Erwilian

Erwilian is an American musical group featuring acoustic instrumentation, led by soprano recorder, violin, and hammered dulcimer. The group blends elements from celtic, world, and folk music into an original cross-genre style classified as New Age. Since its formation in 2000, the group has featured various multi-instrumentalists in its lineup. Current members and primary instruments include founders Scott Melton (guitar) and Jordan Buetow (recorders), Bethel Melton (hammered dulcimer), Malcolm Lee (bass), Matt Garcia (harp), John Hintze (percussion), and Keely Rendle (violin).

Erwilian
Erwilian in 2015
(from left to right: Matt Garcia, John Hintze, Malcolm Lee, Keely Rendle, Bethel Melton, Jordan Buetow, Scott Melton)
Background information
OriginSeattle, Washington, United States
GenresNew-age, instrumental, acoustic music
Years active2000–present
Associated actsRicky Kej
Wouter Kellerman
Lynn Yew Evers
Websitewww.erwilian.com
MembersJordan Buetow
Matt Garcia
John Hintze
Malcolm Lee
Bethel Melton
Scott Melton
Keely Rendle
Past membersBill Bowser
Brian Matheny
Scott Milliron
Jeff Reed
Robert Schuweiler

In September 2019, Erwilian's EP ADVENT debuted at #1 on the Billboard New Age Albums chart,[1] #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers — Pacific chart,[2] and #26 on the all-genre Billboard Independent Albums chart.[3] Previously, their album Midwinter’s Night was the #1 Holiday album on the Zone Music Reporter Top 100 Radio Airplay for 2015.[4] The group collaborated on Ricky Kej & Wouter Kellerman’s album Winds of Samsara (2014), which won a Grammy for Best New Age Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.[5] Additionally, the group collaborated on Kellerman’s Love Language (2015), which received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.[6]

History

2000-2005: Early years and formation

In 2000 Melton, a high school English teacher, approached Buetow, his student, after he performed in a school music concert. Together the duo recruited other students to meet at lunch in Melton’s classroom to experiment with acoustic and folk instruments, which eventually led to performances at seasonal school events.[7] The group took on the name "Wood, Wind, & Wire," reflecting its primary instrumentation, but ultimately dwindled in size as students graduated, a catalyst for Melton and Buetow to find musicians outside the school. Melton's wife Bethel, as well as mutual friends mandolinist Robert Schuweiler and guitarist Scott Milliron, joined the band as a result. Over the next three years, the band performed locally in the Seattle area and began work on their first recording project. In 2004, the group renamed themselves Erwilian[8] and in 2005 released their first album, Renovata.

2006-2014: Midwinter’s Night and Light From Darkness

Through 2006-07 the group added percussionist Jeff Reed, guitarist Bill Bowser, and sound engineer Brian Matheny. 2007 also marked the beginning of Erwilian's popular series of annual Holiday concerts.[9] Through 2008-09 the group continued performances throughout the Pacific Northwest, and released live concert album Midwinter’s Night in late 2009. The next three years were spent almost entirely in the studio, and in 2012 Light From Darkness was released. As the group's sound expanded, Malcolm Lee joined in the summer of 2012 and Matt Garcia joined in the spring of 2014. In April 2014 Reed was diagnosed with cancer, and passed away later that year. Shortly after Reed's death, Bowser and Matheny departed to pursue other music projects, and by the end of 2014 Erwilian evolved into its current lineup with the addition of John Hintze and Keely Rendle.

2014-present: Award-winning Collaborations, ADVENT

Following the addition of Hintze and Rendle, the group spent much of 2014-15 developing new material, as well as collaborating on other projects including Ricky Kej & Wouter Kellerman’s Grammy-winning Winds of Samsara (2014)[5] and Kellerman’s Grammy-nominated Love Language (2015).[6] Recording sessions throughout 2016-2018 became the basis of the band's 2019 EP Advent.

Musical style and influences

Erwilian became known for using numerous acoustic instruments in their recordings and performances rather than synthesized or electronic substitutes, even for rare instruments. Their collection comprises many different woodwinds, strings, and percussion from diverse genres and cultures including various recorders, whistles, chalumeaux, violin, viola, cello, harp, guitar, bass, hammered dulcimer, mandolin, Appalachian dulcimer, timpani, celesta, harmonium, melodica, accordion, marimba, orchestra chimes, and handbells.

Discography
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
New
Age
[10]		 US
HS
Pac.
[10]		 US
Ind.
[10]		 US
Heat
[10]		 ZMR
Top
100
Renovata —————
Midwinter's Night
  • Released: 22 December 2009[12]
  • Label: Wood, Wind, & Wire
  • Format: CD · digital download
 ————6
Light From Darkness
  • Released: 18 December 2012[13]
  • Label: Wood, Wind, & Wire
  • Format: CD · digital download
 ————50
ADVENT (EP)
  • Released: 23 August 2019[14]
  • Label: Wood, Wind, & Wire
  • Format: CD · Deluxe CD · digital download
 112672
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

Guest Appearances
List of guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Song Album Artist Year
"Mountain Solitude"

Winds of Samsara

Ricky Kej & Wouter Kellerman

 2014
"Blue Bird Day"

Elysian

Lynn Yew Evers

 2015
"Turning Page"

Love Language

Wouter Kellerman

 2016
"Lullaby"

Lullaby

Elizabeth Butler

 2016
"As Long as We Believe"

Action Moves People United

Various Artists

 2016
"Grand Old Duke of York" Songs for Little Ones Charlie Hope 2016
"My Baby"
"Sailing, Sailing"
"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"
"Fighting with Angels"

Fighting with Angels

Elizabeth Butler

 2019
"O Love" Songs of Joy, Songs of Hope Breath of Aire 2020
"Amazing Grace / My Chains are Gone"
"Ancient Words"

References
  1. "Top New Age Albums Chart". billboard.com. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  2. "Heatseekers — Pacific Chart". billboard.com. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  3. "Top Independent Albums Chart". billboard.com. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  4. "ZMR (Zone Music Reporter) 2015 Top 100". ZMR. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  5. "57th Grammy Nominations, New Age". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  6. "58th Grammy Nominations, Contemporary Instrumental". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  7. "Midwinter's Night by Erwilian". Diamond, Michael. Music and Media Focus. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  8. "Light From Darkness by Erwilian". Diamond, Michael. Music and Media Focus. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  9. "Regional Concert Calendar, November 10, 2007". Seattle Times. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  10. "Erwilian — Billboard Chart History". billboard.com. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  11. "Renovata — Erwilian". Apple Music (US). 20 May 2005. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  12. "Midwinter's Night — Erwilian". Apple Music (US). 22 December 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  13. "Light From Darkness — Erwilian". Apple Music (US). 18 December 2012. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
  14. "Advent (EP) — Erwilian". Apple Music (US). 23 August 2019. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
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