Having perfected her craft from an early age and discovering her unique tone and incredible range, Olsen began performing at local coffeehouses in St Louis during her teenage years. Taking on backing vocal duties in 2010 with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and the Cairo Gang the albums “The Wonder Show of the World” (2010) and “Wolfrey Goes to Town” (2011), Olsen toured and recorded with them for much of 2010.
Later in 2010, Olsen released her own material in the shape of the six track EP “Strange Cacti” bathed in indie-folk sensibilities as she told tales of life and its heartbreaks. The quirky EP using cynicism charmingly featured tracks such as “Creator/Destroyer”, “Drunk & with Dreams” and “Some Things Cosmic”.
Two years later she released her debut full length album “Half Way Home” through Bathetic Records with a more upbeat tempo yet maintaining her brutally honest and emotional insight. Encapsulating a range of genre styles inspired by the likes of country crooner Roy Orbison and the carefree nature of Joni Mitchell provided musical gems on the album, delicately accentuated through tracks such as “Lonely Universe”, “The Sky Opened Up” and “Tiniest Seed” whilst captivating audiences and critics.
In 2013 Olsen added bassist Stewart Bronaugh and drummer Josh Jaeger to pad out her live stripped back sound whilst bringing a rocky element as she toured nationwide. Later that year Olsen signed to the label Jagjaguwar home to the likes of Bon Iver, Love Life and Dinosaur Jr. The following year she released her second album “Burn Your Fire for No Witness” offering a deeper expression of emotions and creating that heartfelt connection which she does so well. Having the addition of Jaeger and Bronaugh both on the record and in a live capacity provided a heavy almost grunge element reflected in tracks such as “Stars” and “Hi-Five” whilst maintaining the enchantingly dreamy nature about Angel Olsen.
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Two Door Cinema Club
