In "Osni the Flare," the second part of Tristan Allen's mythic trilogy, the composer, producer, and puppeteer reveals how a mortal is transformed into a deity through the discovery of fire. Recorded over four years with wordless vocals, organs, ocarinas, a host of toy instruments, and intricate sound design, "Osni the Flare" unfolds in four aurally and visually stunning acts, recounting the origins of flame and temporality. Allen weaves a creation myth that shifts between beauty, shadow, and wistful embers, creating a portal to a meticulously crafted, emotionally powerful soundscape and story that resonates through a fantastical realm. Born in Saratoga Springs, New York, Allen has childhood memories of his family's time in Japan. His path led him to formative encounters, including with his teacher Andy Lorio, who nurtured the young musician's growing interest and skill at the piano through improvisation techniques, and Amanda Palmer, who discovered him at age 16 during a summer program at Berklee College and crowdfunded his first release. After studying piano at Berklee, co-founding the live electronics collective Nue, touring China with the metal band Dent, and releasing two solo piano EPs, Allen moved from Boston to Brooklyn in 2018. An ad on Craigslist led to puppetry training with Mike Leach, who taught them how to properly manipulate a marionette over six months, which landed them a job as performers at the renowned Puppetworks Theater. This hard work, along with exposure to the artifacts of her father's Bread and Puppet Theater and Balinese shadow puppetry, led Allen to her creative practice: composing for acoustic instruments, electronic arranging, and performing with puppetry. Osni the Flare tells a creation myth in which the title character awakens in a garden and picks apples from a tree. Summoned by a loon, Osni sets out to protect the tree from the winter's cold.
