt Down," the angsty guitar rock of "For Winslow," and the upbeat schoolyard chant of "Flowers On My Front Stoop" are equally at home in this vibrant world. and generous. In the end, almost thirty musicians contributed sounds to the album: "At the Edge of It" alone boasts eighteen additional singers, including Schubert's mother and sister, giving a sense of prismatic community, springing from the seed. early isolation. and Hensler. enhanced collaboration.
On the lead single "Knocking Down Flowers," Schubert finds life in the least likely place: a construction site. She and a partner dance on shards of glass, the hum of the road serving as the soundtrack to an encounter that spells the end of a relationship. "Can two sticky pendulums be happy?" she sings in a dazzling chromatic surge, her voice landing confidently at the apex as she comes to her own conclusion: that she will choose happiness, even if the ground beneath her shifts. Reminiscent of the biological concept of "ecotones," which describe how adjacent ecosystems interact and often grow stronger in their overlapping areas, Schubert recognizes and illuminates the power of living at the intersection of contrasts.
The album's emotional core appears in the upbeat ballad "Trust the Sun" and the clear-eyed album "When You Carried Me," both of which see the sun, another sort of golden pendulum, as a guiding force. In the first, Schubert is a misinformed meteorologist trying to interpret weather patterns, and in the second, she's an astronaut adrift in the ethers of memory. In her search for an anchor point in her life, she says, "There is this question of whether she is inside or outside of me, where is the certainty?" While much of the rest of Waiting for the Sky to Speak wades through the black ice patches of internal strife, both songs offer an outstretched hand, toward love, friendship, and family, the sun set on a sky changing, while she convinces herself. in the world
As a lyricist, Schubert ranges from mischievous quips ("You look so pastiche in your Lipton tea" from "AHFTKC") to vulnerable pleas for clarity ("Should I feel whole now?" from "Trust the Sun"), crafting songs that often They often sound like a wink but hit like a punch to the stomach. She cites Miranda July's unhinged writing as an influence on this lyrical approach. “I appreciate the humanity in your writing,” she says. "Humanity in strangeness, humanity in solitude, humanity in shame." The effect is something like Schubert putting on his own circus, psyching himself up on the side of the stage before performing musical feats before our eyes (and ears). It is humanity in daring to dream.
Waiting for the Sky to Speak is an imaginative and colorful chimera of a collection that marks the triumphant arrival of the Oropendola. Ultimately, these songs ask one of the most fundamental questions of the soul: How do you find your balance in a transient world? There is no absolute answer, and therefore, as Schubert discovered, there is no point in waiting for one. How liberating it is to get out of our own cycles, to be the force that deflects the pendulum from its axis. There's a line in "AHFTKC" that sounds like an underlying mantra: "Memory in the muscles." It's a simple yet powerful reminder to get out of your head and into the day, where the sun is high in the wide sky, where life pulses in the quietest corners, where there are flowers that will bloom beautifully and one day wither. ."
- written by Nandi Rose
releases on March 17, 2023
SONGS + LYRICS Joanna Schubert
ARRANGEMENTS + PRODUCTION Joanna Schubert + Zubin Hensler
RECORDING, MIXING, PROGRAMMING Zubin Hensler
DOMAIN Joe Lambert
recorded in Brooklyn, NY, from 2020 to 2021
in unceded territory of Lenapehoking
CONTAIN
Joanna Schubert vocals, piano, synthesizers, guitar (8), ukulele (11)
Zubin Hensler fliscorno, guitar, synthesizers, drums (3), vocals (2,3,5)
clarinet Kristina Teuschler
camelia hartman violin
Bass Ryan Weiner (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9), guitar (11)
Katie Battistoni guitarras
Matt Evans Drums, Percussion
JoAnne Hyun bass (2, 5)
Voiced by Gabby Sherba (2, 6, 9)
Vocals by Emma Pierson (5)
Kristen Drymala cello (4)
Harp Rebecca El-Saleh (6)
Bass Clarinet Landon Peer (11)
Accidental Radio Transmission Boom Boom (9, 10)
additional percussion worlds created by Zubin Hensler + Joanna Schubert
additional voices on "At the Edge of It"
Abby Ahmad, Shilpa Ananth, Joy Askew, Lauren Balthrop, Lau Barrios
Toby Chaiken, Alexandra Denda, Neha Jiwrajka, Astrid Kuljanić
Julia Mark, Marisa Michelson, Raquel Quiñones, Molly Ranson
Erica Schubert, Sharon Schubert, Elizabeth Ziman
PHOTOGRAPHY Singer Chimera
DESIGN + Layout Lau Barrios + Joanna Schubert
ETERNALLY GRATEFUL TO
Zubin Hensler, all collaborators on and off this album, unforeseen weather, positives, Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way," Emily Mure, Marisa Michelson, the songwriters of Joy hangs, 151 17th Street #1, mom, dad, Eri, Moose, family, friends, lovers, go-betweens, the real orioles, all of it, all of you.
m and memory in muscles
FAQs
What is the meaning of Psalm 27 14? ›
Context Summary. Psalm 27:7–14 reveals that David, while he commits his faith to God, is not immune from fear. In the prior section of this psalm, David stated his reasons to be confident in the Lord. Here, however, David seems to be pleading for those exact protections. Like anyone else, David experienced anxiety.
What is the meaning of Isaiah 64 4? ›Isaiah 64:4 Encourages Us to Rest Trustfully in God
And it is good to know that we can rest trustfully in the goodness of God, in the wisdom of God. He sees things, knows things we don't know. He loves us. We can trust in his love.
The path of the righteous (verse 31) entails patience and waiting on the future glory of Christ to be revealed, but also the promise of strength to meet out trials and temptations here and now, and to do righteous acts to honor the Lord who bought us. The waiting does not mean empty time or space.
What does Psalm 37 say? ›Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
What does Psalm 27 13 14 mean? ›But the Lord is not a tame lion; he is wild, and I for one am thankful because that means he is mighty to save, but to save in his time and in his way. David understood that he is not to run from the wicked but to wait for the Lord, to be strong, to tell his heart to be courageous.
Why does God make us wait? ›First, we need to recognize why God calls us to wait. He does it for his glory and to make us more like Jesus, whose whole life could be called a waiting game.
Who is the praying one in Isaiah 64? ›Now in prayer Isaiah is praying for this day that God would move once again. Come and let the mountains flow down before His presence.
What does it mean to keep your hands to the plow? ›to begin or undertake a task.
What does it mean to wait on the Lord? ›What does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.
What is the most important lesson we can learn from Isaiah 40? ›Isaiah 40 is designed to take your focus away from everything else and consider the Sovereign Lord, the one true, living God. The chapter begins with a message of comfort and redemption from the Lord (verses 1-2). It points to the coming of Christ and good news (9-11).
Who is Isaiah talking to in Chapter 40? ›
But from chapter 40–55, Isaiah is speaking to those who are currently living in captivity. This transition is one of the reasons scholars aren't sure how much the prophet Isaiah actually wrote.
What is the meaning of Isaiah 40 30 31? ›Isaiah 40:30-31 Meaning and Commentary
This chapter treats of the comforts of God's people; of the forerunner and coming of the Messiah; of his work, and the dignity of his person; of the folly of making idols, and of the groundless complaints of the church of God.
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.
What is Philippians 4 19? ›Like Philippians 4:13, Philippians 4:19 is a popular verse that's often misused. After thanking the Philippians for generously supporting him, the Apostle Paul writes, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
What is the meaning of Psalm 37 11? ›Psalm 37:1–11 encourages David's audience to maintain a proper relationship with God by refusing to wallow in anxiety over their circumstances. Instead, they ought to trust in the Lord, find their joy in the Lord, and commit their future to the Lord.
What is the verse of Exodus 15 13? ›In Your unfailing love You will lead the people You have redeemed. In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy dwelling.
What is the verse Hebrews 11 1? ›Hebrews 11:1, NASB: Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1, NLT: Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
What does Psalms 27 verse 13 mean? ›Chapter Summary. David lays out the reasons he should be confident in God's protection. David then transitions, almost abruptly, into heartfelt pleas for God to rescue him from his enemies. The impression is that David is experiencing natural human anxiety and responding by reminding himself of God's goodness.
Who waited the longest in the Bible? ›...
| Methuselah | |
|---|---|
| Stained glass window of Methuselah from the southwest transept of Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England | |
| Born | 687 AM |
| Died | 1656 AM (aged 969) |
| Known for | Exceptionally long life |
Typically, you will find yourself wavering and wobbling between your options. There will be no decision making for a long time. And if there are any decisions made, you'll still doubt if it was the right choice at all. This is a sign that God is calling you to a season of waiting, only on Him.
What to do when God tells you to wait? ›
Often it is best simply to pray a short prayer, leaving the care with the Lord and then continuing with our business of the day, trusting God to do the work we cannot. Instruct yourself in the things of God. Spend time seeking God while you are waiting.
Who sits at the right hand of God in heaven? ›Jesus and the Father
When the Bible makes statements that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, it is affirming that he has equal status to the Father within the Godhead (Hebrews 1:3, 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22; Acts 7:55-56).
The gates of heaven are said to be guarded by Saint Peter, one of the founders of the Christian Church.
Who stands in front of the gates of heaven? ›The image of the gates in popular culture is a set of large gold, white or wrought-iron gates in the clouds, guarded by Saint Peter (the keeper of the "keys to the kingdom"). Those not fit to enter heaven are denied entrance at the gates, and descend into Hell.
What is the biblical meaning of plough? ›A plough or plow is a tool to prepare a field for planting. It is used for work. So, If anyone wants to work in God's service, he must focus his energies on serving (ploughing) for God. If a person divides his attentions between natural and spiritual goals, he will be unsuccessful.
What does plowing mean in the Bible? ›Besides the literal signification of breaking up the ground for tillage, this term is employed figuratively; as “plotting” wickedness (Job 4:8 8Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
What does the Bible say about plowing? ›12 I said, "Plow new ground for yourselves, plant righteousness, and reap the blessings that your devotion to me will produce. It is time for you to turn to me, your Lord, and I will come and pour out blessings upon you. '
What does waiting mean spiritually? ›To wait is to be open to experiencing the holy moments around you: to experience feelings emanating from another person; to hear words in a broader context; or to experience God's presence through others.
What does God want us to do while we wait? ›The Lord is good to those who wait for him,to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord.” While waiting, God expects us to seek Him, cry out to Him, and put our trust in Him. The Psalms are full of examples of David waiting on the Lord in anguish and pain.
Does waiting on the Lord mean doing nothing? ›Sometimes the actual word 'waiting' or the phrase 'waiting on God' or 'waiting upon God' is used in a scriptural passage. The truth is Waiting is one of the hardest things in our walk with Christ. Yet the bible is clear, just because you are waiting on your breakthrough, it does not mean that you are doing nothing.
What is God saying in Isaiah 40? ›
Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand: One aspect of our God we should behold is the fact of His return. Our God will return to this earth, and He will come with power (a strong hand… His arm shall rule).
What is the key message of Isaiah? ›Isaiah predicted that Judah would eventually be defeated because of their sin, but he also saw an ultimate redemption and restoration at the end of the story. Major themes of Isaiah: The judgment of God's people, followed by their ultimate salvation.
What did Isaiah teach us? ›What the Story of Isaiah Means for Us. The prophet Isaiah played an important role in God's plan; He foretold the Messiah's coming and brought hope to His people during a challenging time. This promise of hope is not only for the nation of Israel, but also for all of us.
Is God speaking through Isaiah? ›Like Elijah, Jeremiah, and the other prophets, Isaiah was called by God to deliver his words to Israel. The book of Isaiah is filled with sobering accounts of Israel's sin and rebellion and warnings of their coming judgement.
Who is God's servant in Isaiah? ›Isaiah initially identifies God's servant as Israel (41:8; 44:1–2), who serves as God's witness (43:10) and as a light to the Gentiles. Yet Israel could not fulfill this mission: Israel was deaf, blind (42:19), and in need of God's forgiveness (44:21–22). Israel failed again and again.
What is the purpose of Psalm 40? ›It reminds us that He holds onto us during the good and the bad days. Praising God stirs our hearts up to joy so we can walk in hope-filled assurance of who God is. It's a reminder that God isn't done with us yet. Though things may look grim now, His truth and Word will hold us until eternity.
What do eagles symbolize in the Bible? ›In Exodus 19:4 and Deuteronomy 32:11 the eagle represents God and his loving care towards Israel. In both descriptions we read about God bringing his people out of Egypt and into Canaan as if on the wings of an eagle.
What does it mean that God will guard your heart? ›The Lord means for us to guard our hearts by filtering our emotions, desires, thoughts, and responses through his Word. He is the watchman that protects our souls.
How do you wait on the Lord? ›- Acknowledging God's sovereign control of all things. ...
- Coming to terms with our dependence upon God. ...
- Seeking spiritual strength from the Lord. ...
- Being patient and quiet. ...
- Refraining from needless fear and worry. ...
- Continuing to learn and obey God's commands. ...
- Expecting the Lord to save.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me. Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.
What is the meaning of Psalm 71 23? ›
Even though he is suffering, he trusts the Lord to protect him because he knows God has been faithful to him in the past. In fact, this verse is one of pure and total joy. Even in the midst of persecution the Psalmist cannot help but praise God in joy for what He has done to save him.
What is the 31st psalm? ›In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
What is the meaning of Romans 8 28? ›The promise of Romans 8:28 that God works for our good “in all things” is reassuring. It means that no matter the circumstance, there are only two qualifiers for God to be working all things together for our good.
What does Proverbs 6 10 11 mean? ›Proverbs 6:6–11 turns Solomon's attention to the subject of laziness. The term translated here as "sluggard" or "slacker" implies something more than being unmotivated; it also includes irresponsibility and laziness. Such persons put themselves at risk of ruin.
What does Deuteronomy 28 12 mean? ›"You shall not borrow," within the context of this chapter, means that there will be no need to rely on others if we are properly aligned to our spiritual purpose.
What is Psalm 37 13? ›Psalm 37:13, NIV: but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. Psalm 37:13, ESV: but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. Psalm 37:13, KJV: The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
What does it mean to walk humbly before God? ›Walking Humbly With God Means Letting Him Teach Us What Is Good. Jesus brought together loving God and loving neighbors in Matthew 22. He communicated his expectation and desire for us, his deeply loved children, to treat each other fairly and with kindness — with justice and mercy.
What is Proverbs 17 22? ›Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” The Proverbs are wise sayings written by wise men such as King Solomon of Israel, inspired by God Himself.
What does it mean by your stripes we are healed? ›Jesus received the most iconic tortures in His time. The Roman flagrum with which they flogged Jesus 39 times gave Him body marks/stripes. Each of the 39 strokes took care of sickness and the 39 strokes took care of all our sicknesses and diseases. The Bible affirms this fact this way, “by His stripes we are healed”.
What does the Bible mean when it says keep your heart with all diligence? ›Proverbs 4:23 says we should guard our heart with all diligence because from out of it flows the issues of life. This scripture implies that whatever we allow to enter our hearts, if not examined and evaluated properly, will undoubtedly be expressed in our lives and our actions – in positive or negative ways.
What does it mean to be strong and let your heart take courage? ›
Letting his heart take courage meant letting himself believe God's promises. Courage is always fueled by faith. Good courage is fueled by faith in the ultimate good of the real God and all he promises to be for us in Jesus.
What does render your heart and not your garment mean? ›The scripture is really saying that they should be cut up from their hearts instead of cutting their clothes. A person who is really torn up from the heart is more likely to turn away from doing wrong things, than someone who just goes through the ritual of cutting their clothes.
What does the Bible say about being whipped with many stripes? ›Luke. 12. [47] And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
What does the purple robe of Jesus mean? ›Purple was a kingly color, and the soldiers mockingly put this robe on Jesus Christ because He had claimed to be the king of the Jews. Of course, in reality He is much more than that—He is the “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16).
What do the red lines in the Bible mean? ›Although each writer left his unique mark on the New Testament, each book was the work of God – NOT man. Therefore, when you read the words in red, you are not reading the words of Matthew – you are reading the words of Christ.
How do you guard your heart diligently? ›Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
How do you examine your heart spiritually? ›...
Based on the four soils, here are four questions you can use to examine your own heart:
- What truth am I refusing to believe? ...
- What truth do I no longer believe? ...
- What truth is being overshadowed by lies? ...
- What truth is bearing fruit in my life right now?
- Play together…. don't Pray together: ...
- Know when to Open up and when Not to: Dating is such a special time. ...
- Avoid talking about commitment, before you've actually committed: There is such a temptation to talk about the future when you're dating.
God wants us to know that waiting is far from a passive activity in which we do nothing. In fact, Scripture teaches us that God wants us to actively participate in the work he desires to accomplish. Waiting strategically can cultivate good fruit in in our lives such as patience, perseverance, and endurance.
What happens when you wait on the Lord? ›Isaiah 20:31 “Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength…” When we take matters into our own hands, worry about a situation, or force a desired outcome we are drained. However when we wait up on the Lord our strength is replenished, our spirit is renewed, and our hearts are revived.
How does God's presence make you courageous? ›
The reality of His presence should give us a sense of confidence and boldness that equips us to take on whatever threats or challenges would keep us from walking with Him. We should not expect the devil to leave us alone if we are trying to do right, but we should expect victory through God's power.
What does garment symbolize? ›In our day the garment encourages modesty, but its significance is much deeper. For Church members who have received the endowment, the garment reminds them of their connection to God, their commitment to follow His will, and the blessings and protection God has promised the faithful.
What does it mean to rend the heavens? ›In Isaiah 64:1 the word for rend literally means “rip apart”
Genesis 37:34 Jacob kaw-rah his clothes. So this prayer denotes tearing apart the fabric that separates heaven and earth, God's realm and ours… Indeed the next verse suggests that God coming down would be akin to a fire setting twigs ablaze…
Remember, the Lord is actively looking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). Rather than tearing your clothes, instead turn your heart toward the One whose Spirit lives inside you, for the great and terrible day of the Lord is coming (Joel 2:28-32).