Built on Bones has a mystical vibe and although “spooky season” may have come and gone, the latest project from Emily Scott Robinson is a twist on a familiar tragic tale that has stood the test of time – dating back to the Elizabethan era of the 1600s. Robinson’s Built on Bones delves into the story of The Three Witches of Macbeth. The collection of songs came to be when friend and theatre director, Colin Sullivan, requested Emily compose music for a production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth at the Telluride Theatre, which she directed the music for and performed in the role of Hecate.

Photo by Neighborhoods Apart Productions

As the story goes, the three witches prophesize Macbeth will become the King of Scotland. Their prediction poisons Macbeth with greed and acts of evil which ultimately lead to his demise. The witches are described as ugly and unearthly with rhymed speech and potions. Robinson, instead, challenged the interpretation: “What if the Witches were instead beautiful, tempting, sexy, powerful and playful? What if the Witches held the capacity, just like Macbeth, for both light and dark magic? After all, in the time of King James I and the witch trials in England, the ‘witches’ targeted by the Crown were not supernatural beings—they were folk healers, spiritualists and teachers. We envisioned a version of the show where we gave the Witches a powerful voice, and in doing so, belied the history of violence against women and their magic.”

To make this happen, Emily recruited the ethereal harmonies of Alisa Amador and Lizzy Ross of Violet Bell to represent the modern adaptation of this story. It was all produced by the talented and hardworking Brandy Zdan, who is a masterful singer-songwriter in her own right. “In making this record, Lizzy, Alisa, Brandy and I held in our hearts the intention to heal the lineage of women who came before us and declare that our power and magic cannot be controlled or snuffed out by a violent patriarchy of fearful men.”

Robinson and Zdan also enlisted Ellen Angelico (electric guitar, baritone guitar), Josh Grange (pedal steel, piano, electric guitar), Aaron Haynes (drums), Vanessa McGowan (bass), Eamon McLoughlin (fiddle), Teddy Morgan (bass), Kaitlyn Raitz (cello) and Kristin Weber (violin, string arrangements) to complete the team.

From the opening title track, “Built on Bones,” to the closing “Men and Moons,” Robinson spins an impassioned narrative of men’s literal and figurative battles to obtain power.

Rising, falling men and moons… Life will come and life will go /

With nothing at the end to show / For sound and fury, rivers flood /

To wash the field of battle’s blood

Originally written for the theatrical project, “Old Gods” is also the lead track from Robinson’s 2021 Oh Boy Records debut release, American Siren.

Conjuring mesmerizing spells, “Double, Double” takes directly from the script to craft the chorus.

Double, double toil and trouble / Fire burn and cauldron bubble

The music video portrays the three “witches” as powerful, sexy, beguiling young women rather than the ragged, ugly, squalid old women the original story depicts.

Emily Scott Robinson has a keen ability to construct her usual folk-song style to recreate a poignant account of this Shakespearian tragedy. The enchanting harmonies of Amador and Ross combined with Brandy Zdan’s production wit and understanding of the message being conveyed makes this a body of work that will endure as long as Macbeth continues being performed.

You can find more about Emily Scott Robinson below: