Summer Is Calling for Haunting Folk Songs With Thee Phibbs’ Newest Album

Ari and Jay Principi of Thee Phibbs performing on stage. Photo by Ashley Lynne.

When they moved back to Rhode Island after a stint in Colorado, Ari and Jay Principi knew they wanted to make an album. The married couple have both always created music, with Jay having been in a band for years and Ari frequently writing lyrics while dabbling in guitar and clarinet. It wasn’t until their move back from Colorado to Rhode Island four years ago that the two decided to join forces and create their band, Thee Phibbs, an Americana folk magic band with spooky sounds and thoughtful lyrics.

“We have so much fun, it’s great. We’re just goofing around the whole time, and we help each other equally with creativity and finding where we want to go with lyricism,” says Ari.

Something that makes the band stand out is the instrument Ari plays. While Jay jams on the guitar, Ari opts for an unconventional music making tool, the saw. That’s right, a jagged metal saw that she holds between her legs and plays using a bow. The final product is a haunting, cry like sound that adds a chilling edge to their music. The saw was first purchased by the couple in 2019 and took them a whole day to learn how to make a sound with it. Ari turned out to be the chosen one, with the first screeching noise making itself known thanks to her touch. The audience at their shows are always in awe when Ari first showcases the saw on stage, something that Jay understands well.

“It really is crazy. Once she started playing it with full on melodies and keeping up with the music and singing around her, I was like how is she doing that?” says Jay. “It definitely makes the whole live experience more special.”

(Left to right) Keith McCurdy of Vudu Sister performing with Thee Phibbs at their album release show at AS220.

The duos first album, Wassergeist, came out in 2023 and was recorded in their basement live on a 1970’s reel to reel tape machine. The sound of the first album is raw and ethereal, which fits the bands aura perfectly. Despite having a special place in their hearts for their first album, Thee Phibbs always knew they wanted to make a more polished album that captured their growth as a band.

“People come up and say how much more cohesive we sound. From when we started playing together to now it’s been a huge improvement, so we really wanted to capture that with an album,” says Jay.

Their newest album, Marsh Threading, came out at the end of May and is the culmination of all the songs the couple has worked on together the past few years. Marsh Threading was recorded by their friend Zack Abramo in the swamps of Rhode Island, the perfect setting to record the albums swampy-folk songs. The album includes a feature from the couples close friend Keith McCurdy of Vudu Sister, who the couple originally took inspiration from when finding their distinct sound.

“Our songs are kind of a rollercoaster; our music itself is sometimes emotional or ethereal, like you’re going through a haunt, but we’re guiding you through that haunt, so you still feel okay,” Ari says. “The songs are up for interpretation, but the feeling is always there.”

To celebrate the completion of their album, Thee Phibbs had an album release show at AS220. Along with their performance, the bill included entertainment by soloist Melanie Beth Curran, duo Bird & Augur, solo act Sleeping Turtles. The night was birthed through collaboration with local artists, like musician Eryka Fir from Coma Hole, who made the t-shirts, close friend Melissa Brown, who created the album art and Quinn Murphy, who also mastered the album, helped with the sound for the night. The group labor of love produced a sold-out show and a room f  bull of community and love.

Marsh Threading album art by Melissa Brown.

In the wake of their album release, Thee Phibbs is collaborating with more and more musicians in the Rhode Island music scene that they love so dearly. Their name can be found on stacked bills at some of the hot spot local music venues around Rhode Island, like Galactic Theatre in Warren and News Café in Pawtucket. The band, always feeling grateful for the quality time that making their unearthly music allows them, plans to continue writing and putting out music to remind their audience of the magic that can only be created by real life individuals.

“Were in the day and age where using AI to create art is normal, so there’s something to be said about what we created and what we continue to create,” says Ari. “We hope people can hear how much we’ve put our hearts into this, which is something only humans can do. Hopefully it reaches the right people who will feel all the feelings and appreciate the soulful sounds.”

To hear the new album, find the bands Spotify here and to stay up to date with performances follow their Instagram here.

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