Biography

Dusted is the solo project helmed by singer/songwriter and Holy Fuck founder Brian Borcherdt. His latest release, aptly titled III, is a 12-track collection of minimal, acoustic-based gems, many of which were crafted from the remains of nearly forgotten demos. Though these songs came back to him by way of a dream, their hiding place couldn’t have been more rooted in reality - a beat-up old laptop with a smashed kiwi fruit stuffed in the mic input. Inspired by the unadorned style of 2012’s Total Dust, the live guitar/ vocal takes were recorded over three days at Toronto's Palace Sound. Before the album could be finished Brian felt compelled to move his family back to rural Nova Scotia. In spite of this near interruption Dusted III was finished on a lake amongst birds and rain (which are both audible in the background). While often haunting, the results evoke a certain joy; these songs are not so much about letting go as they are about learning what to hold on to. While Dusted is more based in traditional song-writing there still remains the experimental elements of his other work. Having appeared in many musical guises (LIDS, Chipmunks on 16 Speed) Borcherdt is best known for forming the internationally successful, Polaris Prize-shortlisted electro-experimental band Holy Fuck, whose most recent album Deleter was released at the beginning of 2020. Dusted III is a further stage in this musical evolution that, fittingly for 2021, offers a meditation on change and rebirth.