Dhani Harrison and Nigel Godrich Soar As Dragonflies

A new sonic journey is taking flight, as musicians Dhani Harrison and Nigel Godrich have teamed up for a collaborative project titled Dragonflies. This exciting venture culminates in a self-titled debut album set to arrive on September 18 through Dark Horse Records/BMG.

The launch of the project is accompanied by the release of their first single, “Slower,” an atmospheric opening track that immediately sets a mood for the entire endeavor. The single is visually enhanced by a surreal, hand-drawn video created by Bristol animator and director RUFFMERCY, adding another layer of artistic depth to the announcement.

Dragonflies is more than just a recording; it is a deep dive into intertwined creative histories. Harrison, the son of George Harrison and a fixture in the worlds of the newno2 and Fistful of Mercy, had an established history of musical exploration. His connection with Godrich began during the pandemic when Harrison sought advice on music that would eventually shape this ambitious project.

The collaboration itself was defined by a unique, almost spontaneous approach. In Nigel Godrich’s Brixton studio, the pair worked with tape loops and raw energy, embracing a process where ideas were thrown into the air and caught with equal abandon. As Godrich noted, the creative flow felt less like meticulous planning and more like an instinctive dance between two minds.

This freedom extended to Harrison’s artistic role. Rather than overseeing every detail of production, he focused on singing and guitar, allowing Godrich to shape the musical architecture in real time. “He’s a machine,” Harrison explained, describing Godrich’s sharp instincts about what music should sound like, which provided a humbling and novel experience for him.

The resulting sound of Dragonflies is a richly textured blend of organic instrumentation infused with shimmering electronic textures, resulting in what the duo describes as “earthbound space rock.” The sonic palette draws inspiration from diverse figures, including Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, Japan’s David Sylvian, and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto.

The project features a carefully curated blend of talents; percussion is contributed by Joey Waronker, Godrich’s bandmate from Ultraísta and Atoms for Peace, while strings woven into tracks like “In Between” come from renowned arranger David Campbell, father of Beck.

The name Dragonflies carries personal significance for Harrison. He described the symbol as representing spiritual enlightenment, adding a layer of mythology to their work. When Nigel suggested the name, he felt an immediate connection, noting that seeing a dragonfly strikes him as inherently magical.