THIS has been a long time coming.

Back in Novemeber of last year I got an email from the lovely Lauren Best.

She was writing to inquire about maybe getting me to prepare some original art for her (then) upcoming album.

Here’s a bit of our correspondence, to explain how I got to making the Maple Spirit:

POST:
I checked out your myspace. I like your stuff, and in particular your song, semblance of faith. Cold and wintery. I’m thinking stencils of dead leaves? does the rest of your album have similar themes?

How about you send me a copy of some of what your planning for the album, and we take it from there?

Take care,

Post

Lauren:
Cool, I’m glad to hear back from you. Right now I’m in the middle of recording a bunch of new elements (horns, guitar, etc), but I can send you a few tunes which are incomplete and with scratch vocals and whatnot. The album as a whole doesn’t really have similar themes, that’s a particularly chilly song… as a whole the album is a bit more groovy but still very lyrically based. I wrote most (if not all) of the songs when I was 14-17, so to me they sort of conjure that overwhelming strange emotionality of being a teenager, a lot of the songs are almost character monologues, sort of exaggerated but still very genuine and heartfelt. I’m trying to be true to what the songs were when they were written and not “update them”, to keep the sense of character and context. It’s interesting you suggest dead leaves though, because I’ve been picturing that sort of fall vibe… I’ve been sort of fixated on the imagery of maple keys in relation to this project, and the concept of being in flight or in transition (I’m playing with the idea of calling the album In Flight). I’ve attached a few tunes, there are 12 tunes in total on the album. If you are interested in this project, I think it would be beneficial for us to get together and talk about it (and I can keep you updated with more recent cuts and with a complete selection of the songs). However, you may be concerned about your anonymity… would you be cool with getting together at some point to talk about this? I could sign a non-disclosure agreement or whatever if you’d like. Or credit you as a “real person” and completely separate you from your Post self. Something to think about.

Talk soon,
Lauren

POST:
Hey!

Sorry this is so late in coming!

I’m pretty booked until xmas, but we could meet sometime in the new year? I’m not sure we need to… but we can! I’m happy to be credited as post, and am fine with your assurance that you’ll be discreet about my identity.

I really like the idea of maple keys.

Tell you what,

I’m fine with not being paid, if your fine with being patient with me!

I’ll put something together as soon as I can manage, and you can tell me what you think? Use it or not?

Post

SO THEN, I pretty much forgot about it. I was reminded only a few days ago when Lauren sent me a message on Twitter. I got her message and was thinking “Lauren Best, Lauren Best… I know that name… Why do I know that name? Lauren Bes- OH FUCK, THE MAPLE KEY STENCIL I NEVER CUT.”

So I cut it, sprayed it, (it’s made from canvas, so it should hold up to the weather for quite awhile) and installed it (in Trinity-Bellwoods).

I think it’s charming. Even If Lauren HATES it, or decides it’s not right for her work (I’m really not sure if it is) it’s still gonna make some kid squeal when they discover “The Little Fairy in the Maple”, with Maple Key wings.

So there it is Lauren- very late, and probably not what you had in mind! Please feel free to use it if you like, or ignore it if you’d prefer!

(I can send you a highres version, if you’d like.)

(Sorry it took so long, and I hope you don’t hate it!)