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Angel Olsen
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Angel Olsen
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Key Information

Angel Olsen (born Angelina Marie Carroll; January 22, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter from St. Louis, Missouri[8][9] who lives in Asheville, North Carolina.[10]

To date, Olsen has released six studio albums: Half Way Home (2012), Burn Your Fire for No Witness (2014), My Woman (2016), All Mirrors (2019), Whole New Mess (2020), and Big Time (2022).

Early life and education

[edit]

Angel Olsen was born on January 22, 1987, in St. Louis, Missouri. At age three, Olsen was adopted by a foster family that had cared for her since shortly after her birth. The difference in years between her and her parents left an impression. "Because there are so many decades of difference between us, I became more interested in what their childhood was like," she says of her parents, both of whom died in 2021.[11] "I fantasized about what it was like to be young in the '30s and '50s, more so than other kids my age."[10] Olsen explained that "my mother just has this capacity for children."[10]

Despite early adolescent aspirations to be a "pop star", her interests later shifted in high school. Olsen became more introverted, regularly attending punk rock and noise music shows at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center and the Creepy Crawl as well as Christian rock shows throughout the city.[12] She began learning the piano and guitar and writing her own music.[10][13] At the age of 16, she joined a local band called Good Fight, self-described as "a meeting of early No Doubt and punk rock."[14] Two years after graduating from Tower Grove Christian Academy, Olsen moved to Chicago.[12]

She befriended country rock singer-songwriter Bonnie "Prince" Billy, who invited her to go on tour as his backing vocalist.[15]

Career

[edit]

2011–2014: Strange Cacti and Half Way Home

[edit]
Olsen performing live at the Sinclair in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2016

Olsen released her debut EP, Strange Cacti in 2011,[16] and her debut studio album, Half Way Home, in 2012.[17] on Bathetic Records. In addition to her work with Bonnie "Prince" Billy and the Cairo Gang, Olsen has collaborated with a number of other notable figures of American indie rock, including Tim Kinsella of Cap'n Jazz, LeRoy Bach of Wilco and Cass McCombs.[18] Her collaboration with Kinsella and Bach, as well as with Chicago poet Marvin Tate, resulted in the album Tim Kinsella Sings the Songs of Marvin Tate by Leroy Bach Featuring Angel Olsen which the group released on Indianapolis label Joyful Noise Recordings on December 3, 2013.[18]

2014–2017: Burn Your Fire for No Witness and My Woman

[edit]

Olsen signed a recording contract with Jagjaguwar,[19] ahead of her first full-band record, Burn Your Fire for No Witness,[20] which was released on February 17, 2014.[21][22] The closing track of the album, "Windows", was featured in the final episode in the first season of the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why in 2017.

Olsen performing live at Pitchfork Music Festival 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, 2017

Olsen's third studio album, My Woman, was released on September 2, 2016.[23][24] In a review for Consequence of Sound, critic Ciara Dolan described the album as a "startling record of unimpeachable strength and honesty",[25] while Pitchfork's Jenn Pelly described it as "her best record yet".[26]

2019–2021: All Mirrors, Whole New Mess, and Songs of the Lark and Other Far Memories

[edit]

Olsen's fourth studio album, All Mirrors, was released on October 4, 2019, to critical acclaim. Laura Snapes of Pitchfork described the album as "breathtaking", and a "strong wind" that blows in and "leaves you undone",[27] while Alexis Petridis of The Guardian described it as "challenging and intriguing", and Luke Saunders of Happy Mag described it as a change of "theatric transcendency",[28] when compared to her previous releases.

In 2019, British producer Mark Ronson featured Olsen on his fifth studio album Late Night Feelings, which also featured Miley Cyrus and Camila Cabello.[15]

On August 28, 2020, Olsen released her fifth studio album Whole New Mess through Jagjaguwar.[29] The album features tracks from All Mirrors arranged in a more intimate style.

On March 30, 2021, Olsen announced a special edition box set titled Songs of the Lark and Other Far Memories, which contains her previous two studio albums All Mirrors and Whole New Mess alongside demos, re-workings, remixes and covers to close this chapter of her career, released via Jagjaguwar. It was announced with the lead single "It's Every Season [Whole New Mess]" and is due for release on May 7, 2021.[30] In 2020, Olsen released several remixes of popular releases. On April 9, 2020, Olsen released a remix of "All Mirrors" from her studio album All Mirrors Produced by Chromatics' Johnny Jewel.[31] On June 3, 2020, Olsen released a remix of "New Love Cassette" from her studio album All Mirrors produced by Mark Ronson with whom she collaborated with on Ronson's song "True Blue".[32]

In 2020, Olsen worked on a cover of "Mr. Lonely", originally by Bobby Vinton, for the film Kajillionaire directed by Miranda July. Olsen collaborated with film composer Emile Mosseri on the cover which was released on September 16, 2020, and was included in the soundtrack.[33] On May 20, 2021, Olsen released a single with Sharon Van Etten, "Like I Used To", which was produced by John Congleton. Olsen and Van Etten appear in the music video with their hair styled in similar shag haircuts.[34]

2021–present: Aisles and Big Time

[edit]

On August 20, 2021, Olsen released her fourth extended play, Aisles, consisting of five cover versions of popular songs from the 1980s.[35] Pitchfork writer Evan Rytlewski described it as "an unusual departure for a songwriter who's always staked everything on her conviction".[36]

In 2021 she also received the Libera Awards as Best Folk/Bluegrass Record 2021 for her album Whole New Mess (Jagjaguwar) by the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM).[37]

Olsen's sixth studio album, Big Time, was released on June 3, 2022.[11] The album was preceded by the lead single "All the Good Times", and followed by a second single, the title track "Big Time". On April 14, 2023, Olsen released her fifth EP, Forever Means, containing four previously unreleased tracks originally recorded for Big Time.

Style

[edit]

Pitchfork has likened her album All Mirrors to acts such as the Cure, Cocteau Twins and Siouxsie and the Banshees, saying that she has created a dark dream-pop dealing with anxiety.[38] Olsen plays a vintage Gibson S-1 guitar from 1979.[39]

Personal life

[edit]

On April 16, 2021, Olsen stated she was gay.[40] In 2022, Olsen revealed that her relationship with partner Beau Thibodeaux had ended, and that she had dated long-time friend and musician Meg Duffy for a few months in 2020.[41][42] In a 2022 interview, Olsen stated she now identifies as pansexual,[42] and in August 2023 celebrated one year with boyfriend and singer-songwriter Maxim Ludwig. Ludwig co-directed the lyric video for Olsen's song "Nothing's Free",[43] additionally serving as a support act on her 2023 North American tour.[44] In 2024, Olsen and Ludwig married.[45]

Discography

[edit]
Main article: Angel Olsen discography

Studio albums

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2014 Libera Awards Up and Comer Artist Award Burn Your Fire for No Witness Won [46]
2016 The Daily Californian Art Awards Best Non-Billboard Song "Shut Up Kiss Me" Nominated [47]
2017 Libera Awards Album of the Year My Woman Won [48]
Best Live Act Herself Nominated [49]
Video of the Year "Shut Up Kiss Me" Nominated [49]
Video of the Year (Fan Vote) Nominated [49]
AIM Awards Independent Breakthrough of the Year Herself Nominated [50]
2020 Libera Awards Album of the Year All Mirrors Nominated [51]
Best Alternative Rock Album Nominated [51]
2021 Best Folk/Bluegrass Album Whole New Mess Nominated [52]
2022 Video of the Year "Like I Used To" (with Sharon Van Etten) Nominated [53]
2023 Best American Roots Record Big Time Won [54]
Best Sync Usage "Go Home" Nominated

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Angel Olsen

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Angel Olsen (born January 22, 1987) is an American singer-songwriter and musician known for her emotive vocals and genre-blending work spanning indie folk, alternative rock, and country influences. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, as the youngest adopted child in a family of nine within a religiously observant household, Olsen was adopted at age three and raised in the area. At 20, she relocated to Chicago, where she briefly studied sports massage therapy and played in the band Good Fight before transitioning to solo music, initially gaining notice as a backing vocalist for Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy). Her debut release, the lo-fi folk EP Strange Cacti (2010), was followed by her first full-length album, Half Way Home (2012), both on Bathetic Records, establishing her reputation for intimate, reverb-heavy songwriting. Signing with Jagjaguwar in 2013, Olsen expanded her sound with Burn Your Fire for No Witness (2014), incorporating rock elements and earning critical acclaim for tracks like "White Fire." Her third album, My Woman (2016), marked a pivotal shift toward bolder, synth-driven arrangements and was awarded Album of the Year at the 2017 A2IM Libera Awards. Subsequent releases further showcased her evolution: All Mirrors (2019) delved into orchestral pop, Whole New Mess (2020) offered stripped-down acoustic versions of those songs, and the collaborative Song of the Lark and Other Far Memories (2021) paired her with experimental folk group the Improvisational Therapeutic Theater. In 2021, Olsen publicly came out as gay, introducing her partner, musician Beau Thibodeaux, via Instagram; this personal milestone informed her sixth studio album, Big Time (2022), which includes a title track co-written with Thibodeaux and was inspired by the deaths of her parents in 2021 (father shortly after she came out to them, mother from heart failure a few months later), blending 1970s-80s country styles with themes of grief, love, and healing. The album earned a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2023 Americana Honors & Awards. She followed with the EP Forever Means (2023), featuring outtakes from Big Time sessions and winner of the Best Americana Record at the 2024 A2IM Libera Awards, and curated the 2024 compilation Cosmic Waves Volume 1, which includes her original contributions. Now based in Asheville, North Carolina, since 2014, Olsen has collaborated with artists like Mark Ronson and continued to tour extensively, solidifying her status as a versatile voice in contemporary indie music.

Life and background

Early life and education

Angel Olsen was born on January 22, 1987, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was adopted at the age of three by a foster family that had cared for her since shortly after her birth, becoming the youngest of nine children in a religiously observant household. Her adoptive parents were older, with the father having worked as a military veteran and union worker, and the mother involved in foster care; the family dynamics were shaped by Southern religious traditions and the challenges of illness among relatives. Growing up in St. Louis, Olsen experienced a close bond with her mother but a more distant relationship with her father, who was described as having a temper. During her teenage years in St. Louis, Olsen developed an early interest in music through the local punk and alternative scenes. She fronted a high school rock band called Good Fight, drawing inspiration from acts like 311, Sublime, and No Doubt, and attended shows at venues such as the Creepy Crawl. As a child, she received piano and guitar lessons and often recorded herself singing on a tape recorder, fostering a habit of self-expression through music. Her exposure to '90s music culture and online communities like STLPunk further shaped her tastes, evolving from pop-punk to more experimental sounds like Battles and Deerhoof. After high school, Olsen briefly pursued formal training by enrolling in a sports massage therapy program at the Soma Institute in Chicago around age 20, after moving there in 2006 or 2007 to immerse herself in the city's DIY music scene. She dropped out after two years to focus on music, taking odd jobs like working at a café while performing at house shows and small venues such as the Hideout and Empty Bottle. This period marked her transition from adolescent experimentation to a committed pursuit of songwriting and performance within Chicago's indie community.

Personal life

In 2014, Olsen relocated from Chicago to Asheville, North Carolina, where she has since maintained her primary residence, finding the area's natural surroundings and community supportive during periods of personal transition. Olsen was in a relationship with musician Beau Thibodeaux, a trans and nonbinary artist, from 2021 until around 2022; the couple co-wrote the title track for her 2022 album Big Time, and Thibodeaux joined her family for the first time at her father's funeral shortly after they began dating. As of 2024, Olsen is in a relationship with singer-songwriter Maxim Ludwig. Prior to this, she had relationships with both men and women, including a brief romance with musician Meg Duffy that ended amid pandemic-related strains, and an earlier queer partnership with a trans individual that informed themes of self-discovery in her work. Olsen has openly discussed her experiences with anxiety, including panic attacks in her early twenties tied to adoption-related trust issues and the emotional toll of extensive touring, which she described as sometimes exacerbating feelings of isolation. In late 2021, she endured profound grief following the deaths of her adoptive parents—her father passing three days after she came out to them, and her mother succumbing to heart failure weeks later—which profoundly shaped her emotional landscape and briefly influenced her songwriting. At age 34, Olsen publicly came out as gay via Instagram in April 2021, captioning photos of Thibodeaux with "My beau, I'm gay," though she has also identified as pansexual and queer in interviews, emphasizing a fluid understanding of her attractions developed over time through relationships with women and nonbinary people. She has engaged in community activism, particularly around adoption and homelessness issues informed by her own background and her birth mother's circumstances, while expressing support for LGBTQ+ visibility without pursuing formal organizational roles. Since settling in Asheville, Olsen has prioritized personal stability amid her creative pursuits, using the pandemic period to deepen her attachment to the home she shares with Thibodeaux and to process ongoing emotional challenges through therapy and close relationships.

Career

2009–2012: Early collaborations and debut releases

In 2009, Angel Olsen joined Will Oldham's (Bonnie "Prince" Billy) backing band, the Cairo Gang, contributing harmonies that showcased her distinctive vocal range on his albums The Wonder Show of the World (2010) and Wolfroy Goes to Town (2011). She also participated in Oldham's punk cover band, the Babblers, during this period, touring with him and gaining exposure in indie folk circles through these collaborations. These early roles helped Olsen refine her singing style, which echoed influences like Cat Power in its raw emotional delivery. After relocating to Chicago in 2007, Olsen immersed herself in the city's DIY music scene, participating in open mics and performing at local venues such as The Hideout. She formed an early band with friends from the scene, playing intimate house shows that built her initial connections within the indie community. This grassroots involvement allowed her to experiment with her folk-oriented songwriting in supportive, low-stakes environments. Olsen's debut EP, Strange Cacti, was released in 2011 on Bathetic Records, following a limited cassette edition in 2010; the lo-fi folk project was recorded simply with acoustic guitar and vocals, capturing raw, intimate songs exploring themes of love and loss. Critics praised its vulnerability and Olsen's commanding voice, noting how the sparse arrangements amplified the emotional depth of tracks like "Tiniest Lights" and "Drunk and With Dreams." Complementing the EP, Olsen issued limited cassette releases such as Lady of the Waterpark (2010) on Love Lion, featuring covers of country songs by artists like Skeeter Davis and Dolly Parton, limited to 100 copies. These early tapes and contributions to indie compilations helped cultivate a small but dedicated following in underground folk and DIY circles. Olsen honed her stage presence through initial live performances, including small club shows in Chicago and Midwest tours where she opened for folk acts like Rivulets and Dark Dark Dark. These outings, often in venues like The Burlington, emphasized her solo acoustic sets and gradually expanded her regional audience before broader recognition.

2012–2015: Half Way Home and breakthrough with Burn Your Fire for No Witness

In 2012, Angel Olsen released her debut full-length album, Half Way Home, on the independent label Bathetic Records. The album features 10 tracks of sparse acoustic folk, centered on themes of personal introspection, loss, and emotional vulnerability, such as the longing depicted in "Lonely Universe" and the reflective drift of "The Waiting." Recorded with minimal production—primarily acoustic guitar, occasional electric accents, and no heavy effects—the record emphasizes Olsen's raw, resonant voice and direct songwriting, creating an intimate, handcrafted atmosphere. The growing acclaim for Half Way Home and her earlier EP Strange Cacti attracted attention from major indie labels, leading Olsen to sign with Jagjaguwar Records in early 2013. This deal marked a shift toward more expansive arrangements and structured compositions, building on the buzz from her solo performances and collaborations. Jagjaguwar reissued Half Way Home in limited editions to capitalize on her rising profile, though the original Bathetic version remained the primary release. Olsen's sophomore album, Burn Your Fire for No Witness, arrived on February 18, 2014, via Jagjaguwar, representing her first full-band effort and a pivotal evolution in sound. Produced by John Congleton at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, North Carolina, the record blends her folk roots with rock elements, featuring dynamic contrasts from hushed verses to explosive choruses driven by drums, bass, and electric guitar. Standout tracks like the sprawling, introspective "White Fire"—with its raw pleas of self-doubt—and the urgent, riff-heavy "Forgiven/Forgotten" exemplify this shift, showcasing Olsen's commanding vocals amid a fuller, psych-tinged energy. The album's 11 songs explore relational tension and inner turmoil, expanding her minimalist style into bolder, more collaborative territory. Burn Your Fire for No Witness achieved breakthrough commercial success, peaking at No. 71 on the Billboard 200 chart in its debut week. Critics hailed it as a transformative work; Pitchfork awarded it Best New Music status with an 8.3 rating, praising its "fuller, louder sound" and seamless transition from folk introspection to rock intensity. NPR's First Listen stream highlighted its emotional depth and combustive subtlety, positioning Olsen as an emerging indie force. To support the release, Olsen toured extensively with her new band—drummer Josh Jaeger and bassist Stewart Bronaugh—including headline dates across the U.S. and a European run featuring stops in Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Leuven. The album's impact extended to early recognition in the indie scene, earning Olsen the Up and Comer Artist Award at the 2014 A2IM Libera Awards for its innovative blend of vulnerability and power. While no major mainstream wins followed during this period, the accolade underscored her rapid ascent, setting the stage for broader prominence in indie rock.

2016–2018: My Woman and rising prominence

Angel Olsen released her third studio album, My Woman, on September 2, 2016, through the Jagjaguwar label. The record represented a significant evolution in her sound, blending introspective folk elements in its initial tracks with bolder synth-pop and rock influences in the latter half, highlighting her vocal range and songwriting versatility on songs such as "Shut Up Kiss Me" and "Never Be Mine." Co-produced by Olsen alongside Justin Raisen, the album was recorded live to tape at Vox Studios in Los Angeles, incorporating input from her touring band to capture a dynamic, immediate feel. Lyrically, My Woman delves into themes of romantic longing, self-doubt, and the inexorable passage of time, often examining how relationships shape personal identity and vulnerability. These explorations are underscored by Olsen's emotive delivery, which shifts from tender introspection to assertive confrontation across the album's 10 tracks. The release garnered critical acclaim for its emotional depth and genre-blending ambition, ultimately peaking at number 47 on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over 67,000 copies worldwide. In support of My Woman, Olsen expanded her touring footprint with headlining dates across the United States and Europe, performing to increasingly larger audiences and solidifying her live reputation. Her sets often featured a full band arrangement that amplified the album's rock edges, including occasional guest collaborations during festival appearances. Key highlights included her performance at Primavera Sound in Barcelona in 2017, where she delivered a set blending My Woman material with earlier work, and her Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival slot in 2018, during which she joined Snail Mail's Lindsey Jordan for a duet of "Punch." Olsen's rising profile during this era was further evidenced by prominent media features, including a profile in The New Yorker that praised her commanding presence and artistic growth. These exposures, combined with strong vinyl demand and merchandise sales at shows, helped cultivate a dedicated fanbase drawn to her raw authenticity and evolving sound. By 2018, her festival bookings and tour expansions reflected a transition toward mainstream indie recognition, setting the stage for broader industry traction.

2019–2021: All Mirrors, companion releases, and Aisles

In 2019, Angel Olsen released her fourth studio album, All Mirrors, on October 4 via Jagjaguwar. Produced by John Congleton in collaboration with Olsen, the record incorporates orchestral elements, including a 12-piece string section arranged by Ben Babbitt and Jherek Bischoff, alongside synth-driven production that evokes a cinematic scope. The album delves into themes of isolation, desire, romance, and emotional vulnerability, with lyrics confronting disillusionment and self-reflection, such as in the track "Spring," where Olsen sings, "I’m beginning to wonder if anything’s real." It marked a bold evolution in her sound, blending symphonic rock with synth-pop influences, and debuted at No. 52 on the Billboard 200. The title track was accompanied by a visually striking music video directed by Ashley Connor, conceived by Olsen, which premiered alongside the album announcement. The ambitious production of All Mirrors stemmed from initial solo sessions that Olsen recorded as a personal reference point, but the final version expanded into a lush, layered work amid her processing of grief following family losses. Critical reception was overwhelmingly positive, with Pitchfork awarding it Best New Music and an 8.9 rating for its grand gestures and Olsen's commanding vocals. However, the supporting tour was disrupted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, leading to postponed dates and a pivot to virtual performances, including livestreams that showcased her adaptability during lockdowns. In August 2020, amid the ongoing pandemic, Olsen released Whole New Mess, an acoustic reworking of the All Mirrors material drawn from those original 2018 solo sessions recorded at The Unknown studio in Anacortes, Washington. The album strips back the orchestral flourishes to emphasize raw, intimate vocals over sparse guitar and minimal percussion, amplifying themes of solitude and inner resilience in a deliberately brittle sound. Released on Jagjaguwar, it captured the era's enforced isolation, with its home-like sessions resonating as a therapeutic counterpoint to the fuller All Mirrors. Pitchfork praised its electric sparseness and metaphysical depth, rating it 8.0. The companion release Songs of the Lark and Other Far Memories arrived on May 7, 2021, as a comprehensive four-LP box set compiling All Mirrors and Whole New Mess alongside a bonus disc, Far Memory, featuring remixes, alternate takes, and outtakes expanded to 10 tracks total on that LP. Highlights include Johnny Jewel's atmospheric remix of "All Mirrors" and Mark Ronson's upbeat reinterpretation of "New Love Cassette," alongside a cover of Roxy Music's "More Than This," offering fresh sonic explorations of the source material. Later that summer, on August 20, 2021, Olsen surprise-dropped the EP Aisles via Jagjaguwar, a five-track collection of '80s new wave and synth-pop covers recorded with a full band to channel nostalgic energy. The set reimagines songs like Laura Branigan's "Gloria," Billy Idol's "Eyes Without a Face," and Men Without Hats' "The Safety Dance," transforming them into brooding, band-driven anthems that tie into Olsen's evolving interest in reinterpretation and era-spanning influences.

2022–present: Big Time, Forever Means, and Cosmic Waves

In 2022, Angel Olsen released her sixth studio album, Big Time, on June 3 via Jagjaguwar, marking a deliberate pivot toward country music with prominent use of pedal steel guitar and classic tropes like twangy instrumentation and narrative songcraft. Co-produced by Olsen and Jonathan Wilson, the record draws from sessions that captured her raw emotional state during the COVID-19 pandemic, intertwining themes of profound grief—stemming from the deaths of her father and, shortly after, her mother—with unexpected joy in new love and personal resilience. Songs like the title track evoke a sense of temporal fluidity, reflecting on loss as a catalyst for embracing queer desire and self-acceptance, all while maintaining Olsen's signature vocal depth and melodic warmth. The album debuted at No. 8 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with nearly 7,500 copies sold in its first week, signaling her growing commercial reach within indie and Americana circles. Accompanying the release was Big Time, a surreal short film directed by Kimberly Stuckwisch, inspired by Olsen's dream of time travel following her mother's passing; the approximately 27-minute visual piece premiered on Amazon Music and explores motifs of light versus shadow through non-linear storytelling. The following year, Olsen extended the Big Time era with the four-track EP Forever Means, issued on April 14, 2023, also through Jagjaguwar. Comprising outtakes from the album's sessions, the EP features originals such as "Nothing's Free," "Forever Means," "Time Bandits," and "Holding On," which blend the record's country leanings with introspective lyricism on endurance and emotional boundaries. These tracks serve as a sonic bridge, reinforcing the themes of mourning and renewal without introducing covers, and underscore Olsen's collaborative process with Wilson in refining her sound for broader emotional resonance. In September 2022, ahead of the EP, Olsen reimagined the Big Time title track as a duet with Sturgill Simpson, infusing the waltz-like arrangement with his baritone harmonies to amplify its romantic resolve and country authenticity. By late 2024, Olsen shifted toward curation and community-building with Cosmic Waves Volume 1, a compilation album released on December 6 via her new imprint somethingscosmic in partnership with Jagjaguwar. The double-sided project features original tracks from emerging indie artists she selected—such as Poppy Jean Crawford's "Glamorous," Coffin Prick's "Blood," Sarah Grace White's "Ride," and Camp Saint Helene's "Wonder Now"—alongside Olsen's own covers of songs by those acts and others like Camp Saint Helene, emphasizing discovery and mentorship in line with her own early career on small labels. This release coincided with announcements for a 2024 North American solo tour, where Olsen performed intimate sets highlighting both her catalog and the compilation's material. In 2025, she collaborated with David Franklin Courtright on the single "in a tangerine light" (August 2025). Amid these efforts, Olsen has seen sustained recognition through rising streaming numbers for her discography and ongoing vinyl editions of works like Big Time and Forever Means, reflecting an adaptation of her evolving style to attract wider audiences while hinting at future songwriting explorations in interviews. No new full-length album has been announced as of November 2025, but Olsen has alluded to upcoming personal projects centered on vulnerability and artistic experimentation.

Musical style and influences

Style and themes

Angel Olsen's vocal style is characterized by a wide dynamic range, shifting from intimate whispers and piercing murmurs to powerful wails and howls that convey raw emotional intensity. Her delivery often features a quivering vibrato and protean plasticity, drawing on elements of rockabilly yelps and gospel-inflected phrasing to create a luminous, candle-like flicker that enhances confessional intimacy. Over time, her vocals have evolved from lo-fi rawness to more composed, layered harmonies, incorporating tender self-reflection alongside playful sarcasm and lusty dedication. In terms of instrumentation, Olsen's work began with minimalist acoustic guitar and folk arrangements that emphasized sparse, room-capturing intimacy. This shifted to fuller electric guitars, synths, and orchestral elements, including 12-piece string sections and elongated violin lines, which add dramatic depth and backmasked effects for a sense of emotional expanse. More recently, her sound incorporates pedal steel guitar and subtle percussion, evoking country twang while blending with lush strings for a warm, organic texture. Reverb and echo are recurring tools across her discography, amplifying vulnerability and creating an atmospheric haze that underscores themes of isolation. Lyrically, Olsen explores the complexities of love and heartbreak through a confessional lens that blends autobiography with fictional elements, often delving into identity, existential doubt, and self-sabotage. Her songs balance nihilism with optimism, questioning suppressed emotions and relational patterns while incorporating queer perspectives on desire and vulnerability. Recurring motifs include grief's transformative power and the interplay of personal loss with newfound romantic hope, presented in a style that invites listeners to project their own stories. Olsen's production aesthetics have progressed from early minimalist, lo-fi recordings that capture breaths and ambient space to polished, cinematic works with symphonic grandeur and ornate synth layers. Later efforts emphasize emotional clarity through organic yet lavish arrangements, often paired with thematic visuals in album art and accompanying films that highlight motifs of solitude and introspection. Overall, Olsen's music has evolved from folk roots rooted in emotional authenticity to a genre-fluid indie rock sound, marked by increasing sonic ambition while maintaining a core of heartfelt vulnerability noted for its universal resonance in critical reception. This progression reflects a broadening artistic voice that prioritizes depth over genre constraints, with each phase building on the last to explore human connection amid doubt.

Influences

Angel Olsen's musical influences draw heavily from folk and country traditions, shaped by her early exposure to church hymnals and '70s singer-songwriters, as well as later immersions in classic country sounds. She has expressed admiration for artists like Dolly Parton, noting an intense obsession with Parton's work during the pandemic that informed the country elements of her 2022 album Big Time. Similarly, Olsen has referenced country icons such as Emmylou Harris, Tammy Wynette, and Kitty Wells as key inspirations for Big Time, evoking their emotional directness and storytelling in her own songwriting. These roots are complemented by her appreciation for Patsy Cline's resonant delivery, which influenced her vocal phrasing and emotional depth. In the indie and experimental realm, Olsen's style was profoundly impacted by her 2011 collaboration with Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy), where serving as a backing vocalist exposed her to folk minimalism and confessional lyricism, honing her direct approach to performance and composition. Critics and Olsen herself have noted parallels with Cat Power (Chan Marshall), whose raw emotional indie explorations shaped her early confessional songwriting. She has also drawn from the dramatic ballads of Roy Orbison, modeling her soaring, operatic vocals after his style in personal interviews. Broader inspirations include '80s new wave and dream pop, evident in her 2019 covers EP Aisles, which reinterprets Cocteau Twins tracks like "Heaven or Las Vegas" and "Lorelei" to capture their ethereal, dreamy textures. Olsen has cited Kate Bush and Sinéad O'Connor as vocal influences, appreciating their range and theatricality in late-'80s pop, alongside orchestral pop elements that inform her atmospheric arrangements. This interest in covering influential works continued in 2024 with Cosmic Waves Volume 1, a compilation she curated featuring her covers of contemporary indie and folk artists such as Poppy Jean Crawford and Sarah Grace White. Additionally, her work reflects the punk energy of the Chicago scene where she began, blending it with literary poeticism akin to Sylvia Plath's introspective intensity, though she emphasizes personal evolution over direct emulation.

Discography and accolades

Studio albums

Angel Olsen has released six studio albums to date, beginning with her debut Half Way Home in 2012. Her releases have been primarily issued through Bathetic Records and Jagjaguwar, with increasing commercial visibility on charts such as the Billboard 200 and UK Independent Albums. By 2025, her catalog had amassed over 459 million streams on Spotify as of October 2025.
TitleRelease dateLabelPeak chart positions
Half Way HomeSeptember 4, 2012Bathetic—
Burn Your Fire for No WitnessFebruary 18, 2014JagjaguwarUS Billboard 200: 69
My WomanSeptember 2, 2016JagjaguwarUS Billboard 200: 55
UK Albums: 40
UK Indie Breakers: 1
All MirrorsOctober 4, 2019JagjaguwarUS Billboard 200: 52
Whole New MessAugust 28, 2020JagjaguwarUS Billboard 200: 121
Big TimeJune 3, 2022JagjaguwarUS Billboard 200: 86
UK Indie Breakers: 1

Extended plays

Olsen's EPs often serve as companion pieces or exploratory works, including acoustic reimaginings and remix collections. Strange Cacti, her earliest release, was issued independently before her major label affiliation.
TitleRelease dateLabelNotes
Strange Cacti2010BatheticDebut EP
AislesAugust 20, 2021Self-releasedCovers EP
Forever MeansApril 14, 2023JagjaguwarCompanion to Big Time

Singles

Olsen's singles frequently preview her albums and include standout tracks that have garnered significant radio and streaming play. Key releases include energetic rock-inflected songs like "Shut Up Kiss Me" and atmospheric openers such as "Lark." Selected singles:
  • "Forgiven/Forgotten" / "Iota" (November 12, 2013, Jagjaguwar)
  • "Shut Up Kiss Me" (June 29, 2016, Jagjaguwar)
  • "Lark" (July 30, 2019, Jagjaguwar)
  • "All Mirrors" (September 12, 2019, Jagjaguwar)
  • "Nothing's Free" (April 7, 2023, Jagjaguwar)
  • "Glamorous" b/w "The Takeover" (November 12, 2024, Jagjaguwar) – from Cosmic Waves Volume 1

Other releases

Olsen has contributed to compilations and soundtracks, expanding her reach beyond solo work. In 2024, she curated Cosmic Waves Volume 1, a split compilation featuring original tracks from emerging artists on Side A and her covers of their songs on Side B. Song of the Lark and Other Far Memories (May 7, 2021, Jagjaguwar) is a compilation box set including All Mirrors, Whole New Mess, and a bonus disc Far Memory with outtakes, remixes, and covers. No live albums have been released as of 2025. She featured on "in a tangerine light" by David Franklin Courtright (August 7, 2025).

Awards and nominations

Angel Olsen has received critical acclaim throughout her career, earning multiple awards and nominations primarily from independent music organizations, reflecting her influence in indie, folk, and Americana genres. Her works have been recognized for their emotional depth and innovative songwriting, with a focus on albums like My Woman, All Mirrors, Whole New Mess, Big Time, and Forever Means. By 2025, she has secured four wins at the A2IM Libera Awards, the premier honors for independent music, along with several high-profile nominations.
YearAwardCategoryWorkResultSource
2014PitchforkBest New MusicBurn Your Fire for No WitnessWon
2017A2IM Libera AwardsAlbum of the YearMy WomanWon
2019PitchforkBest New MusicAll MirrorsWon
2020A2IM Libera AwardsAlbum of the YearAll MirrorsNominated
2021A2IM Libera AwardsBest Folk/Bluegrass RecordWhole New MessWon
2023A2IM Libera AwardsBest American Roots RecordBig TimeWon
2023Americana Music Honors & AwardsAlbum of the YearBig TimeNominated
2024A2IM Libera AwardsBest Singer-Songwriter RecordForever MeansWon
These recognitions, totaling over a dozen nominations and wins across indie and roots music categories, underscore Olsen's critical dominance rather than mainstream commercial success, with no Grammy nominations recorded as of 2025.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/angel-olsen-mn0002693655
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  4. https://www.discogs.com/artist/1759402-Angel-Olsen
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  8. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/2023-americana-awards-nominees-margo-price-charley-crockett-1234732016/
  9. https://angelolsen.bandcamp.com/album/forever-means
  10. https://liberaawards.com/2024-winners/
  11. https://www.stereogum.com/2287014/angel-olsen-announces-new-compilation-covers-project-cosmic-waves-volume-1/music/
  12. https://www.thefader.com/2019/09/17/angel-olsen-all-mirrors-interview
  13. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/06/06/angel-olsen-sees-your-pain
  14. https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/news-articles/deeper-read-things-you-possibly-didnt-know-about-angel-olsen
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  18. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/may/26/losing-my-parents-made-me-at-ease-with-talking-about-love-angel-olsen-on-coming-out-and-being-her-true-self
  19. https://www.npr.org/2022/06/01/1102154815/for-angel-olsen-the-shortest-distance-between-loss-and-love-is-a-country-song
  20. https://shangay.com/2022/09/16/angel-olsen-queer-big-time-entrevista/
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  35. https://nbhap.com/sounds/angel-olsen-half-way-home
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  40. https://creativedisc.com/index.php/2014/03/03/billboard-200-album-chart-03-mar/
  41. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/angel-olsen/2014/de-gouvernestraat-rotterdam-netherlands-1bc3b56c.html
  42. https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2014/06/full-list-of-2014-a2im-libera-award-winners.html
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  51. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njfgtY5MmOI
  52. https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-angel-olsen-perform-with-snail-mail-at-coachella-2018/
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  61. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/angel-olsen-whole-new-mess/
  62. https://pitchfork.com/news/angel-olsen-announces-new-songs-of-the-lark-and-other-far-memories-box-set/
  63. https://angelolsen.bandcamp.com/album/aisles
  64. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/angel-olsen-big-time/
  65. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urC7dcimES0
  66. https://www.theboot.com/angel-olsen-sturgill-simpson-big-time-duet/
  67. https://jagjaguwar.com/release/jag477/
  68. https://www.brooklynvegan.com/angel-olsen-announces-new-compilation-covers-project-ft-poppy-jean-crawford-more-hear-2-tracks/
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  71. https://angelolsen.bandcamp.com/album/cosmic-waves-volume-1
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  76. https://thebluegrasssituation.com/read/artist-of-the-month-angel-olsen/
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  79. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/angel-olsen-all-mirrors-crazy-cat-lady-901457/
  80. https://pitchfork.com/news/angel-olsen-curates-compilation-of-new-music-and-her-own-covers-shares-song-listen/
  81. https://angelolsen.bandcamp.com/album/half-way-home
  82. https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/6mKqFxGMS5TGDZI3XkT5Rt_songs.html
  83. https://angelolsen.bandcamp.com/album/strange-cacti
  84. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nleRCBhLr3k
  85. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uaN60k0-zY
  86. https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/burn-your-fire-for-no-witness-angel-olsen/0656605224497
  87. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/angel-olsen-radiohead-jagjaguwar-among-winners-at-sixth-annual-libera-7825583/
  88. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/a2ims-libera-awards-preview-2020-9400331/
  89. https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2021-a2im-libera-awards-winners-phoebe-bridgers-run-the-jewels-9589223/
  90. https://a2im.org/the-winners-for-the-2023-libera-awards-presented-by-merlin/
  91. https://theboot.com/2023-americana-music-association-honors-and-awards-nominations/
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