SeFa LoCo and the Art of the Unknown

We live in a left brain culture, with lots of structure embedded in the ways we think and view the world. Much of the music created in the past century has followed a set of rules and principles, some written down and others so obvious that they’re just assumed. One unwritten principle is that proper music is composed at a point in time, set in some fixed form and then performed later, exactly as scripted. The centrality of planning in music-making is so embedded in our culture that few ever question, or even consider it. But where does this belief come from? Is it valid as a basic truth? And if not, what are we missing?

In episode 37 of the Right Brain Music Podcast we consider such questions through the words and remarkable music of SeFa LoCo. The title is “The Art of the Unknown,” and that summarizes how they make music. It’s all about plunging into the unknown, without a plan. They turn the unwritten rule on its head. A few of their revelations may surprise you.

So what is SeFa LoCo?

This free improv quartet was born out of percussionist Ron Coulter’s Creative Music Series in Casper, Wyoming. Other members of the group include guitarist Farrell Lowe, saxophonist Bret Sexton and bassist Mike Facey. Together, fueled by decades of experimentation, performance and recording, they are a formidable force on stage and in the recording studio. They’ve released four albums with Right Brain Records, and more are in the pipeline.

Another distinctive characteristic of SeFa LoCo is that they invite guest improvisers to join them in intense free improv sessions. Trumpet master Hugh Ragin is one such guest, and they’ve released two albums together this year — Entanglements from last spring, and Occurrency on September 30. Another, with woodwind luminary Vinny Golia, will arrive in early 2023. Each new guest yields entirely new threads of creation, all intentionally unplanned.

Listen to the episode and explore the unknown with Ron, Farrell and Bret.

The truth will set you free—and vice versa.

Here’s a playlist for the episode:

1. “All Nervous,” from Creosote

2. “Expensive,” from Entanglements

3. “All Over That” from Wrong Turns

4. “Dance & Decay,” from Dance & Decay (winter 2023)

5. “Tainted,” from Occurrency

6. “PplpP,” from Creosote.

Explore the music of SeFa LoCo here.

Join our email list to hear about future releases and podcast episodes.