I’ve spent the past few days holding Lauren O’Connell’s songs close to my heart and I have absolutely no intention of letting them go. I’m good at hiding from the world, but I’m not sure under what rock I’ve lived, because I had not heard about her music until I got an email earlier in the week. So thanks Dylan for reaching out and bringing the healing powers of Lauren’s songs into my arms. To be honest, I kinda needed it and perhaps even more than I’m willing to admit.
Lauren’s latest album Details came out in February and it’s something to treasure. It’s definitely a heavy album and a lot of the songs revolve around her mental health issues. You can read her moving essay about the album here, if you want to know more about it. I hope to write a longer post about Details when I have found the words that will match the brilliance of it. It’s already one of my biggest favourites of the year and I love it wholeheartedly. And don’t get too scared about the difficult subjects. Yes, the album is pretty sad and fragile at times, but it’s also incredibly powerful and healing. I don’t have any severe mental health issues, but anyone who have read this blog are probably also aware that I have my troubles. I’m extremely shy guy with super low self-esteem and I’m horrified of every kind of social interaction for starters. So some of this hits pretty close home, but somehow in a relatable, humane and healing way. She has a way with words and is able to write folk rock songs that leave a lasting impression. Lauren O’Connell is a wonderful songwriter and Details is a special record.
A live cover of Gillian Welch’s Revelator.
My Terrible Friend is a collaboration between Nataly Dawn and Lauren O’Connell. Their latest EP I Tried To Be Kind came out in October 2017. It’s got a gorgeous otter on the cover and contains equally impressive music. Switch is the last song on the EP and I’ve watched the music video of it more times than I can count. Ok, my math skills are pretty horrible, but still a fair warning. You might fall madly in love with this song. However, it’s a good obsession to have. Next step in my life is to get to know Nataly Dawn’s other music adventures. And not that they need them after all the praising above, but still extra special bonus points for a great taste in selecting songs to cover. Youtube contains all kinds of great Lauren O’Connell and My Terrible Friend videos where they cover artists like The Zombies, Neko Case, Gillian Welch, Wilco, David Bazan just to name a few.