Chelsea Wolfe: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
Музыка
On last year's Abyss, Chelsea Wolfe explicitly rendered the metallic tendencies that have always existed just below the surface of her music. Wolfe's soulful howl found its bite in gigantic riffs and devastating volume that suited some of her most significant songwriting yet. But at the Tiny Desk, Wolfe took her songs back to their primal form with just her voice, a muffled electric guitar and a loop pedal.
Removed from thunderous distortion, the ghostly "Maw" becomes a nightmare in broad daylight, as Wolfe details "shattered teeth under a dripping tongue" just waiting "in this silence while you're sleeping." "Crazy Love," a love song that's dangerous in its desperation, sounds no less chilling. But it's "Iron Moon," inspired by the poetry of a Chinese factory worker who took his own life, that's the most stripped of its metal. Wolfe's guitar sounds muddy and dank as she sings, "My heart is an empty tomb / My heart is an empty room," recalling the lonesome wail of Kitty Wells shot through the darkness.
Abyss is available now:
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/album/aby...
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Abyss-Chelsea-W...
Set List:
"Maw"
"Crazy Love"
"Iron Moon"
Credits:
Producers: Bob Boilen, Morgan Walker, Niki Walker; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Walker, Ariel Zambelich; Production Assistant: Rachel Horn; Photo: Ariel Zambelich/NPR.
For more Tiny Desk concerts, subscribe to our podcast: www.npr.org/podcasts/510292/ti...
Пікірлер: 587
She’s so underrated. Her music, her tone, her lyrics, her passion, it all gives my goosebumps goosebumps
00:00 Maw 05:42 Crazy Love 09:05 Iron Moon
i'm only discovering Chelsea today, 'Iron Moon' just put a dagger in my heart, that voice..
This is one of the best love performances I've ever heard. To think it's on a tiny mic and amp with no real sound people blows my mind. Just goes to show you how talented she truly is.
I've listened to a lot of Post Rock, Shoegaze, Doom and DSBM and this performance is still the most melancholic thing i've ever heard. Love this woman!
@kobaltocr6927
10 ай бұрын
🔥🖤🔥
@user-xq5ih5oz2u
5 ай бұрын
In-effin-deed!! Ty for reaffirming this - she’s my fave, too.
Intense. Her voice is incredible.
@aprilblades2281
8 жыл бұрын
+ohthepeppers I'd like to hear how it would sound without all the reverb.
@louderthangod
8 жыл бұрын
+April Blades You made another comment about the reverb as well. What exactly are you getting at? I like the heavy use of reverb, I think it really sets a mood that matches with everything else she has going on but on some of her albums there are songs without much vocal reverb. What do you think it'll add by taking it away? Do you think these songs would have sounded better dry or is this some passive-aggressive "real singers don't need so much reverb"?
@redlion7373
7 жыл бұрын
ohthepeppers She is definitely a real singer. I personally like the vocal effects, but everyone has their personal taste. The reverb adds to the ambiance.
@Juelz4ever
8 ай бұрын
Check Emma Ruth Rundle, but you probably already are listening to hear ;)
love the way her voice soars over that crunchy guitar, gorgeous!
@surreptitiouswritings
6 жыл бұрын
delay and reverb do that..
@nose-bleed
5 жыл бұрын
@@surreptitiouswritings and...? Still gorgeous.
@jasonosper383
5 жыл бұрын
the perfect description
@andynewen
4 жыл бұрын
She does it in such and enchanting way.
0:00 - Maw 5:43 - Crazy Love 9:06 - Iron Moon I LOVE HER ♥
what i love about chelsea is the pain that bleeds out of her eyes when every syllable is enunciated in every performance shes ever done.
my heart is a tomb my heart is a lonely room
"Maw" Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? In the man Shattered teeth Underneath a Dripping tongue I've been waiting In this silence While you're sleeping Until you believe Where are you? Where are you? In the maw In a world so dirty Intoxicated A life of tears In the maw A world in a daze None can be trusted In the mouth of the beast I've been waiting In this silence While you're sleeping Until you believe I've been waiting In this silence I'm on fire I'm on fire
Love the dark magic that drips off her fingers into the guitar. Her work is unique and amazing.
That nuances she does with her voice and how it contrasts that heavy guitar.. just incredibble.
Im so grateful i got to see her live.
everytime i hear her I image myself in a dark place and there is a nice breeze. And I feel alive and I can breathe even though it's dark
@0p3nh4ym3r
Жыл бұрын
same
@Belenus3080
8 ай бұрын
Like a never ending street lined with trees that are always shedding their leaves with a nice cool fall breeze. Didn’t mean to rhyme all that, but I suppose that’s where we’re at
"Iron Moon" A dead sun, a pale glow Upon the walls I feign to know We bear no fruit, no flowers, no life And we get sick but never die Become an echo Resounding "let go" My heart is a tomb My heart is an empty room I've given it away I never want to see it again I go to him in paths of dreams In bed awake with shadow beings They crawl inside and wait with me The creatures here become machines Walk with me to a place of trust Death will no longer silence us My heart is a tomb My heart is an empty room I've given it away I never want to see it again And all your words could save me But keep your love away from me In all the worlds decaying Is there place that's safe for us? My heart is a tomb My heart is an empty room I've given it away I've swallowed the iron moon Moon, moon
interesting. Daylight does not affect this vampire.
@BlankRami
5 жыл бұрын
:))))
@bikercat4138
5 жыл бұрын
The DAYWALKER
@joshuapayne8811
5 жыл бұрын
She's lestat from queen of the damned if he was a chick.
@scozzy4656
3 жыл бұрын
I wonder if she knows Colin Robinson
@user-pd6ij7jm3b
2 жыл бұрын
Unfortunately it does for this one. 🧛🏼
Chelsea is so Amazing... The way she has progressively embraced Doom, leaves me breathless!! I only want to hear her in a next Sunn O))) record!!! Greg, Stephen... Come on guys, you have to take this woman to the studio!!
Incredible.
@Hellraiser988
3 жыл бұрын
Truely is my man
brought to tears with this performance...she makes pain and suffering sound so beautiful and enchanting...
@te9591
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, she makes me teary eyed sometimes. Hits me right in the chest.
My favourite tiny desk concert. Always come back to it
@greglane334
Жыл бұрын
See, back two years later
"Crazy Love" Crazy love, it’s not you I fear You let the devil in You hold him near Crazy love When did the war begin When will it end When will it end Crazy love [x4] And i don’t want to live without you I don’t want to live without you Crazy love, where is our home Look at the place we’re in The hell we left it in Can we forget ourselves Can we forgive Can we afford the years, my lovely friend Crazy love [x4] I don’t want to live without you I don’t want to live without you I don’t want to live without you
I love the fact that Abyss is well-produced as in it has tons and tons of complex layers of effects pedals and textures, synths and whatnot yet Chelsea can play them songs live with just a guitar and a couple of amps. The sentiment is just as powerful as in the studio record. She is insanely awesome.
@E_Chap
5 жыл бұрын
Well said. Shows truly how much of an artist she is.
In 2021 still blown away. She absolutely could put a spell on anyone. Super powerful guitar skills. ! Her voice is pure savage .I never get bored of her music .
Never seen these songs in a solo live version, but I loved it. I adore the album, it simply is magnificent. I have to be careful sometimes though, because this CD does bring me to places I sometimes wish not to go. I have the tendency to sink into my melodramatic self and these songs make that trip a certainty.
@soldierofsoul86
8 жыл бұрын
Yeah. The songs are deep and spiritual..many times so much so that you wish not to go down that rabbit hole very far. You want to...but then you start trying to climb out before long.
@juicescoo
4 жыл бұрын
Pain is beauty.
@benjaminstearns7104
2 жыл бұрын
I love listening to depressing music I always have and always will. It can definitely make you feel pretty low at times. Not talking about this in particular
@rickcleveland8677
2 жыл бұрын
@@Lovefrequencyenergy Tread lightly, I have slipped below, she has taken me...
@benjaminstearns7104
2 жыл бұрын
This happens to me all the time musician really dictate my emotions. I love music that makes me feel strong emotion. My girl refers to this as a “shame spiral”
Fantastic voice , burn some incense and lay back on the sofa in the dark , close your eyes and digest this wonderful sound , totally chillin 👍
Only discovered her about an hour ago and I'm already in London ....she's incredible
Quite a tale she weaves with these 3 songs together... Heart breaking.
One of my favourite artists. Such a hauntingly beautiful voice. Chelsea never disappoints.
chelsea you don't deserve this cruel world, but the world needs you (or at least i need you, thank u so much for help me not to feel so strained and fragile)
I was moved to tears by this performance
I remember when I saw her in London...it was like seing a goddess, she has an overwhelming sound also. It was something I will never forget.
This came on automatically after another of her albums and I thought these were studio versions for at least 10 minutes. Just a girl and her guitar. Unreal
Wow Iron Moon...what a beautiful masterpiece...chills and warmth in all the right places
Amazing LIVE artist, have seen her 5 times😯 live!
Her performance is even better than the studio album, which is an extremely rare thing for singers. I have no words to describe how beautiful her voice is.
The high notes at the end of Maw give me serious chills.So beautiful.
Melts me every time I find my way back to this performance.
Chelsea Wolfe's voice is so hauntingly beautiful, and these sparse renditions showcase her voice so well. Simply amazing!
We don't deserve this beauty.
I think she has genuine wolf eyes in her head. Jesus Christ, those are piercing. Tight performance through and through.
howd she make a tiny desk sound so big
@meleecritical
8 жыл бұрын
yeah. she likes reverb. broad must have buckets of it cuz she throws it all over the place. her Nick Cave cover, I let love in, she basically beats you over the head with it. and I absolutely cannot live without it. May Spotify suffer 1000 bloody abortions for its absence!
@seosamhv
8 жыл бұрын
REVERB, my friend.
@TheBlitzControl
8 жыл бұрын
+Joseph Vaughan +meleecritical I appreciate the responses but I was just commenting on much I enjoyed this. "Abyss" was the perfect name for her album and kind of sums up the feeling her music gives off . I know what reverb is haha but thanks
@Seth-hc2bj
5 жыл бұрын
Lots of reverb
20,000 of these views are from me... I am obsessed with this.
@Anxxxxx
8 жыл бұрын
Me too, fuck life.
@paradoxdecayed471
7 жыл бұрын
Stella Südekum Embrace life, even through pain and suffering, center yourself and all will be okay. Just my opinion anyway😔
@LexTNeville
6 жыл бұрын
A bunch from me too. I saw her play at Heaven in London. As awesome as the show was, I couldn't define a single word of her lyrics, even though I was right by the sound desk. The volume was devastating. That was disappointing. This is just amazing. An inspired guitar tone too.
@emmecee6273
5 жыл бұрын
Only 20,000? Slacker.
@Danilo-O
5 жыл бұрын
we can tell by you spamming these comments.
I love how shes been evolving, so dark, so powerfull. amazing.
Chelsea, obrigada por ser minha companheira dos meus momentos mais pesados, lidar com minha tristeza e crises é muito difícil, mas suas músicas me trazem conforto, me sinto acolhida pela melancolia.
just got her grime and glow album and the production is killing me. Most imperfect perfection ever heard
@chromesthesia
7 жыл бұрын
Forgotten On Purpose i like that
@markanthonymusic
6 жыл бұрын
Forgotten On Purpose I
"Abyss" is a fantastic album.. and this is really a great live performance.. Love your music..💘
This is just straight up emotionally devastating.
@te9591
2 жыл бұрын
Yup.
Totally amazing performance. She is a true unique talent. Love Chelsea Wolfe and other dark masters of music like Nine Inch Nails, Gary Numan, Portishead, HTDA, Tricky, Allflaws
"Wolfe's guitar sounds muddy and dank as she sings.." hell yeah its dank
Love her! I always find her live performances so captivating and gorgeous! P.S.: “Crazy Love” tear my soul in so many pieces-
I absolutely love the tone of her voice. Her music encompasses my soul
She's so mysteriously dark and hypnotically cold, it's fucking amazing!!!!
Her music, this performance in particular, has the power to take me in other places, it's like living bittersweet old memories again.... Breathtaking
The amount of atmosphere she can create with just her voice and guitar blows me away. Obviously there is the help of pedals/mic effects but its all just her.
Love this performance
I KNEW she wasn't going to banter between songs
If you like Chelsea Wolfe, check out King Woman for a doomier sound or Miserable for a shoegaze sound. Both bands have the same artist and convey agony and suffering in a similar manner. I love listening to Chelsea in a dark place.
@AndreasLomaka
2 жыл бұрын
This is great! Thank you!
@Gobbledi_Gook
Жыл бұрын
Also if anyone is interested I think if you like Chelsea Wolfe you’d also enjoy Emma Ruth Rundle. She has a solo project, and two bands (Marriages and also The Nocturnes). Very similar vibes
@pureblind0
9 ай бұрын
I have all of these in my regular rotation except Miserable, which I'm planning to check out immediately. 😎
@sirrobert23
6 ай бұрын
Love King Woman
@andrewfollin8203
6 ай бұрын
Miserable is the side project of Kris Esferandi, the mastermind of King Woman!
Love Chelsea. Her voice is always heavenly.
@aprilblades2281
8 жыл бұрын
+Ocean Sage yeah it's heavenly with all that reverb. You can put that on any female voice as long as they're singing on pitch and it will sound "heavenly".
@MegaLuxury1
7 жыл бұрын
April Blades Dumb comment.
@CodyChromeBand
7 жыл бұрын
April Blades exactly
@bloozydoom3248
7 жыл бұрын
Haha, write the lyrics and compose the songs. You can't put "Any female voice" with some reverb and get the same magic. You disrespect the art. I know I'm jealous of her talent, I'm sure you are, too.
@user-pd6ij7jm3b
2 жыл бұрын
@@aprilblades2281 I’ve heard her voice without it and it still sounds incredible. Your point goes nowhere. 🙄
I'm so happy i just stumbled into this. love this chick, love her music. so stoked to be sitting listening to this. thank you NPR Tiny Desk Concerts!
The opening reminds me of: "I sensed my loss, before I even learned to speak .
You make me feel inspired by the feelings that usually only destroy me .. thank you
RAWRGH Women are killing it man, and Chelsea is right there at the top of the heap. Rock n roll isn't dead, women are just taking over!
It's amazing that she was inspired by Aaliyah and Fleetwood Mac and turned that into something totally unlikely and beautiful.
@Kareem_Saad_Al-Deen_
3 жыл бұрын
Singularity.
she plays the guitar and sings so effortlessly
All I can say this is magic out of this world
absolutly stunning. so happy I am alive today.
few people is ready for this
@diaperenthusiast
8 жыл бұрын
eye is ready
her voice is a cold knife in my heart.
For a better viewing experience, I lit my monitor on fire to watch this video.
@AdielaMedia
7 жыл бұрын
Amen
@omgpurplemangos101
6 жыл бұрын
what an awful thing to say.
@AP-xg5mz
5 жыл бұрын
amazing!
Great rapport and banter with the audience. And she still had time to squeeze in some songs too!
Wow. Love the use of the oedal to create a live drone note of her voice. Hope ms wolfe brings out a new album soon
the most amazing and inspiring "american" musician of this century! I love her music! her voice has a beauty that will be in my mind until I die, and I hope to hear her in the next life if there is one:) thank you Chealsea, you are incredible!
@vincents9620
Жыл бұрын
💯Agree🤘
Chelsea is a dark goddess of music. I love her.
Words can't describe how amazing she is. Was lucky enough to catch her with Ministry awhile ago and I've been hooked since.
I Love it.... Perfectly....1thousend Hearts
good god this is beautiful! such a hypnotizing voice.
That guitar tone sounds expensive. Absolutely love this
her voice is imposible...
i jst listened to your concert and it was delightful, Thanks very much and a very well done.xxx
Chelsea Wolfe is one oft the most important musicians, artists of our era. I love you Chelsea. Every song of you is so deep, so touching, so essential..about very important aspects, emotions of being, existence as a human. My english is not good enough to describe the power of your music. I am so thankfull that I have saw you in Hamburg-Germany. Come again to Germany or to Kurdistan please :))
As always, sublime from start to finish. What an incredibly talented, well-spoken individual and songwriter. P.S. the description is a lie, her whole board is there. Loop Station > Tuner > POG > DBA Apocalypse > DOD Boneshaker > Fuzzrocious Dark Drive > Disaster Transport SR > Supernatural Reverb > Digidelay A lot of the grit you are hearing is probably from the POG/ drivers. Not familiar with the amp.
@NapoleonDynamite9
8 жыл бұрын
+Nicholas Alexander not sure of all. what's the pedal (kinda yellow) between Digidelay and Disaster Transport at 5:39 ?
@KingNed
8 жыл бұрын
+Gregory Dutein Visual Studio Earthquaker Devices Speaker Cranker
@NapoleonDynamite9
8 жыл бұрын
+Edward Lamb nope, the one on the top just before the digidelay I can't see if it's yellowish or black
@cactus_judy3929
8 жыл бұрын
wow, you got me. although it COULD BE a reflection of the spangly top of the fuzzrocious dark drive that's a really weird place to put that effect. There are actually a couple of changes since November '15 (which is when I last saw her board), e.g. no Boneshaker either. Quite the misstep on my part, sorry.
@NapoleonDynamite9
8 жыл бұрын
+Nicholas Alexander Don't worry ;) This pedal is quite mysterious, I can identify all of them but not this ! damn it ! ^^
So enchanting
God she is so amazing. What a phenomenal voice!! I've been jamming her hard lately. Glad to see this!
It would be so slay if Tiny Desk had her back to do an acoustic set.
Simply beautiful. In every way. Hope to hear Chelsea live again soon. 🎶🙌
I love her; I love her voice, how she pronounces words, her style, her presence. She is amazing ♥️
Beautiful and powerful, as always!
Emma Ruth Rundle and her sound so much alike! 😳 Love them both!
Absolutely magnificent!
Loved Abyss in its powerful full band incarnation. But its very interesting to hear it in her older Unknown Rooms style. Her and Emma Ruth Rundle are very unique folk metal kind of artists.
My heart is a tomb, my heart is an empty room. THAT LINE.
I want her to play at my funeral.
Chelsea reminds me of girls who would do their own tarot readings at lunch in high school.
@LastWaveFilm
7 жыл бұрын
Those are the marrying kind.
@afauxican_american
7 жыл бұрын
lastwavefilm you're exactly right.
@ominouswoods1499
7 жыл бұрын
Haha well said dude. And like the dude over me said: those introvert, passionate kind of women are the ones to get old with.
@felipemayorga1407
7 жыл бұрын
am super in love...
@Mordred478
6 жыл бұрын
Yes to all the above. Reminds me of the famous quote by Charles Bukowski: "Find what you love and let it kill you."
Her music hits us like a cloudy sky in a winter morning! Beautiful and shady!
Brought me to tears. I love her.
Thank you! Going to see her in SF June 2!
Very cool. The heavy tones and ethereal voice reminds me of bardo pond.
@Ellier215
2 жыл бұрын
What’s bardo pond?
Her voice is even more magnificent live... Queen.
Beautiful performance, beautiful guitar.