A new Angel Olsen project is on the way and for this one, she’s asked for a little help from her friends.
December 6 will mark the release of ‘Cosmic Waves Volume 1’: a new compilation project that will feature new songs by artists Olsen loves – Poppy Jean Crawford, Coffin Prick, Sarah Grace White, Maxim Ludwig and Camp Saint Helene – and covers of their songs by Olsen herself.
The record will be the second release on somethingscosmic: a label imprint Olsen formed a few years ago to have “the flexibility to release when and how I want to with the help from my longtime partners at Jagjaguwar.”
‘Cosmic Waves Volume 1’ is a compilation reimagined as a dialogue. Each song, illuminates a new artist Olsen finds spectacular, with Side B giving her the chance to reinterpret their work and refract the songs back to them.
The artists she has chosen draw from a sprawling, myriad sounds, eras and inspirations. Poppy Jean Crawford’s magnetic growl and guitar-god heaviness; Coffin Prick’s reckless, psychedelic fuzz; Sarah Grace White’s hypnotic voice and melody; Maxim Ludwig’s expert minimalism; and Camp Saint Helene’s beautiful, big sky folk.
As of today, you can listen to the first releases from the project. ‘Glamorous’ by Crawford, and Olsen’s cover of Crawford’s ‘The Takeover’. When discussing Crawford, Olsen says: “I remember speaking with my good friend Angela Ricciardi about Poppy starring in the film The Giver Gives to Give, and was immediately transfixed by her overall vibe and ‘30s era beauty. But it wasn’t until later when Angela shared one of Poppy’s early demo grunge songs with me that I was blown away. Poppy gives me hope that guitar music will come back. She has such a powerful voice made for pop while also having this edge to her that, for me, communicates the kind of rage I can always relate to.”
“As someone that emerged into the music scene through a small tape label, I’ve wanted to continue the spirit of discovery and of my debut release, Strange Cacti, while supporting and collaborating with artists and friends whose music I have been moved by,” Olsen continues. “I feel there is something unique and special about covering another artist’s song. We all make it our own, or we try to, but I personally always learn something new about the process when I’m engaging someone else’s words and melodies in such a close way. It’s fun to write and make my own stuff, but listening to and putting myself into various different styles of songs can lead to new ways of thinking and creating.”
On December 6 in a special release show, ‘Cosmic Waves Volume 1’ will be brought to life at The Meantime in Los Angeles. The bill will include Sarah Grace White, Maxim Ludwig, Camp Saint Helene, Poppy Jean Crawford, Coffin Prick (DJ), and special guests.
Cosmic Waves Tracklist
Side A
1. Glamorous – Poppy Jean Crawford
2. Blood – Coffin Prick
3. Ride – Sarah Grace White
4. Make Believe You Love Me – Maxim Ludwig
5. Wonder Now – Camp Saint Helene
Side B
6. The Takeover (Poppy Jean Crawford Cover) – Angel Olsen
7. Swimming (Coffin Prick Cover) – Angel Olsen
8. Sinkhole (Sarah Grace White Cover) – Angel Olsen
9. Born Too Blue (Maxim Ludwig Cover) – Angel Olsen
10. Farfisa Song (Camp Saint Helene Cover) – Angel Olsen
