Cover art by Paul Belbusti
Corinthian album cover
“When we levitate we’ll levitate above the moon
When we levitate we’ll levitate above the moon
We’ll go in stages.
We’ll go in chains.
And then we’ll break free
The bird and the arrow”
And just like that, Paul Belbusti of Mercy Choir breaks free of expectation and ennui, bringing forth a new album, Corinthian, in which he lays himself bare lyrically as well as musically at a time when just about everyone else in the world is also feeling raw and exposed.
“I wrote the songs in January and February and recorded the whole thing in March in a single day in my shed,” said Belbusti. “It’s just me, acoustic guitar, a little bit of bass and toy piano.”
He was planning on releasing it later this month, but in light of current events, he felt a more immediate urge to get it out into the world.
“My first thought was to hold off,” he said. “I was wondering if people would prefer to hear more upbeat jubilant songs. But people are also craving content, a connection to hear and see what a person loves. I know it makes me feel better to see people doing what they love. If they don’t find it uplifting, at least maybe they will find something positive or something else in it.”
Garrison Zweers Photo
Paul Belbusti
Once Belbusti decided to release the record, he simultaneously decided to donate all the proceeds to charity, specifically a charity that would assist artists in their time of need.
“I wanted to donate to any charity I could find dedicated to helping artists who depend on their art for their main source of income. I want to spread the love as much as I can,” he said.
Belbusti found the charity he was hoping for through a link of artist resources on Twitter. Artist Relief Tree — also known as ART — is “an organization dedicated to providing artists with financial relief at this time,” said Belbusti. “They seemed to be the most straightforward one that did not have stipulations,” he explained. “Basically any artist can apply.”
He noted that they operate on a first come, first served basis, and that right now they are not accepting applications due to being “backed up.” But Belbusti is hoping more people will donate and more people will get the money they need.
Belbusti was also aware that Bandcamp would be waiving its revenue shares on purchases made this Friday, which added to his eagerness to get the record out that day and provide more aid to others.
“I think now is a good time to get our art out there while we’re all figuring out what’s happening,” Belbusti said. “It’s nice to have music to listen to.”
Belbusti, as always, is spending his free time consuming as well as creating as much art as he can.
“I’m listening to lots and lots of music. I’m doing lots and lots of writing. That hasn’t changed.”
Corinthian clocks in at just under 24 minutes with nine songs total, a taut collection of folk-rock poetry that coaxes the listener to settle in and be alone with it and let it flow over them, as if Belbusti is speaking to them and them alone. For an artist who has made it part of his life’s work to write the perfect pop song, here he is seemingly unafraid to let the imperfections of the human condition shine through.
As far as live performances go, Belbusti is “in the same boat as everyone else,” he said. “I actually had shows planned for the first time in quite a while, but now I’m dealing with cancellations just like everyone else. Maybe I’ll do some live streaming.”
Either way, Belbusti will continue to create his art and — as he sings in the final song of the album, “Passagreen” — “to be transformed and be able to grow wild and flourish alone.”
Corinthian is available to download here at the Mercy Choir Bandcamp page. More info on ART can be found at the organization’s website.
