Owls - Rare Birds (1LP)

Owls, the inverted string quartet hailed as a “dream group” by The New York Times, and whose original, visceral, and personal performances defy categorization, announce their debut album, Rare Birds (out on March 14, 2025), via New Amsterdam Records. Owls’s all star lineup is comprised of world renowned soloists, as well as current and former members of yMusic, Aizuri Quartet, and Kronos Quartet: Alexi Kenney (violin), Ayane Kozasa (viola), Gabriel Cabezas (cello), and Paul Wiancko (cello). The album was produced by Grammy™-winner William Brittelle.

Rare Birds offers a new take on a seemingly familiar form, inverting the string quartet with two cellos instead of two violins, while incorporating a playful approach to repertoire curation. Existing as something between a live concert, a playlist, and an album of creative premieres, reinterpretations, and William Brittelle’s outside- the-box production, Rare Birds offers music imbued with creative energy in multiple directions. Vibrant double cellos build foundations for violin and viola to soar over, interwoven string parts flow through baroque harmonies, driving rhythms invite the listener to dance, and delicate textures transform into moments of rapturous joy. Owls’s unique instrumentation affords the ensemble the freedom to explore musical possibilities without the constraints of a traditional canon, resulting in an album that is as sonically distinctive as it is heartfelt.

1. When The Night - Paul Wiancko
2. Ricercar - Trollstilt (Dan Trueman & Monica Mugan)
3. Rəqs (Dance) - Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
4. Les Barricades Mystérieuses - François Couperin
5. Vox Petra - Paul Wiancko
6. Good Medicine - Terry Riley