Listening to an album by Michigan-based ethnic fusion band The Ragbirds is a bit like eavesdropping during a U.N. summit, a veritable crash course in culture.
From African beats and Celtic/Gypsy violin to Southern Appalachian ballads and salsa rhythms, every three minutes or so, a new style takes the forefront. Despite their wildly divergent origins, however, the songs carry an air of practiced familiarity that suggests either intimate familiarity or cleverly disguised fakery.
The truth lies somewhere in the middle, said Erin Zindle, founder and lead singer/songwriter for the Ann Arbor band.
“I’m not trying to be authentic and purist,” she said. “What I’m doing is a very natural process for me.
“I have a true, deep appreciation for any style I take on and perform. I’m not trying to be a cheap imitation. I really want to capture the elements of the style that speak to me.”