Chelsea Wolfe Is Recruiting Artists For Her Musical Coven

This is SOUND ADVICE, a weekly destination for playlists curated by Interview’s friends, enemies, and lovers. Over the past few weeks, we’ve gathered playlists from Loren Kramar, Devon Ross, and Bapari. This week’s guest is singer-songwriter (and practicing witch) Chelsea Wolfe, who’s bringing us a playlist full of stormy and meditative tracks. Her curated picks ring similar to her latest album out this Friday, She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She, where her angelic vocals drift over booming instrumental distortions. Chelsea also let us know the staple gothic wardrobe pieces she’s wearing for doomsday and the artists she’d recruit for her musical coven.

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Where do you dance? In my room. Occasionally onstage. 

What song on this playlist, if any, makes you cry? “Two is Apocryphal” by Jóhann Jóhannsson with Theatre of Voices. I wish I could have worked with him, such an incredible talent. This song also fills me with a longing to sing with other people. 

What song from this playlist casts a spell? Speaking of the magic of voices coming together, “Kalimankou Denkou (The Evening Gathering)” by the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir. 

Name your favorite artist no one knows about: Karlos Rene Ayala.

Who’s in your musical coven? If I made a coven playlist, it’d have artists on it like Lindy-Fay Hella, Kali Uchis, Ghost Marrow, Anohni, Sharon Van Etten, Trish Keenan, Nico, Beth Gibbons, Sibylle Baier, Kelela, Karina Utomo, Patti Smith, Wata, Kris Esfandiari, Ethel Cain, Angel Olsen, Shirley Manson, Loretta Lynn, Bjork, Ioanna Gika, PJ Harvey, Stevie Nicks, Elizabeth Fraser, Selda Bağcan, Anna von Hausswolff, Katastrophy Wife, Enya, Tanya Tagaq, Anika, Kazu Makino, Fiona Apple, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Dolly Parton, Backxwash, Natasha Khan, Eartha Kitt, Jennifer Charles, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Divide and Dissolve, Julianna Barwick, Kælan Mikla, Eartheater, Lana Del Rey, Emma Ruth Rundle, Kalandra, Myrkur, Michael Love Michael, Blackwater Holylight, Starcrawler, Föllakzoid, Anna Thorvaldsdottir, Nikki Cage, Brooklynn, Spellling, Spiritbox, Youth Code, Sevdaliza, FKA Twigs, SRSQ, Adult Human Females, Vowws, Lea Thomas, Neko Case, Hide, Shaam Larein, Konvent.

What’s your favorite movie needle-drop? Not a movie but a show, in The OA, when Jóhann Jóhannsson’s “The Rocket Builder (Lo Pan!)” plays as OA and Homer stay up all night performing the movements to save their friend. 

Where’s your favorite place to listen to music? In the woods, on a walk. 

Favorite on-the-road meal? Thai curry with tofu and rice.  

What song reminds you of your childhood? Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.” 

What song makes you feel free? “Kvitravn” by Wadruna. 

The world is ending; what are you wearing? Jenni Hensler dress, Ann Demeulemeester boots, Uma Wang coat, Blood Milk necklace. Walk into the sea. 

What do you listen to when you’re trying to feel peaceful? Rain sounds. 

What card from the Tarot deck do you most identify with right now? The Tower, reversed

What are you listening to under a full moon? Cocteau Twins, “Alice” or L7, “Shitlist,” depending on the mood. 

Who are you haunting? Myself!

Your new album, She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She, comes out this week. What fictional character is most likely to connect with it? The Owens women from the Practical Magic books by Alice Hoffman come to mind. Having a family grimoire that’s passed down from generation to generation feels very “she reaches out to she reaches out to she.”