Elisa Thorn Finds Stillness and Spirit in New Single “The Garden”

With her latest single “The Garden,” Vancouver-based harpist, vocalist, and composer Elisa Thorn offers a haunting meditation on time, grief, and the quiet power of self-reflection. Gently experimental and emotionally resonant, the track weaves ambient textures with elements of folk, crafting a sonic space that feels sacred and unbound by linear time. It’s a place to reconnect—with oneself, with memory, with ancestors—and a compelling introduction to Thorn’s upcoming solo album xiik, due in fall 2025.

At the heart of “The Garden” lies a deeply personal moment. As her grandmother lay on her deathbed, she whispered to Thorn: “Don’t worry darling, I found the secret garden.” That one sentence—both comforting and enigmatic—planted the seed for what would become the emotional and spiritual anchor of the song. In Thorn’s hands, “The Garden” becomes more than just a song. It’s a place. A portal. A still point where past, present, and future selves exist simultaneously.

Inspired by a long-form sound collage she created in 2021 called The Years In Between, Thorn uses “The Garden” to continue her exploration of nonlinear time and the inner landscapes we carry with us. “This song is brief in words but deep in feeling,” she shares. “The image of the willow tree, which comes up often in my dreams, represents a 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.’”

Sonically, “The Garden” is subtle, immersive, and deceptively complex. Co-produced by David Vertesi (also on bass), the track features only Thorn’s vocals, harp, and ambient textures—all built from the harp itself. Through imaginative sound design, she pushes the instrument’s boundaries, transforming its familiar tones into shimmering waves and atmospheric undercurrents. The result is a sound world that is both earthy and otherworldly, grounded in human emotion but drifting through a dreamlike haze.

One of Thorn’s favorite moments in the track is the delayed harp line that closes the song—a live performance element that adds a sense of lingering echo, like a thought or feeling you’re not ready to let go of. That emotional residue is part of what gives “The Garden” its quiet power. It doesn’t insist. It invites. It sits with you in the stillness.

“The Garden” also sets the tone for xiik, Thorn’s upcoming solo album, which continues to explore themes of transformation, memory, and the multiplicity of self. Playfully described by Thorn as “experimental indie for the bathtub,” the album invites deep listening without ever feeling heavy-handed. Instead, it creates a safe sonic space—one that’s curious, emotionally honest, and genre-fluid.

As an artist, Elisa Thorn (pronounced eh-LEE-sah) is difficult to pin down—and that’s precisely the point. Her music spans genres from experimental folk and ambient to jazz and contemporary classical. She’s known for her fearless sonic explorations and boundary-pushing compositions, as well as her role as a collaborator and community leader within Vancouver’s vibrant music scene.

Thorn has performed at festivals across Canada and Europe and has collaborated with a wide array of artists, including Haley Blais, Mother Mother, Ora Cogan, Loscil, and Tonye Aganaba. She curates the beloved Woodland Patio Series, an outdoor concert series in Vancouver, and is an associate with the Vancouver Improvised Music Society. Through these efforts, she continues to foster community and create opportunities for experimental musicians and audiences to connect in meaningful ways.

With “The Garden,” Elisa Thorn doesn’t just share a song—she offers a space of emotional refuge. In its soft layers and dreamlike imagery, listeners may find echoes of their own secret gardens, where memory and spirit meet, and where the soul is free to pause, reflect, and breathe.