“Although, bread and buttered in St. Louis, Missouri, Angel Olsen has called Chicago home for the past four years. During her time in Illinois, she has collaborated as a vocalist with various musicians, played countless solo shows in Chicago and across the country (she has shared bills with Scott Tuma, Dark Dark Dark, and The Singleman Affair to name a few), and honed her song-writing craft with a determination that is apparent in her live performances and recorded works.
Some have described Angel’s music as haunting, others as uniquely natural, but whatever the individual take on her songs may be – they command the listeners attention. Laced with vintage reverb, simple chord progressions, and abstract lyrical content, her songs are a testament to the lasting effect and popularity of classic song structures. Her voice, the focal point of most recordings, contains sincerity, power, and a unique vulnerability necessary to balance out her sound. In addition to her vocals, Olsen accompanies most songs with guitar and occasionally even accordion as featured on the cassette compilation Summer Bummer, which also featured Best Coast, Dirty Beaches, Heavy Hawaii, Julian Lynch, Nude Beach, and many other contemporary luminaries.
Most recently, Olsen has worked with Will Oldham and also ‘The Cairo Gang’ which is lead by Chicago mover and shaker, Emmett Kelly. She toured extensively with the band in the Summer and Fall of 2010 (San Francisco’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival just being one of the stops) and has been featured on Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s 2011 vinyl release, Island Brothers and later on Wolfroy Goes To Town (Drag City.)
Fans have been anticipating a solo album on vinyl for some time and in March 2011 Bathetic Records released Olsen’s sold out cassette of original material Strange Cacti on 12″ with reinterpreted artwork. As the tone of Angel’s music suggests, there is an unguarded, ebb and flow to her sound. Sounds that, with our environment in regard, will only grow and evolve.”
Recent press: Under The Radar Magazine | Pitchfork | Neu Magazine
”Inspired by multilingual chanteuse and heartbreaker Dalida, and gran with attitude Malvina Reynolds, her songs are beautiful whether they’re saying ‘Fuck You’ or whispering ‘I’ll Always Love You’.” - Neu Magazine
‘Angel’s voice is nary in a stagnant note–embodying the vocal variety of Joni Mitchell, the morose candor of Françoise Hardy; though not singing but studdering, staggering, an angst-stricken woman stammers through the song until a defiant end.” - Ryan Ellis, Weekly Tape Deck & Altered Zones
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 09/09/12 | Angel Olsen in Vlieland (NL) | Into The Great Wide Open Festival |
| 10/09/12 | Angel Olsen in Tilburg (NL) | Incubate Festival |
| 15/09/12 | Angel Olsen in Groningen (NL) | Take Root Festival |