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† CHELSEA WOLFE - BIRTH OF VIOLENCE †
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Dear friend,
I bring you these songs like flowers in violent bloom. Some came to me fully formed, blossoming quickly towards the sun, and some appeared dormant, suddenly opening up to the moon and making glorious sense, like the Queen of the Night flower. These songs are proof that someone ordinary can channel extraordinary energy. I am not special. But deep inside there has always been a voice, asking to be set free. These songs are the flowers of my own soul, yet I don’t give the credit to myself except for being an open channel and determined writer. When you open yourself up, when you put in the work, you will see the pattern begin to emerge. Seek it. Swallow it. Become it. This sort of shadow work has never been easy, and I haven’t always been able to explain this, but the catalyst for each of my albums has been an awakening of sorts. And Birth of Violence is exactly that: a record of an awakening. I’ve been in a state of constant motion for the past eight years or so; touring, moving, playing new stages, exploring new places, and meeting new people - an incredible time of learning and growing as a musician, performer, and human being. But after a while, I was beginning to lose a part of myself in the chaos and survival mode of being on the road. I needed to take some time away to learn new rituals to take care of myself.
Sonically, the album is my space western, pairing vocals sang through ribbon mics modeled after ones from the 1930’s, with 1970’s synths, all through the auditory lens of Ben Chisholm’s singular and futuristic production, while I bonded with my acoustic guitar. The melodies leapt from my tongue easily - a result of the joy of singing, which, along with storytelling, I believe is the essence of folk music. Birth of Violence was recorded at my home in the mountains of Northern California this past winter, capturing a specific atmosphere within and surrounding the songs: thunderstorms booming through the canyon while the fireplace crackled inside.. the hum of electricity running through speakers against the peaceful, muted blanket of snowfall. In my desire to remain in one place for a while, I was grateful to be able to make this record in my own space, with my main collaborator Ben at the helm. Ezra Buchla, who has contributed to past albums of mine along with joining us onstage many times, flew in poignant viola parts from Athens, GA, while my dear bandmate Jess Gowrie reinforced many of the songs with her uniquely charged drumbeats.
An album needs a title, and Birth of Violence is what this one asked to be called, even after much personal resistance. But the title isn’t what this record is about. It’s about looking inward, and blooming outward. It’s about navigating the world as a woman, balancing strength and softness, and connecting with the Divine Feminine. It’s an incantation, and it’s an offering. Telling stories through song allows me to explore so many different sides of myself; so many lives within. Some days I want to be quiet and reach my roots into the earth, and some days I want to spring up from the ground and be all things.
But what I want to know is, what do these songs stir in you? What do they help you remember? What do they awaken?
Thank you for listening. Thank you for your support these past years. I feel that familiar pull to get back on the road again, and I hope to share an evening with you on tour this fall!
Sincerely and with much love,
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