‘FINDING MYSTERY’. Sarah Elstran (pictured above), the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist behind The Nunnery has released her fifth record, Ascending — a collection centered on movement, fluidity and nostalgia. The record was distributed first — in late September — on vinyl through a partnership with Abraxas Wax (320 Graham Ave. Suite 102) in downtown Eau Claire.

“For this particular project, I (thought), ‘I'm going to make a vinyl,’ ” Sarah Elstran, the improvisational vocalist and musician behind Eau Claire's The Nunnery, said.

We chatted over cups of coffee on a quiet Monday morning in her home and makeshift recording studio, Sarah describing the intentionality behind The Nunnery's latest record, Ascending, which was released in late September. 

The project was first shared by local record purveyor Abraxas Wax (320 Graham Ave. Suite 102) in downtown Eau Claire – only available on vinyl. 

This intentional choice was a culmination of over eight years of collaboration, previous record releases, live improvisations and life’s changing circumstances, Sarah said.

In Ascending, The Nunnery is ready to share her interpretations of nostalgia, mothering and life’s ebbs and flows — each tethered to Sarah’s personal experiences in the natural world.

Ascending album cover. The image — captured by Sarah herself over eight years ago — was taken on Lake Wissota in Chippewa County. (Cover art by Isaac Ruder)

“Figuring out what the whole (record) as a piece (would become) was really gradual — it was all very melodic,” Sarah said. “It was unintentional how long I spent on it; these songs, all of them, really just unveiled themselves.”

Woven together through imagery and soundscapes of natural elements, natural local bodies of water — including the lapping shorelines of the Chippewa River and Lake Wissota — reveal a story of constant movement for The Nunnery.

Ascending's nine total tracks explore these rippling themes; each mirrors beauty found in recurring routines while also embracing the freedom of breaking away.

Sarah reflected on how art often mimics nature. Water, a significant part of her environment, heavily influenced her songwriting process and the visuals for The Nunnery's album cover as well as the beginning track, “Ocean Chorus.”

“I definitely feel the most visually connected to what water is,” Sarah said. “A fluid, flowing, changing and gathering of momentum. Even in a lake, water is constantly moving and changing. It’s also adaptable in thinking about (water) in different forms.”

Conceptualizations of clarity and abundance — both drawn from water — are valuable aspects not only in Sarah's personal life but also in her project, The Nunnery.

Yet, there comes a distinct shift when flipping the Ascending vinyl from side A to side B, much like the change in an ocean’s current. The Nunnery moves away from its earlier ambient and improvisational soundscapes, and a new — collaborative — sound takes form.

Along the shores of the Chippewa River — and other bodies of water in the area — Sarah has found a space to play, reflect and ideate. More often than not, she can't resist the temptation of taking a "quick dip."

Ascending received support from a diverse group of musicians and creatives, including Ward Snauwaert, Jonas Pinnau of Tonebox Music, Lars-Erik Larson, Nicholas Elstran, Isaac Ruder and Al Church.

Their contributions came from years of friendship in Eau Claire and across the world, even as far as Belgium.

Much of The Nunnery’s live performances and recording demos are inspired by “giving prompts,” she said. These prompts, Sarah described, can be emotional, comedic, or even reference something as specific as fruit from her grandmother’s peach tree, as seen in track seven's title, “Peaches.”

When reflecting on the longer tracks of the album — “Finding Mystery” and “To Stay” — Sarah shared how she envisioned taking listeners on a new progression, mirrored by her live improvisational journeys from records past but with new discoveries along the way.

“(Side B) is showcasing something I think, sonically, I want to experiment with more moving forward,” Sarah said. “I don’t want any parameters or expectations of where I’ve been.

“I love the idea of getting people to move their bodies; I love the surprising twists of genre. I wanted to showcase all of those things,” she added.

Ascending, currently distributed by Seth Larson of Abraxas Wax, is viewed by both Seth and Sarah as a “trial run” for a future model where independent musicians can contribute to a local, circular economy.

"the experience of putting (a vinyl) physically on — watching the needle come down... I think that’s such a treat."

Sarah elstran

musician, the nunnery

“Sarah has really supported me, so I wanted to support her,” Seth shared over the register at the local record shop. “I think it’s just really what record stores are supposed to do; they are supposed to help as much as they can with local music. Otherwise, why would we be here?”

Despite this being Seth’s first go at distribution with an independent musician, Abraxas Wax is no stranger to shipping out records and music to listeners near and far.

Ascending, pictured center, nestled in among a display of vinyl records at Abraxas Wax in downtown Eau Claire.

The Ascending vinyl has since been mailed out to individuals in Washington, Colorado, and Maryland – and, of course, local pickups by friends and family in Eau Claire.

“It’s nerve-wracking — doing something like (this) — but I just really want more people to do it so it ‘stamps’ Eau Claire,” Seth added.

While Ascending was made for analog listening formats, Sarah noted the complete record will also be available on major streaming platforms in November. Listeners can also purchase the record online through Bandcamp and receive access to the tracks in a digital format.

As Ascending remains music for listeners to slow down and listen to via vinyl, this approach signals a calling to a pre-digital landscape in the Chippewa Valley's music scene — as waves reveal treasures and ephemera of past landscapes scattered along a shoreline.

“The treasure in the experience of putting something physically on — watching the needle come down... I think that’s such a treat,” Sarah said. “Every time you play a vinyl it actually is stripped down a little bit and changes. That’s how music should be.”

Purchase a physical copy of The Nunnery’s fifth record, Ascending, in Eau Claire at Abraxas Wax (320 Graham Ave. Suite 102, Eau Claire). To learn more about The Nunnery’s upcoming live performances, visit their web page online at thenunnerymusic.com.