Elisa Thorn’s “The Garden” is an Ethereal, Experimental Folk Offering That Moves Through Memory, Time, and Tenderness
Vancouver-based harpist, vocalist, and composer Elisa Thorn shares her latest single, “The Garden,” a gentle, nostalgic, and experimental folk track that reflects on memory, grief, and the inner landscape of the self across time.
Inspired by a long-form sound collage Thorn created in 2021 called The Years In Between, “The Garden” explores the idea that all versions of ourselves – past, present, and future – exist within us simultaneously. Through this sonic meditation, Thorn invites listeners to reflect on the idea of traveling across time to nurture the inner child, commune with our ancestors, or simply sit with the stillness of self-discovery.
The song’s title references a deeply personal moment: a final conversation between Thorn and her grandmother. As her grandmother lay on her deathbed, she whispered, “Don’t worry darling, I found the secret garden.” That phrase, and the spiritual peace it implied, became the heart of the song – a place that transcends time and holds space for healing.
“The Garden” was co-produced with David Vertesi, who contributed bass and helped shape the track’s ethereal atmosphere. Everything beyond the vocals and bass comes from the harp itself, transformed through creative sound design to stretch the instrument’s possibilities into dreamy, ambient textures. One of the track’s standout moments is the delayed harp line that closes the song; it’s one of Thorn’s favourite parts to play live.
“This song is brief in words but deep in feeling. The image of the willow tree, which comes up often in my dreams, represents refuge for my younger self. It’s the kind of place I tell my loved ones to meet me in spirit – ‘meet you by the willow tree’ is my version of ‘sweet dreams.’ I hope this piece gives people a sense of calm and introspection. It’s about stillness, and the quiet magic of self-connection.“
Thorn’s upcoming solo album, xiik, set to arrive in Fall 2025, expands on the themes introduced in “The Garden,” exploring time, selfhood, and transformation. She describes the project with a wink as “experimental indie for the bathtub” – music that invites reflection but refuses to stay confined to one genre or mood.