Set to grace digital music stores on the 24th of December, “Pay it Forward,” the first album from Pansophical, is a musical odyssey designed for adults, echoing the charm of children’s stories.
Pansophical is the brainchild of Dave Thomas and Eric Nash Schermerhorn, a duo of highly skilled artists. Their collaborative work blends music with spoken narrative, weaving stories through a combination of contemporary and age-old instruments, creating a rich sound tapestry.
Termed Musical Storytelling, this genre stands out by altering perceptions of shared narratives, presenting them through a novel auditory experience.
Dave Thomas, with an impressive career spanning over 50 years in show business, has voiced a myriad of television commercials worldwide. His repertoire includes writing, directing, voice acting, dance, comedy, theatre, anime, and documentaries.
Eric Nash, starting his guitar journey at 12, soared to prominence during David Bowie’s Tin Machine tour. His talent in playing and songwriting propelled him into collaborations with stars such as Iggy Pop, THE THE, and Seal.
Their collaboration began through an introduction by their mutual agent, leading to innovative approaches in storytelling, combining original music with modern-day fables for the evolving music enthusiast.
Dave explains their artistic vision: “These songs and words aren’t separated by blank empty pauses, they are knitted together with the song of nature. Music, story, and nature are scaffolding that shares one simple message; evolutionarily speaking, we as a species haven’t stopped evolving. It isn’t about me, it’s not about you, it’s about us, all of us. We can do better. Pansophy is a path to get there.”
Joining their endeavour is Orbel Babyan, a master of string instruments from regions like the Middle East and North Africa, specialising in instruments such as the oud and setar.
Dave further remarks: “In our first record session, I asked Eric and Babyan to speak through their guitars. Improvised conversations became songs, and music seemed to be born from thin air or wisps of smoke. It was magic. The striking result is organic, precise new music.
“Musical Storytelling deserves a genre of its own and it is our hope that we can contribute towards that recognition with this album. My voice has convinced people to spend trillions of dollars over my career – now I’m using it for something positive.”
Pre-launch listeners have praised the album, describing it as “a musical journey that transcends the ordinary” and “a very tranquil, grounding, relaxing, enjoyable and enriching experience.”
Pansophical’s “Pay it Forward” album will be available in digital music stores from 24th December.
