Karen O made a surprise appearance at the New York City vinyl debut listening party of her new album, Crush Songs, playing several songs from the record with guitarist Moses Sumney. O performed for an intimate crowd at the party hosted by Sofar Sounds in a Tribeca loft.
“Shouting out to all the ladies and mens who listened in living rooms tonight! Thx,” O says of the events.
For fan posts from the parties in 21 cities worldwide, visit www.karenomusic.com/sofar or bit.ly/KOSofarPhotos. Crush Songs is out September 9 on Cult Records. Pre-order the album via iTunes here and via Cult Records here.
O is set to play several exclusive shows this fall and has just added a date in San Francisco at Great American Music Hall on September 22 to previously announced dates in New York, Los Angeles and London—which sold out within minutes of going on sale—and Berlin. These special nights include shows at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Masonic Lodge, London’s Bush Hall, Berlin’s Heimathafen, the Manderley Bar at the McKittrick Hotel and a show in the round at Le Poisson Rouge. Please see below for full tour details and visit karenomusic.com for tickets.
Of the live dates, O says, “I’m very pleased to announce that I’ll be performing Crush Songs to some very intimate audiences. If you’re in the mood for love please come join my crush odyssey at these limited engagements. I apologize in advance that these shows are so few but I guess that makes them all the more special if you can make it SO don’t miss out! LUV KO”
Sofar Sounds is the world’s largest live music discovery community. They curate secret shows in unique spaces around the world, transforming the way fans consume live music while dramatically impacting the careers of artists who play for them. For more, watch this video.
Pitchfork recently premiered the video for “Rapt,” directed by Barney Clay with production design from K.K. Barrett. Watch the video here.
“When I was 27 I crushed a lot,” says Karen of the new record. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever fall in love again. These songs were written and recorded in private around this time. They are the soundtrack to what was an ever continuing love crusade. I hope they keep you company on yours.”
Recorded in 2006 and 2007, the record is an intimate collection of lo-fi, bedroom recordings in the vein of Karen’s Oscar-nominated “The Moon Song.”
Cult label founder Julian Casablancas says, “So excited, lucky and proud to be involved with such a classic album—I just wanna listen to it all day. Karen is an all-time great.”
Karen O is the frontwoman of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. In addition to Karen’s recent Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for “The Moon Song,” Yeah Yeah Yeahs have been nominated for three Grammy awards. The band has released four studio albums—2003’s Fever to Tell, 2006’s Show Your Bones, 2009’s It’s Blitz and 2013’s Mosquito—to incredible critical acclaim and has played countless festivals including Glastonbury, Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo and curated its own All Tomorrow’s Parties.
Cult Records is helmed by Julian Casablancas. In addition to Karen O, the Cult roster includes Albert Hammond, Jr., Cerebral Ballzy, Har Mar Superstar, Rey Pila and more.
KAREN O LIVE DATES
September 9 New York, NY Manderley Bar at The McKittrick Hotel
September 10 New York, NY Manderley Bar at The McKittrick Hotel
September 11 New York, NY Manderley Bar at The McKittrick Hotel
September 12 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge
September 17 Los Angeles, CA The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
September 18 Los Angeles, CA The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
September 19 Los Angeles, CA The Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
September 22 San Francisco, CA Great AmericanMusic Hall
October 4 London, UK Bush Hall
October 5 London, UK Bush Hall
October 7 Berlin, Germany Heimathafen