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Chelsea Wolfe talks new album ‘The Dark’: “I needed to go through some difficult times to stop self-abandoning”
Chelsea Wolfe has announced her ninth studio album, ‘The Dark’, speaking to NME about the personal upheaval that shaped it, including going through sobriety and learning to stop what she calls “self-abandoning”. The Californian artist, known for blending folk, rock and doom metal, said the record marks a shift towards a sparser, more delicate alt-rock sound after the industrial leanings of her 2024 album ‘She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She’.
The album was launched with lead single ‘Cold’ and produced alongside Jennifer Decilveo, who has previously written with Hozier and Miley Cyrus, and Wolfe’s longtime collaborator Ben Chisholm. Wolfe said Decilveo helped her define the record’s direction, encouraging a return to instruments such as acoustic guitar and piano as a starting point for songs. Earlier teaser tracks ‘The Dark’ and ‘Death Is Not The End’ have already showcased this shift, and Wolfe also discussed a guest contribution from a member of Queens Of The Stone Age on the track ‘Swallower’.
In short
- Chelsea Wolfe announces ninth album ‘The Dark’
- Album reflects sobriety and personal growth themes
- Produced with Jennifer Decilveo and Ben Chisholm
Explained simply
Chelsea Wolfe is an American musician from California whose dark, atmospheric music combines folk, rock and metal influences. Over the past decade-plus, she has released multiple albums that demonstrate considerable artistic evolution and willingness to shift her sonic approach.
Wolfe has become respected within music communities for her artistic ambition and the cinematic qualities of her work, which typically features layered instrumentation and explores darker themes. Her career is marked by significant reinvention between releases, making each new album a distinct artistic statement.
For those new to her work, this history of change is important context for understanding her creative output. Recognition of how her sound and approach evolve helps explain why her musical direction and the themes she addresses are of interest to listeners following her career.
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