Perhapsy

Perhapsy began as an instrumental collaboration between musician friends in the Ann Arbor area. Initiated by jazz student Derek Barber, the quintet translated his song-based, guitar-driven compositions into an engaging live performance. Fleshed out by a full band, Perhapsy combined elements such as accordians, glockenspiels, layers of guitar sound and sonic experimentation.



The name Perhapsy comes from E E Cummings's "warped this perhapsy." The particular poem is somewhat disjointed and filled with words that end abruptly, run together, and letters that capitalize at random intervals. Listening to the self-titled debut of Perhapsy, one could draw comparisons to Cummings's poetic stylings. The short, mostly instrumental songs bring to life a genre filled with run-on fragments and songs layered by guitar harmonies — often quick in pace yet also cyclical in form and structure.



After spending several years playing guitar in The Winston Jazz Routine and Every Gentle Air, Barber continued writing and playing shows with a revolving cast in Ann Arbor, MI while persuing dual degrees in jazz guitar and English at the University of Michigan. After wrapping up his degree in music, he felt it was time to properly document the songs — recording in his hometown of Mansfield, Ohio with the goal of making the very first record for Perhapsy (with the help of friends new and old). Barber is currently living in Mill Valley, CA.



(Bio(s) by Ryan Weberling and trm)