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Animal Collective’s Avey Tare Talks Strains for Songwriting

Published on April 9, 2019 · Last updated July 28, 2020
Animal Collective's Avey Tare just released new LP 'Cows on Hourglass Pond.' (Courtesy of Madelyn Anderson)
Animal Collective's Avey Tare just released new LP 'Cows on Hourglass Pond.' (Courtesy of Madelyn Anderson)

Since forming nearly two decades ago, the musical group Animal Collective has managed the remarkable feat of keeping the psychedelic pop of the 1960s fresh and relevant to a new generation of music lovers. Over the course of ten studio albums, the group, originally from Baltimore, MD, has explored both trippy, disorienting soundscapes, and gorgeous pop songwriting, in equal measure.

Last week, we met up with the group’s co-frontman Dave Portner —who performs as Avey Tare —to hear about the role of cannabis in his songwriting. Beyond being great music to listen to high, we discovered that cannabis is truly baked into his songs’ DNA.

Portner is currently on the road behind a new solo album, Cows on Hourglass Pond. Featuring sweet melodies alongside dreamy, spaced-out arrangements, the record highlights everything fans have come to love from his work.

Listen in as Portner walks us through his history with cannabis, including the music that he first heard high, as well his favorite strains, and the specific roles that cannabis plays in his songwriting.

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The Hash, Season 4, Episode 13: Animal Collective’s Avey Tare

Love Blue Dream?

Strains Mentioned in This Episode

●    Blue Dream

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●    Tangerine Dream

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Avey Tare prefers Tangerine Dream and Blue Dream. (Courtesy of Madelyn Anderson)

Avey Tare prefers Tangerine Dream and Blue Dream. “I like to be creative, be energetic.” (Courtesy of Madelyn Anderson)

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Leafly Podcasts bring the latest in cannabis news, products, and culture directly to your ears each week. Subscribe to The Roll-Up, What Are You Smoking?, The Hash, and The High Life on podcast outlets like iTunes, Spotify, and beyond.
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