Divining Rod

Divining Rod’s has just released a state-of-the-art album by the name of ‘Hemlock Blues / Love Come Tumbling’ that omits that trendy recording efforts by modern bands and brings music back to its core elements of timeless songwriting.

The fast-paced nature of the extended play provides a solidified cohesion within the foundational frequencies of the tracks. Furthermore, Divining Rod puts a psychedelic touch to the folk genre surfacing a vividness within the sound spectrum with heavy FX processing throughout the engineering platform.

The arpeggiated aspects of the sound tremble within the vocal compositions while the mixing maintains an honest balance through an unconventional means of production. There is a sense of raw/carnal musicianship embedded on this EP that holds a bare bones attitude to the recording development – The ambient soundscapes are highly capable in relation with the gritty edginess of the music’s most contagious portions.

The arpeggiated guitar oscillates with impressive finger picking in an improvisational execution of performance. There is a deep introspection held in plain view throughout the music that reinforces the professional lyricism possessed within the compositions that is both genuine and resilient to the congruency of their sound.

In additional, the conceptualization holds a relationship with the deep chord progressions manufacturing a sense of language that transcends traditional communication to the very souls of the passionate listening audience. - Artistrack

New York, New York’s psych-folk-country duo, Divining Rod, are a textbook example of the creational freedom which only independent music can provide.

Consisting of Hawaiian born, multi-instrumentalist Miyuki Furtado and guitarist, Patrick Harmon, the two began collaborating at a crucially creative point in Miyuki’s life, having just lost his father. The emotional period left him with perspective and insight previously unknown to him, and an itch to get back into the studio.

You see, Furtado is a veteran of the New York and Baltimore music scenes, a real-life musical troubadour who’s toured the globe performing with various other acts, including, The Rogers Sisters, Midnight Masses and others.

Years ago, the birth of his daughter brought him home—exhausted—from nearly a decade on the road. It was then that something magical happened, as he began to write songs with his acoustic guitar while his daughter would nap. Thus, the impetus to Divining Rod was manifest.

“I started writing songs on acoustic guitar during my daughter’s naps. I learned to create in short, quiet bursts.”
—Miyuki Furtado

Influenced by British folk, American country, and country-rock, Furtado’s musical melding with Harmon, whose influences include the likes of, My Bloody Valentine and The Cure, creates sonic contrasts which are rich and unpredictable; hence their chosen genre (psych-folk-country).

In preparation for their new full-length album Return To Crystal Cove, the boys have release their dual-track single, Hemlock Blues / Love Come Tumbling. At first glance, the 60’s & 70’s influences are immediately evident.

“…I realized that the big moments in life are not necessarily the most important. Rather, it’s the small, intimate memories like the warmth of the sun on your face on a late summer’s day…”
—Miyuki Furtado

A product of our paranoid and socially-charged cultural climate, Hemlock Blues, brings a stylish sense of urgency with minimal lyrics, a focused rhythm, and most refreshingly, a few acoustic guitar solos. All of which brought to mind the likes of Glenn Frey, Don Henley and the Eagles. It’s a cool tune.

The yin to Hemlock’s yang, Love Come Tumbling has a Springsteen-esque vibe. In what I can only imagine is a dedication to Furtado’s late father, the song is a beautiful ballad, an ode to the final step and the greatest leap, ultimately offering a rare bit of substance and heart…

“Hesitating inside your skin
Eyes are reigning a light within
Blood’s escaping from your veins
Love come tumbling down”

All in all, Furtado and Harmon’s veteran musical prowess ring true in this little preview; creating what is—for us—a sincere anticipation of the forthcoming album.

Whose lovechild…?
The Eagles meet The Boss (that’s Bruce Springsteen for you younglings)… - The Ark Of Music

In this time of instant music gratification, fans want a constant stream of songs being released. Many artists have moved towards this model. It is rare to only release albums once every couple of years. Our recent find Divining Rod is doing this as well. In anticipation of their upcoming full length Return To Crystal Cove the band is releasing a 2 track EP to keep the fans satisfied.

The innovative musical duo known as Divining Rod is made up of Hawaiian-born and now Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Miyuki Furtado and guitarist Patrick Harmon. Together they form an interesting mix of folk, country and soul with a psych rock energy.

It is quite an exotic and somewhat innovative sound. Furtado hey chose the Divining Rod name for a reason. “I liked the idea of something that is one part holy relic and one part con game, where you can’t tell what is truth and what is fabricated,” he says. There is a little bit of guessing in their music as well.

Divining Rod Makes Music To Amaze
Hidden to most, in a suburban neighborhood in Long Island, a forgotten studio where Eminem blazed bars and Mariah Carey invented a new brand of soprano, Miyuki Furtado, the creative force behind Divining Rod, is feeling the mojo. This is his second 14-hour day and it’s well past his daughter’s bedtime (and a dad’s pass-out time). The light wooden floor of the tracking room is freshly polished, but these dark walls have history, and Divining Rod is there to carve their name in the peeling paint.


The preview EP that Divining Rod has released is “Hemlock Blues/”Love Come Tumbling,”. The tracks act like bookends of the upcoming album and show the range the duo can achieve. On “Hemlock Blues” the energy jumps at you right from the start. The grooving guitar and peppy drum beat make your heart speed up uncontrollably. It is intoxicating.

On “Love Comes Tumbling” we get a more country folk tone. The instrumentation is not overpowering as every sound has its own space in the mix. This allows the focus to be on the emotion-filled vocals. We can tell that Miyaki truly pours his heart and soul into his songwriting.
If this is an appetizer, we are drooling and ready for the Divining Rod main course of Return To Crystal Cove.

Keep a look out for the new record and news on their WEBSITE. - Indie Band Guru

Miyuki Furtado and guitarist Patrick Harmon join forces as Divining Rod to offer audiences a brilliantly infectious and intensely satisfying two-track collection of folk-rock-indie-blues fusion. At less than ten minutes long, the experience leaves you wanting more, though the set up of each song means there’s plenty to appreciate as you thrash the repeat button again and again.

Beginning with Hemlock Blues, an instrumentally bright and captivating song erupts into action, driven by a thoughtful sort of energy that inspires you to move forwards or make certain decisions you may otherwise have been pushing to one side. Despite the connotations associated with the blues element of the title, the song is uplifting, energizing, even joyful sounding. The rhythm and the guitar sound combine beautifully, and the artist’s leading voice on top of everything brings a certain believable, indie-rock element to the mix – as opposed to something less natural sounding, a forced blues or country rock accent or false sense of character, for example. There’s an authenticity to the performance which rides alongside of the music in a genuine and exciting new way.

Regardless of the genre labels already touched upon, the song’s melody draws comparisons for me with folk songwriters such as Seth Lakeman – giving reflective and poetic ideas a modern, pop-inspired twist. There’s also a touch of melancholy to the mood that you notice more and more as the song progresses; there’s more space, the lyrics refer to the questioning side of life, the potential struggles. However, the music always pulls you back to that fast moving, wait-for-nothing aura, and this is what creates such a striking effect. The artistic back and forth between emotions, the drifting from the manic to the calm and back again. It’s a powerful way to introduce the project and indeed the work of the artists behind it.

Love Come Tumbling is a much more mellow, acoustic country-rock piece, leaving space now for you to reflect on the music, and creating a relevant arena within which these once again poetic lyrics can really stand tall. The leading artist’s voice is laid fairly bare here, soaked a now familiar level of reverb, but audible in a new sort of way. As the song develops, an experimental rock element begins to show itself. The rhythm evolves fairly consistently, joined by various other gradually appearing moments of instrumentation. The melody has a similarly rhythmic and slowly rising intensity to it, not adhering to the standard, expected structure of verse-chorus-verse-chorus, instead satisfying more of a traveling feeling, a journey through the concept, a musical exploration of ideas.

These two songs together showcases a surprisingly wide range of musical abilities and creative aspirations. There’s a lot to love about it, and as stated, although the project is short, the experience feels big, and the songs are diverse enough to keep you interested time and time again. A live show is a must, for the real-time creativity, the in-the-moment experience, the up front and personal level of passion. Hopefully there’s much more music to come. Use the links below to stay updated.

Download the two track EP via Bandcamp. Find & follow Divining Rod on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram. - Stereo Stickman

Sung with true heart and grit, Divining Rod’s “Hemlock Blues/Love Come Tumbling” represents folk’s glorious future. The energy that drives these two piece alongside is truly spellbinding, with the impressive guitar work giving it a sense of life. By far the true soul of the sound comes from the reassuring, warm vocals that tie the two tracks together. Narratives form over the course of the two pieces, reflecting upon the world and its oftentimes strange ways. Highly articulate, Divining Rod’s work recalls the thoughtful work of the Fleet Foxes, complete with their uncanny ear for melody.

Audio: http://diviningrodband.com/

“Hemlock Blues” dives right into the swing of things, opening the collection off with such vigor. Rushing forward in a fantastic rainbow of colorful hues, the way that the many layers interact in unexpected ways. With the just right western twang to the overall process, the gradual evolution of the track recalls a yearning for a quieter, peaceful world. This setup results in the joyous conclusion of “Love Come Tumbling”. Downright soothing, the piece delves into a temperament akin to watching a running river. Nice and spacious, with this track Divining Rod allows a great deal of space to be explored. Full of intricate detail, harmonica, drums, fuzzed-out guitar, really all of it works itself into a gorgeous groove. Towards the end of the song everything simply dissolves into a form of contentment.

https://www.facebook.com/diviningrod

Divining Rod’s “Hemlock Blues/Love Come Tumbling” surges through with impressive storytelling, clever wordplay, and intricate arrangements.

By Beach Sloth - Skope Mag

Brooklyn based Divining Rod have arrived with a psychedelic-infused, roots rockin’ blend of folk, country rock and Americana vibes with their newest EP, Hemlock Blues / Love Come Tumbling.

Divining Rod is Hawaiian born creative talent and multi-instrumentalist Miyuki Furtado and guitarist Patrick Harmon.

Hemlock Blues kicks off with an uptempo, foot-stompin’ rhythm, bluesy guitars, layers of psychedelic tones and an infectious energy that will have keep your body moving and attention engaged for the entire 4 minutes and 23 seconds. This is an excellent and hard hitting psych-folk-rockin’ track definitely worth repeating. Impeccable musicianship adds to the potency!

Love Come Tumbling delivers soulful vocals, delightful melodies, and a desert wandering vibe which gently builds into an alt-rockin’ progression of distorted guitar lines and a sweet and soaring guitar solo before returning to it’s ballad-esque, folk rockin’ roots.

Divining Rod create masterfully crafted music packed full of passion, soul and depth.

Hemlock Blues / Love Come Tumbling is available in digital and physical formats including CD and Vinyl. You can find all the options on Bandcamp.

You can connect directly with Divining Rod on FB, Twitter or IG. - Middle Tennessee Music

Miyuki Furtado is a multi-instrumentalist that has been playing tunes since he's been a veteran of the New York and Baltimore music scenes. He would branch outward with his musically driven talent, as it would form into a psych-folk-country act he can only title Divining Rod.

"Hemlock Blues / Love Come Tumbling", would be his latest works, as this single release of two tracks, would be quite the kicker. As it keeps true to the style he holds dear. His inspiration of the British folk, American country with country rock, it is how Divining Rod wanted to keep things going in terms of music. As it would sound like this even from his prior works. That pride of passion is true blue to his release right here, even if it is not much but still something. As such, this duo release of tunes, is just very easy listening, while even crafting together such a catchy beat of tone, it keeps the music flowing. The music taking in all of that inspiration that Divining Rod has taken into account all this time, but with these tracks it is done right yet so much better than past material.

Upon the track that is "Hemlock Blues" for instance, that song alone really brings out Divining Rod's abilities as this particular act. The music's set up is pretty flawless, keeping the music in check, with its catchy upbeat tone of art, with such fun it leaves you smiling. "Love Come Tumbling", is a lot like this other number, but it is more or less, its own deal. The track being pleasant yet surprising. The similarities may be alike, but the style is more so direct. It makes the music so much more entertaining it is so much more fun as well.

All in all though, Divining Rod's single release of "Hemlock Blues / Love Come Tumbling", is a piece of art, with music that is crafty, creative, and does not disappoint. It is forever alive and well, with such vivid uniqueness it makes the material that more catching to the ears.

https://www.facebook.com/diviningrod - Nataliez World

Divining Rod is an Americana/Folk-rock project born from multi-instrumentalist Miyuki Furtado. With help from guitarist Patrick Harmon, the duo creates a unique sound combining elements of soul and psych-rock. Their EP 'Hemlock Blues/Love Come Tumbling' gives listeners excitement for what is in store for the duo. Their song, “Love Come Tumbling” is a great way to introduce yourself to their sound.


The song begins with a rhythmic finger-style guitar riff that leads gracefully into the first verse. With the entrance of bass and kick drum, the arrangement begins to build creating a lulling tone. Simultaneously, Miyuki enters singing, “Storms are raging upon your shore/Heart is hanging up on your door /Brother’s singing ‘Hold On Hope’ /Love come tumbling down,” showing off his pristine tone with mesmerizing melodies.

The song has four separate vocal sections divided by killer instrumental progressions that each end with the line “Love come tumbling down.” The lyrics for the song were inspired by a dream that Miyuki had combined with a stellar jam session. With each build in the arrangement, Miyuki and Patrick boast their instrumental prowess. After the third verse, the song breaks into an epic instrumental break with a gradual build that winds back down into the final verse singing, “Blood’s escaping from your heart /That’s the wound in the sweetest spot /Mother’s singing ‘Light Of Love’ /Love come tumbling down.”


“Love Come Tumbling Down” is an entrancing tune that is sure to captivate listeners. Divining Rod is off to a solid start with their project 'Hemlock Blues/Love Come Tumbling Down.' Their music is available for fans on iTunes, Amazon, and other major digital music retailers. For more information on the band, visit their website. - Indie Spoonful

Americana, folk singer-songwriter Miyuki Furtado has announced the release of his debut EP with his newest band Divining Rod, a new direction for the previous member of popular post punk band ‘The Roger Sisters’. The double A side single is set to be released on 28th July 2017 and it illustrates the earliest and the most recent paths Miyuki’s songwriting has taken.

Released under Killipaki Records, Divining Rod take inspiration from the likes of Bert Jansch, Stephen Stills and Fairport Convention to present a soul tinged, country sound, a taste of what is to come from their full album, Return to Crystal Cove, set to be released later this year. During his upbringing in Kauai, Hawaii, Miyuki was surrounded by live music and the inspiration from that environment carries through to the tracks in this EP.

Recorded by grammy-nominated Brian Forbes (Emily King, Bilal), both tracks on the EP have an interesting story behind the lyrics, with Hemlock Blues being a story of the sensationalism of news in the modern day and the repercussions it can have and Love Come Tumbling inspired by a dream of Miyuki’s which lead him to put pen to paper.

‘Hemlock Blues / Love Come Tumbling‘ will be available online via all major stores and more information about Divining Rod and their upcoming live shows can be found on their social media pages.

Read more at http://ventsmagazine.com/2017/07/28/roger-sisters-member-miyuki-furtado-introduces-new-project-divining-rod-ahead-debut-single-release-hemlock-blues-love-come-tumbling/#GUDTWBfbs0bkyHK0.99 - Vents Magazine

Americana, folk singer-songwriter Miyuki Furtado has announced the release of his debut EP with his newest band Divining Rod, a new direction for the previous member of popular post punk band The Roger Sisters. The double A side single was released yesterday and it illustrates the earliest and the most recent paths Miyuki’s songwriting has taken. Released under Killipaki Records, Divining Rod take inspiration from the likes of Bert Jansch, Stephen Stills and Fairport Convention to present a soul tinged, country sound and a taste of what is to come from their full album, ‘Return to Crystal Cove’ which is set to be released later this year. During his upbringing in Kauai, Hawaii, Miyuki was surrounded by live music and the inspiration from that environment carries through to the tracks in this EP. Recorded by grammy-nominated Brian Forbes (Emily King, Bilal), both tracks on the EP have an interesting story behind the lyrics, with Hemlock Blues being a story of the sensationalism of news in the modern day and the repercussions it can have and Love Come Tumbling inspired by a dream of Miyuki’s which lead him to put pen to paper.
‘Hemlock Blues’ is bouncy soul infused Americana that rushes through you like blood in your veins, it’s wholesome and honest with dark sinister tones lying beneath its rooted sound. Rich country twangs fill the track with sharp bursts of refreshing zest while smooth vocals and soft beat add warmth and comfort. Dramatic stops and vibrant guitar twinkles create a delicate yet striking track that is foot tappingly good.
‘Love Come Tumbling’ is a melodic gripping track with a kick drum acting as the heartbeat of the song. Once again sharp bright guitar melodies flicker in and out adding bright little speckles of luminosity. With a sweet instrumental feature Divining Rod display their slick refined musicianship as lush guitar lines and mellow harmonica twangs blend seamlessly with sweet tones creating a well layered lavish experience. Its vocal melody is simple but with a hearty wholesome sound backing this track it is sublime and warming.

These intricate well layered tracks act as the perfect appetiser for the album ‘Return to Crystal Cove’. - Indie Buddie

Around the turn of the millennium, Miyuki Furtado was the sole non-Rogers sister in the spasmodic, no-wave Rogers Sisters, stutter-stopping and “wow wow wow wow”-ing in post-punk anthems like “I Dig a Hole.” His new project, Divining Rod with guitarist Patrick Harmon, is nothing at all like that, instead hewing to more traditional folk and even country influences and a mostly acoustic palette of instruments. This first single, released in July, airs out two drone-y, psychedelic twangers. “Hemlock Blues” the A side has the expansive arc of Kevn Kinney’s trippier solo work or Steve Wynn’s wide open jangly vamping. “Love Comes Tumbling” is more tender and personal, little flutters of guitar picking burbling under slow-moving minor key melodies. It’s a surprising turn, but hey, anybody’s going to come out of the decade we just experienced a bit different, and while Furtado may not be trying to shock anymore, his work is not exactly complacent either. - Dusted Magazine

Divining Rod – ‘Love Come Tumbling’
October 13, 2017 - Bryon William

Divining Rod is an Americana/Folk-rock project born from multi-instrumentalist Miyuki Furtado. With help from guitarist Patrick Harmon, the duo creates a unique sound combining elements of soul and psych-rock. Their EP 'Hemlock Blues/Love Come Tumbling' gives listeners excitement for what is in store for the duo. Their song, “Love Come Tumbling” is a great way to introduce yourself to their sound.

The song begins with a rhythmic finger-style guitar riff that leads gracefully into the first verse. With the entrance of bass and kick drum, the arrangement begins to build creating a lulling tone. Simultaneously, Miyuki enters singing, “Storms are raging upon your shore/Heart is hanging up on your door /Brother’s singing ‘Hold On Hope’ /Love come tumbling down,” showing off his pristine tone with mesmerizing melodies.

The song has four separate vocal sections divided by killer instrumental progressions that each end with the line “Love come tumbling down.” The lyrics for the song were inspired by a dream that Miyuki had combined with a stellar jam session. With each build in the arrangement, Miyuki and Patrick boast their instrumental prowess. After the third verse, the song breaks into an epic instrumental break with a gradual build that winds back down into the final verse singing, “Blood’s escaping from your heart /That’s the wound in the sweetest spot /Mother’s singing ‘Light Of Love’ /Love come tumbling down.”

“Love Come Tumbling Down” is an entrancing tune that is sure to captivate listeners. Divining Rod is off to a solid start with their project 'Hemlock Blues/Love Come Tumbling Down.' Their music is available for fans on iTunes, Amazon, and other major digital music retailers. For more information on the band, visit their website. - Indie Spoonful

Miyuki Furtado is scattered, but in a positive sense. Instrumentally, his contributions to a track, such as “Hemlock Blues,” are varied. Geographically, Furtado was born in Hawaii, but now resides in New York. In terms of genre, he has a Post-Punk background (with The Roger Sisters), but has joined forces with Patrick Harmon as Divining Rod, a Folk-infused Psych Rock band.

Listening to the two tracks released by Divining Rod earlier this year, a common trait is the ability to finish strong. In “Hemlock Blues,” the vocals dropout at 3:23, permitting a focus on the guitar skills of the members. - Indie Obsessive

Hi Miyuki, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Hey! Things are pretty good here at the moment. Summer’s in full swing and the days are getting long and humid.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Hemlock Blues”?
Hemlock Blues is about an agoraphobic shut in who observes the world through a peephole in the front door. Instead of seeing a sunny day with people strolling by this person sees nothing but disease, danger and other potential disaster around every corner. I think it’s easy to become the person in this song more than ever these days. Especially with news sites constantly sensationalizing every single thing happening in this world in an attempt to keep viewers coming back for more.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
The inspiration for this song is a particular person I know. I can also be a fairly paranoid person as some of my friends will tell you. Watching 24 hour news channels has certainly contributed to this.
Any plans to release a video for the single?
Yes! A video for ‘Love Come Tumbling (the other song on the single) will be out any moment! We’ll announce it as soon as it’s ready. My friend, filmmaker Micheal Hanna of Protean Films, shot it sporadically on locations along the Hudson River north of NYC. It was done guerilla style and totally low tech. It features my bandmate, Patrick Harmon, as well as the other members of the live band, bassist Eric Kaye and drummer John Malone. I love how it looks and hope you will too.
The single comes off your new album Return to Crystal Cove – what’s the story behind the title?
Crystal Cove was something I dreamed up symbolizing a safe place from the outside world. It’s also a reference to the 1978 Disney movie, ‘Return To Witch Mountain’ which, if you haven’t seen it, is an uncharacteristically dark and weird Disney movie involving Alien teens on the run. Strangely enough, Crystal Cove turned out to be a real place in Laguna Beach, California that I’ve actually been to. I must’ve forgotten that I was there.
How was the recording and writing process?
Writing for the full length began after I had moved north of NYC. I started playing every imaginable space I could: art galleries, living room shows, front porch jams, the back of pickup trucks. You name it and I would play it. Over the course of the year I had 12 songs written. I’m a drummer as well as a bassist so I mapped out a way to play nearly every instrument. My bandmate, Patrick, provided a great deal of melodic guitar parts as well as some lovely backing vocals. The recording was done over the winter here and there. Anytime we could go in, we would. It was usually done in long, 12/15 hour stretches.
What was it like to work with Brian Forbes and how did that relationship develop?
I loved working with Brian. He’s got a great room at Alternative Dimension Studios and knows how to capture interesting moments. Brian is musically well versed and extremely creative in tracking and arranging. We worked very well together even at our furiously fast pace. We finished tracking
12 songs in a handful of days. He was recommended to me by Patrick. His band, A Party Faithful, recorded with him. A truly great fantastic experience.
How much did he influence the album?
I had a very distinct idea of how I wanted the record to sound but Brian helped with some arrangements and the overall lushness of sound. He’s a fantastic mixer and talented producer with a keen intellect and love of furious political debate.
After a long time in the pop punk scene, what made you want to seek for a whole new direction?
I did a ton of touring when I was in the Rogers Sisters. We were constantly collecting records and songs wherever we went. Jennifer Rogers turned me onto a lot of 60’s British Folk like Pentangle, Fairport Convention and Bert Jansch. I’ve loved country and country rock like the Flying Burrito Brothers and CSNY for a long, long while. I suppose the biggest change in my sound began with the arrival of my daughter. When she was an infant, I would write and record during her her naps. That definitely resulted in a quieter sound overall. It also changed my approach to writing for the better.
Was this something you always wanted to give it a shot?
I was sort of just writing songs and playing for the sake of being creative and the love of perfroming.
I hadn’t thought of properly releasing a record until recently. More specifically after my father passed last year. I suddenly felt the march of time much more acutely.
Where did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?
One song on ‘Return To Crystal Cove’ (Darling Down The Row) was written for my father. I finished the lyrics while tending to him during his final few weeks. I still feel him every time I play it. The other song inspirations are all over the map: Religious fanatics, Greek mythology, parenthood and, most notably, love. Love in all it’s forms. From selfless love to heartbreak. ‘Love Come Tumbling’ is a song I wrote by accident. I was fooling around with loops and ended up with a mis-timed guitar phrase. I really liked the way it sounded: a sort of Franken-song with parts from a country gallop sewn together with melodies I heard when I lived in West Africa. The lyrics are parts of a dream I had one night. I scribbled sentences down in the morning before I forgot them. At first, I thought most of it didn’t make a lick of sense. I even had a hard time reading my terrible handwriting.
Any plans to hit the road?
Totally. We hope to get going late fall onward. We would really love to get to the UK and Europe soon.
What else is happening next in Divining Rod’s world?
I’m actually working on the next record! Hoping to begin recording after some touring!

Read more at http://ventsmagazine.com/2017/07/31/interview-divining-rod/#zRld0gBC2QD7meZJ.99 - VENTS Magazine

By Robert Firpo-Cappiello

Like many Westchester dads, Irvington’s Miyuki Furtado traded Brooklyn for a quieter life in the ‘burbs right around the time he became a father. Unlike most, however, Furtado also traded a life of round-the-world rock-n-roll touring for afternoons strumming an acoustic guitar while his daughter napped.

Those quiet moments of guitar playing would lead Furtado to launch a new musical identity, the folk/psych band Divining Rod, which will release its new album, “Return to Crystal Cove,” in early 2018. As a preview of the highly anticipated album, the band has released a double A-side single, “Hemlock Blues / Love Come Tumbling,” via Kilipaki Records (visit diviningrodband.com for downloads).

An Irvington resident since 2008, Furtado made the unusual transition from singing, writing, and playing bass for the Brooklyn-based post-punk band The Rogers Sisters to reimagining his musical language as a solo acoustic singer/songwriter as he raised his child, made repairs to his new home, and ventured into the rivertowns’ musical scene at farmers’ markets, churches, living rooms, and art galleries. “Working around my daughter’s schedule made me rethink the way I write music,” Furtado recalls. “It definitely makes you more focused and disciplined. While writing, I was listening to music by slack key masters like Gabby and Cyril Pahinui as well as British folk guitarists, Bert Jansch and Richard Thompson. I also have a deep love of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, Manassas, and the Byrds as well as the ‘outlaw country’ music of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Joe Ely. After I had enough songs, I wanted to play them out but I felt out of touch with my old music scene in the city. So when I moved to Irvington, I resolved to play everywhere and as often as I could. It was though I was starting a new life. It was a humbling, yet freeing experience.”

“Return to Crystal Cove” is a deeply personal project for Furtado, drawing on diverse musical and personal influences ranging from his early childhood in Kauai, Hawaii, to the unexpected, shattering experience of losing his father, Gilbert Furtado, to cancer in 2016. “I flew out west to care for my dad,” says Furtado. “Toward the end, we talked for hours through the night. Then when he couldn’t talk, I sat with him in silence realizing that when we look back on life, the grand moments are not necessarily the most impactful. It’s the little moments, which may seem fleeting or unimportant, that are the ones that we remember. Like how the sun felt on our faces the day we went swimming together, or the comforting scent of your pillow at home. I wanted to write songs about those little moments. The ones that remind us that we’re alive.”

“I returned home eventually after my father passed and started work on the record. It really is the one that I felt I had to make,” Furtado says. His new sense of creative energy and urgency led him to return to the recording studio with a new collaborator. Patrick Harmon, a guitarist and vocalist of the Brooklyn psych-pop band A Party Faithful, creates a sonically captivating landscape of textured guitar that is the perfect counterpoint to Furtado’s country/folk/tropicalia-inflected work on guitar, bass, and drums. (If you’ve ever wondered what a collaboration between the late-’60s British folk-rock band Fairport Convention and the groundbreaking Irish group My Bloody Valentine might sound like, Divining Rod’s recent work may be the closest you’ll ever get.) The pair worked with Grammy-nominated producer/mixer/engineer Brian Forbes at a fast, creative pace, recording the dozen new songs in a matter of days.

One of Furtado’s favorite songs on “Return To Crystal Cove” is “The Silver Ship,” inspired by his life as a father. “It’s about how raising a child, though an incredible experience, can sometimes make you feel very inept and desperate and alone. Then you go from feeling like you’re about to break to feeling deliriously happy. It’s disorienting. But if you can let go of your fear and insecurities, you can move toward feeling more at ease. It’s challenging for sure, but I wouldn’t change it for all the tours in the world.”

Moving forward is what Furtado and Divining Rod are all about these days, with recent shows at New York City hotspots such as Mercury Lounge, Lovecraft Bar NYC, and HiFi, and at Baltimore’s Reverb, and a new music video for “Love Come Tumbling” coming soon. If you follow Divining Rod on social media, you can get the scoop on upcoming gigs in rivertowns venues, where you can hear this unique band’s groundbreaking sonic – and emotional –landscapes in person. - The Hudson Independent

Divining Rod is a project lead by Miyuki Furtado, a multi-instrumentalist who operates in the New York and Baltimore scenes. The A side off their recent single, "Those Were The Dais," is a wonderfully epic jam, packed with drawling, Lou Reed-esque vocals, not-too-pretentious guitar solos, and a great nod to the 60's and 70's vibes with references ranging from Simon and Garfunkel to Bert Jansch.
-Jake Saunders - The Deli Magazine

OK, it’s honesty time. Though we can mostly all agree that NYC, with the emergence of Brooklyn DIYs and the ability of the internet to stream albums to LA A&Rs faster than you can say Best New Music®©™, has once again become America’s preeminent music mating pit, the city’s folk scene has remained comparatively infantile (not so much in quality as development). Gotham gig vet Miyuki Furtado’s newest project, Divining Rod, however, is exactly the kind of band that could kickstart an urban folk movement in the already flannelled and bearded bastions of Brooklyn. Or maybe it won’t, who cares? The only thing that matters is that Divining Rod will be at Glasslands on Sunday for this weekend’s best show. Be there. - My Social List

Nashville's Torres (aka Mackenzie Scott) came to NYC over the weekend for her first two shows here, having played Cake Shop on Friday (2/22) and The Paper Box on Sunday (2/24). Mackenzie's voice is great live and her band sounded well-practiced and really tight, as they brought a sincere mix of folk, country, grunge and punk to back Mackenzie's personal lyrics. We caught her Paper Box show (and as you can see from the quote above, Sharon Van Etten caught her Cake Shop show), and more pictures from that show, including openers Mainland and Divining Rod, are below. - Brooklyn Vegan

Nashville's Torres (aka Mackenzie Scott) came to NYC over the weekend for her first two shows here, having played Cake Shop on Friday (2/22) and The Paper Box on Sunday (2/24). Mackenzie's voice is great live and her band sounded well-practiced and really tight, as they brought a sincere mix of folk, country, grunge and punk to back Mackenzie's personal lyrics. We caught her Paper Box show (and as you can see from the quote above, Sharon Van Etten caught her Cake Shop show), and more pictures from that show, including openers Mainland and Divining Rod, are below. - Brooklyn Vegan

OK, it’s honesty time. Though we can mostly all agree that NYC, with the emergence of Brooklyn DIYs and the ability of the internet to stream albums to LA A&Rs faster than you can say Best New Music®©™, has once again become America’s preeminent music mating pit, the city’s folk scene has remained comparatively infantile (not so much in quality as development). Gotham gig vet Miyuki Furtado’s newest project, Divining Rod, however, is exactly the kind of band that could kickstart an urban folk movement in the already flannelled and bearded bastions of Brooklyn. Or maybe it won’t, who cares? The only thing that matters is that Divining Rod will be at Glasslands on Sunday for this weekend’s best show. Be there. - My Social List