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Superwolves at the Door: Will Oldham and Matt Sweeney for Drake's

By Tony Sylvester

Jul 13, 2022

Superwolves at the Door: Will Oldham and Matt Sweeney for Drake's

 

As they prepare to release their long-awaited second album as a duo, we asked musicians Will Oldham and Matt Sweeney to model some of our wares.

 

 

"There are many ways in which this demon virus has actually bolstered and fostered good works. As travel and in-person hangs have been frowned-upon, we've explored the strengths of distance."

 

Will Oldham, often known as Bonnie “Prince” Billy, is talking to us about the unexpected yet long-awaited follow up to 2005's “Superwolf”. Modestly received upon its initial release, it is one of those perfect slow-burn albums that has crystallised over time and under the radar, blooming into a bona fide cult classic in the process. “Superwolves” (released by Domino / Drag City 30th April) will once again see him teaming up with musical partner Matt Sweeney, creating another masterpiece steeped in the intimate and the infinite. Sweeney's fingerpicking and Oldham's voice delivering a collection of songs straddling transatlantic folk music and cosmic Americana. 

 

"When we embarked upon the first record, we were young and flexible, with little going on in our lives outside of musical exploration," he continues. "Mostly for the best, our lives are bulked-up now, with love and more byzantine and numerous musical explorations going on, as well as some stronger inklings about what we can do with a song."

 

"We've played and sang the old songs many times, and have picked them apart to try and understand why they work, and how.  We've also witnessed the reactions of audiences to that record (and to other efforts of ours, together and separately), and the audience input has helped us to understand what we might be capable of."

 

Oldham and Sweeney each selected an outfit from Drake’s, and were photographed in their respective hometowns of Louisville, and New York City. Oldham was photographed at home by his wife, Elsa, and Sweeney was photographed  by Ben Rayner. Sweeney’s guitar was made by Wandering Boy Guitars.

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