Devendra Banhart Covers Ioanna Gika’s “Swan”: Listen
Devendra Banhart has covered Ioanna Gika’s Thalassa track “Swan.” It is currently available for purchase on Gika’s Bandcamp page. All proceeds from the single benefit Downtown Women’s Shelter in Los Angeles. Hear Banhart’s cover, as well as Gika’s original version, below.
“I admire and respect Ioanna immensely,” Banhart said of Gika in a press release. He continued:
One of the great singers, poets, composers & performers of our time, really an otherworldly kind of creature/being, I love her and I love this song so much, It’s so very rare to meet someone you aren’t quite convinced is from this planet.... There I was, listening for the first time, totally drawn into this twilight crystal moon world that her voice immediately evokes, and the chorus comes in: “Let me hear the swan sing/Melody of mourning/Sweeter than the silent/Exit without warning” My heart broke hearing that .... What a beautiful stanza, endless knot of longing, wow...... it was an honor to totally ruin this amazing song!
Ionna Gika added:
It is a pleasure to hear the song through Devendra’s distinct voice and vision. He is not only a prodigious artist, but one whom I have always appreciated for the way that he fosters community. Together, we have decided that we would like all proceeds from this cover to go to the Downtown Women’s Center in Los Angeles. Providing housing, healthcare, and assistance, the DWC is an important organization and one that is meaningful to us both.
Ionna Gika released Thalassa in 2019. It marked her debut solo album apart from IO ECHO, her duo with Leopold Ross.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
