Chelsea Wolfe explores the dark groove
Singer-songwriter Chelsea Wolfe is diving deep into the elemental concerns of existence, exploring the darker corners of the unknown through her latest offering, The Dark. Having already navigated nine solo albums across folk, doom, and hard rock genres, Wolfe’s work consistently delves into life and death, spirit, and the mysteries of the earth.
The new album is a profound exploration of feeling and big questions, exemplified by tracks like “Death Is Not the End.” Wolfe draws inspiration from her personal journey and her engagement with the occult and witchcraft, which fuels the lyrical landscape of the record. She finds that connecting with these energies has opened her mind to the idea that there is no single answer, allowing her to feel connected to the cycles of nature and other realms.
“The dark is the unknown, the dark is the void,” Wolfe explains. “I’ve explored that a lot in my work and I’m now exploring it in a new way.”
This sense of exploration is deeply personal. The mournful track “Death Is Not the End” is a powerful example, featuring a delicate whisper over acoustic guitar that erupts into noisy electric guitar, probing the unknowable. This song was inspired by Wolfe’s recent reconnection with her grandmother, a time she describes as powerful, as she honored her matriarchal lineage and connected with ancestors.
The creative process for The Dark marked a significant shift for the artist. For the first time, Wolfe co-wrote nearly the entire album with songwriting partner and co-producer Jennifer Decilveo. This collaboration allowed her to move beyond a specific sound and focus purely on the craft of songwriting.
Working alongside Decilveo and longtime collaborator Ben Chisholm, the trio crafted a record that balances stark vulnerability with triumph. The album opens with “Cold,” a track stripped down to acoustic guitar and piano, delivering an emotional parting: “I’m letting you go, I’m letting you win.” This track sets a tone of necessary release, acknowledging that some relationships require letting go before true freedom can be found.
The album closes with “Dancer In the Sky,” which evolved from a moody piano piece into a more triumphant anthem. Wolfe found that being pulled out of her comfort zone during this process was healthy, even if some tracks still feel daunting.
The production of the record took place in Los Angeles, notably at the Village Studios, a legendary site for recording artists from Bob Dylan to Lady Gaga. The sessions also brought in acclaimed guests, including guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen of Queens of the Stone Age, guitarist Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails, and drummer Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint.
Visually, the album reflects the album’s themes through its imagery. The cover features Wolfe in the sunlight amidst the eerie, ancient rock formations of Mono Lake, California—a place she considers her favorite for its strange mystery. This setting perfectly mirrors her philosophical musings on aging, change, and the fight for one’s own being.
Wolfe sees the music as her true artistic focus, a space where she can simply have fun in the studio and create something authentic. While she admits she doesn’t know if it is the best or worst record she’s ever made, she is confident that it is true to who she is.
Buy on Amazon
Credit
