Artist to Watch: Margo Cilker Discovers Her Sense of Place on ‘Pohorylle’ – The Boot

Margo Cilker has long had an eagerness to get in touch and explore the world around her. This wanderlust echoes throughout the nine songs on her sparkling debut Pohorylle, from the country jazz get-up Tehachapi to album opener That River, Flood Plain and everything in between.

A native to the San Francisco Bay area, Cilker now resides with her partner in South Central Washington. Previously, her travels have led her to Enterprise, Ore.; Clemson, S.C. and Spain, all helping to inform and shape the sound and perspectives present throughout Pohorylle.

I feel like Im always living one town ahead of the press, Cilker says to The Boot. Ever since I began touring Ive wanted to find a place where I could settle down with a small town community that was full of natural beauty.

Cilkers wanderlust was bestowed on her by her parents, who constantly took her on hikes and trips to Mexico to visit her eccentric uncle during her youth. It was in Mexico that she became amazed with how much music was ingrained in the culture there. That sense of adventure led Cilker to travel east to attend Clemson University, where she eventually went to study abroad in Spain.

While there, her musical ambitions and influences continued to grow. Cilkerbumped into and eventually joined a band performing Creedence Clearwater Revival and Neil Young covers. She also became captivated by the local Basque culture of the region, which is reflected on Pohorylle in the romanticism of her songwriting and subtleties in arrangements, including the additions of horns and accordion.

My inspiration has always come from being around nature and new places, says Cilker. Im blessed to have parents that always took me to explore the woods and backcountry. My grandparents also have an amazing farm tucked into California's Trinity County thats full of mountains with a river winding through. Its long been one of my favorite places to go for inspiration.

One of the songs most directly influenced by Cilkers travels is the swinging Tehachapi. The trackwas inspired by Cilkers cross-country expedition home to the Pacific Northwest after dropping out of school at Clemson that took her through Tehachapi, a small town just east of Bakersfield, Calif. Cilker recalls Little Feats Willin another song that references Tehachapi being her anthem at the time, further contributing to her wonder as she passed through town.

It was a very cathartic moment rolling through town, says Cilker. At the time I wrote the song I was rooted in one place, so a lot of its contents are me reminiscing on my travels while also exploring the contrast of being in one place compared to moving around.

However, Cilkers lust for exploration isnt the only topic explored in the album. She also touches on abuse and personal injury in Broken Arm In Oregon and exposes the flaws in southern tropes on Kevin Johnson. She later reflects on the feeling of helplessness against authority, subjugation and the angst of young women in todays world with Brother Taxman Preacher.

The song touches on how many of our societal structures were designed to benefit predominantly white men, from brothers (So I could light up every room / That I ever walked through / All that matters is / What's in your head that's true) to the taxman (I could go from door to door / Incriminating all the unlucky and the poor) and the preacher (I could tell you who to love / I could tell you who to vote for / Who to pity, who to f---)

That song is me crafting something productive out of the dark feelings that I have, says Cilker. The constructive nature of music is so healing to me. Part of being a writer is going through traumatic experiences and being able to make something beautiful out of them.

Helping to breathe even more life into all facets of the album are harmonies throughout from Margos sister, Sarah Cilker. Their musical bondwas forged at a young age, thanks in part to their grandmother Esther, who herself was the childof a preacher, and one of his fourdaughters who traveled around performing in a family band.

Whenever Esther and I are together, we always break into song, says Cilker. I feel like I got my musical work ethic from her. She taught me that when you have a good voice its important to use that God given ability you were blessed with to spread happiness and love into the world.

Cilker has done just that with Pohorylle and will look to do the same with her highly anticipated follow up whichshe recently began recording in Vancouver, Wash. Shell also bring that joy to the people on her upcoming tour dates out west with Hayes Carll and overseas in Europe this summer and fall. You can seeCilkers upcoming itinerary below and find additional ticketing information at her official website.

Margo Cilker2022 Tour Dates:

April 19 The Commonwealth Room Salt Lake City, UtahApril 20 The Olympic Venue Boise, Idaho*April 21 Tractor Tavern Seattle, Wash.*April 22 Tractor Tavern Seattle, Wash.*April 23 Aladdin Theater Portland, Ore*April 24 Arcata Theatre Lounge Arcata, Calif*April 26 Harlow's Restaurant & Nightclub Sacramento, Calif*April 27 The Guild Theatre Menlo Park, Calif*April 28 Great American Music Hall San Francisco, Calif*May 1 Kilkenny Roots Festival Kilkenny, IE (2 sets)May 2 Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival Belfast, UKMay 3 Ruby Sessions Dublin, IEMay 4 Workmans Cellar Dublin, IEMay 6 Poetry Club Glasgow, UKMay 8 The Cluny Newcastle, UKMay 10 The Blue Basement London, UKMay 12 The Great Escape Festival Brighton, UKMay 21 Fisherman's Village Music Festival Everett, Wash.June 2 Schellraiser Music Festival Mcgill, Nev.June 18 Lost Art Music Festival Douglasville, Ga.July 2 High Sierra Music Festival Quincy, Calif.Sept. 1 End Of The Road Festival Salisbury, UKSept. 3 Moseley Folk Festival Birmingham, UKSept. 21 Ideal Bar Kbenhavn, DKSept. 22 Kulturkvarteret Kristianstad Kristianstad, SESept. 23 Folk Rock Malm, SESept. 24 Garage Bar Hgans, SESept. 27 Belleville, Oslo Oslo, NOSept. 28 Bar Moskus Trondheim, NOSept. 29 Captain James Cook stersund, SESept. 30 Kulturvven Ume, SEOct. 1 Gasklockorna Gavle Gvle, SEOct. 2 Bryggarsalen Konferens, Event & Konsert Stockholm, SE

* dates opening for Hayes Carll

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Artist to Watch: Margo Cilker Discovers Her Sense of Place on 'Pohorylle' - The Boot