In an exclusive retrospective, visionary musician Devendra Banhart and acclaimed producer Noah Georgeson peel back the layers on their seminal 2005 album 'I Feel Just Like a Child', revealing the raw, unscripted magic that cemented its place in indie folk history.
The album's creation was anything but conventional. Recorded in a makeshift studio in Georgeson's San Francisco living room, the sessions embraced chaos and spontaneity. "We had no plan, no budget, just pure intuition," Georgeson reveals. "The environment was crucial – books everywhere, strange instruments within reach. That clutter became our creative catalyst."
The Accidental Anthem
What would become the album's title track and defining anthem was almost lost to a moment of self-doubt. Banhart recounts playing the delicate, flamenco-infused melody for Georgeson, immediately dismissing it as "too simple, too childish."
Georgeson's response proved prophetic: "That's the point! That's the genius." He recognised the song's naive beauty as its greatest strength, convincing Banhart to trust the impulse. The resulting track, captured in a single, heartfelt take, became the emotional core of the record.
Embracing Imperfection
The production philosophy was built on a rejection of polish. They famously used a cheap dynamic microphone for all of Banhart's vocals, a choice that would give most audio engineers nightmares.
"We wanted the breath, the lips smacking, the sound of the room," Georgeson explains. "It wasn't about hi-fi perfection. It was about immediacy, about feeling like Devendra was right there in the room with you." This lo-fi aesthetic, combined with Banhart's stream-of-consciousness lyrics, defined the nascent "freak folk" movement.
A Lasting Legacy
Nearly two decades on, the album's influence reverberates through the work of contemporary artists like Alex G and Weyes Blood. Banhart reflects on its enduring appeal with characteristic humility: "It's just a document of a time, a feeling. The fact that it still connects with people... it’s a mystery, and a gift."
Their final piece of advice for aspiring artists? Banhart sums it up: "Follow the weirdness. The thing you're most afraid to do, the idea that feels too silly or too simple – that's probably the one you need to chase."
