Gothic Folk Songstress Marissa Nadler Plays SoCal

MARISSA NADLER

MARISSA NADLER plays The Casbah Aug. 2, The Echo Aug. 3; photo EbruY ildiz

The eloquent, innovative and sometimes psychedelic Marissa Nadler is coming to SoCal to play The Casbah in San Diego Aug. 2 followed by The Echo in Los Angeles Aug. 3.

These appearances form part of the acclaimed new age folk singer’s current tour across North America in support of her latest album, Strangers, along with the release of her latest music video for the song, “Janie in Love.” Nadler will also be accompanied by the bands Wrekmeister Harmonies and Muscle and Marrow.

Born in Washington D.C., Marissa Nadler’s uniquely evolutionary based approach to folk has made her a notable figure in folk music. Her songs often explore the complex subject of love. Her music incorporates traditional folk but mixes its classical acoustic style with elements of both alternative rock and electronic effects.

Her latest album, Strangers, exhibits the current iteration of her style. Its most noteworthy track “Janie in Love” is a song about break ups and the regret than can ensue from them. What might normally turn out to be a traditional folk song is instead transformed under Nadler into a more hypnotic, moving and admittedly psychedelic song encapsulating the heartbreak made by past relationships.

What ultimately makes her songs so effective is Nadler’s mezzo-soprano voice, which is an invaluable factor providing her multitude of songs a powerful and uniquely beautiful tranquility.

It’s a voice that, unlike her music style, has not changed since her first album, Ballads of Living and Dying, debuted back in 2004. Her cover of Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem “Annabel Lee,” featured on the album, utilizes her distinctive voice and her skillful acoustic guitar abilities to help enrich the classical, gothic love ballad.

Feats like that resulted in writer James Reed, in a 2004 review for Boston Globe, describing Nadler’s voice as one that “in mythological times, could have lured men to their deaths at sea.” But as we exist in modern times, Nadler’s voice and constantly evolving style instead has helped in winning fans, award nominations and praise from critics.

The phrase “folk is dead” is inaccurate where people like Nadler are concerned. On the contrary: folk is simply evolving and Nadler’s just helping to keep the ball rolling.