Olivia Chaney the Grammy nominated, multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter releases her third album.
The album is her first record since 2018’s ‘Shelter’, which saw plaudits from The Guardian, PASTE Magazine, Observer, The Line of Best Fit, and her first performance on Later With Jools Holland. This, and her debut, ‘The Longest River’, made Chaney’s name as the author of an unmistakable brand of luscious and sophisticated music that explores inherited trauma, the clash of tradition and modernity, and the darkness and light of love.
‘Circus Of Desire’ was worked on across five eventful years - it’s a collection of lovingly wrought songs that were recorded in New York with long-time collaborator, producer and musician Thomas Bartlett. The album brings a new found confidence for Chaney; a confidence that can only be found with life experience - since 2018 she has left London for Yorkshire, married, had two children and entered into the deeper mystery of life.
Chaney comments, ‘Circus of Desire’ is a deeper dive into my own unconscious capacities as a songwriter and as a singer. Motherhood, ridding myself of aspects of the music industry I couldn’t tolerate or cope with, plus time - have all allowed something different to occur in me and in my music. I didn’t feel I had to defend anything any more on this record. I just made it, joyfully with the greatest collaborator I could wish for - which other indie/pop producer treats you like you're in humourous analysis with them, has collaborated with Sufjan Stevens, Kate McGarrigle, Philip Glass and the rest…can also record Bach’s French Suites hunched over a prepared upright, whilst drinking Mezcal, watching arthouse movies silently in the background?!”
Consisting of ten originals and one cover (a revoicing of Dory Previn’s haunting ballad ‘Lady With The Braid’), ‘Circus Of Desire’ is Chaney set free. Taking their departure from real life experiences, these songs strain towards the universal. The title track blends the carnivalesque and meditations on ancient wisdom with an anthemic, dancy refrain. ‘Calliope’ is a tribute to Olivia’s daughter, named after the Greek muse of music and epic poetry, picturing this little life as part of the ever-revolving cosmos. ‘To The Lighthouse’ tells the story of Chaney’s sister who left the capital to live on a remote island. Like ‘Mirror, Mirror’, a track about erotic love, the song reflects upon our capacity to flee and transcend inherited trauma. ‘Zero Sum’ is a setting of a metaphysical number poem by Chaney’s grandfather, a mathematician and poet. ‘I Wish’ - the album closer, is the ultimate breakup song.
Focus track ‘Why’ is about the push and pull of commitment. Chaney comments, “Whilst a relationship deepens and matures, it also allows for the blurring of boundaries, or does it? ‘Why’ confronts the rapid changes in my life - leaving London for a love affair, and suddenly becoming a mother, during covid, becoming a wife, and the ways a relationship has to adapt to the arrival of a child. The colour of love changes - it’s not adolescent-like-angst any more in a rough existence but something that transcends because you want it to and it has to; ‘but darling, it’s not about us any more, there’s a different beat, and a different drum…’”
Heading out on tour next month, starting in Cambridge, the range of artists Chaney has previously shared a stage with includes Robert Plant, Zero 7, the Labeque Sisters, Martin and Eliza Carthy, and Kronos Quartet. Most recently she fronted a Grammy-nominated album, ‘The Queen of Hearts’, forming a new outfit, Offa Rex, with The Decemberists. The Guardian’s review of that album said that “Chaney has a magical voice, full of heft, soul and sunlight” and fRoots said, “Chaney has never sounded better,” while the Arts Desk said it was her “voice, with its clarity, power and emotional weight, that carries Offa Rex to the heights.” The Financial Times added that “Chaney’s singing makes ‘Willie O’ Winsbury’ one of the best versions ever.”
2024 sees a much anticipated return for Chaney and whilst staying true to her folk roots, she also enters new musical territories, venturing into the realms of pop and dance. The record features cameos from a number of friends, including string arrangements by Nico Muhly and banjo and guitar from Sam Amidon. The result of this rich blend of musical influences is an album that looks honestly, sometimes despairingly, but primarily hopefully at the carnival that is life - “we’re in a dance with death, with fire…we’re all in a circus of desire.”
Chaney concludes, “I couldn’t be more excited to share this record. For me it’s both intense and free and I think my voice sounds it’s most natural and confident yet. As with all my music, ‘Circus of Desire’ is a slow burn, but I hope those who put the listening time in are rewarded in the way my music is intended to reward.”
2024 Tour:
April 3rd - CAMBRIDGE, JUNCTION
April 10th - YORK, JACK LYONS
April 13th - MANCHESTER, STOLLER HALL
April 27th - SOUTHAMPTON, TURNER SIMS
June 6th - BRISTOL, ST.GEORGE’S
June 11th - LONDON, UNION CHAPEL
