New Artist: Caroline Weeks

Caroline Weeks isn't really new to the scene, but it's unlikely that you've heard much about her as a multi-instrumentalist for Bat for Lashes. She is an accomplished guitarist and flautist (among other things) and has performed with and been a part of numerous groups I've never had the pleasure of hearing, including an all-girl chamber quartet and a Bulgarian folk choir, of all things. Weeks is just now making her way into the spotlight with her solo debut, Songs for Edna, a collection of nine sparse tunes using the words of late American poet, Edna St. Vincent-Millay for all of the lyrics.

Weeks' gorgeous, quavering voice, complemented by her finger-picked Spanish guitar, frames Vincent-Millay's poetry in a beautifully haunting way. Though the album is quite simple musically, Weeks has the ability to make the music fascinating throughout. "Elegy" has a stately, yet dark, feel to it, "Wild Swans" is ethereal and soaring, and "I Shall Go Back" has a more urgent edge. While her approach to crafting a debut album is certainly strange, Weeks proves more than capable of handling such an unusual project and creates some amazing moments on Songs for Edna.

Check her out on Myspace or see my previous post to download a track from the album.

Caroline Weeks of Bat For Lashes debut solo album 'Songs For Edna'

Caroline Weeks is a multi-instrumentalist and has been a part of Bat For Lashes over the past three years. While she is involved in a handful projects across a variety of genres, (a death-folk-roots trio and a Bulgarian folk choir to name two) she is also now releasing her debut solo album, Songs For Edna, on April 7th. The record is a beautifully sparse folk record with all lyrics borrowed from late American poet Edna St. Vincent-Millay. Caroline is a classically trained flautist and has taught herself numerous instruments including her favorite, a 3/4 size Spanish guitar with her own 'secret' tuning.

You can get a glimpse of the new album by downloading the gorgeous closing track, "Elegy", below.

Elegy (MP3)


Track List:

1. See Where Capella with her golden kids
2. What lips my lips have kissed
3. Wild Swans
4. Renascence
5. Oh, sleep forever in the Latmian cave
6. The return
7. Pity me not
8. I shall go back
9. Elegy