Hear two sides of Angel Olsen in new NPR live sessions
Last Fall, singer/songwriter Angel Olsen released My Woman to critical acclaim. Now, she’s teamed up with NPR for not one, but two new live sessions. The first, released earlier this week, is a more traditional full-band session and interview on World Cafe, while the latter, released Friday, is a stark solo performance in a Bronx church for NPR’s fantastic Field Recordings series. They stand in sharp contrast to one another, but both demonstrate her considerable vocal talents on full display.
In her interview with World Cafe, Olsen discussed the meaning behind the record’s name and the importance of directing all three of its music videos. In between the discussion, she and her band ripped through the raucous “Shut Up Kiss Me”, “Give It Up”, and the heartbreaking “Heart Shaped Face”. Meanwhile, her Field Recordings sessions harkened back to her stellar Tiny Desk Concert from a few years back, stripping the aforementioned “Give It Up” of its rock edge in favor of a tender ballad. Whether you like your Angel Olsen loud or soft, both sessions are required material for fans of her work. Stream both below.