In the spirit of the season, Anna Vogelzang has carried on her tradition of recording holiday songs towards the end of the year to share with friends and family. The practice began in 2008 when she’d just moved to Madison, WI after a stint in Chicago. Having yet to start a new day job, she found herself without a lot of extra funds to buy gifts, but also with more space for home recording in her new apartment than she’d ever had before. So as a way to show appreciation to friends and family, she and her partner Andrew Young recorded a six song EP, and packaged it in hand-made sleeves to give out as presents. Every year since she’s continued the tradition, and while she hasn’t made them public in the past, this year she’s putting a few songs on display for fans. Below you will find some great options for your 2012 holiday party playlist.
In the new year Anna will begin preparing for the release of her new album Canary In A Coal Mine, out February 28th on Paper Anchor Music.
In recording Canary In A Coal Mine, Vogelzang enlisted the help of a wide cast of professional players including Franz Nicolay on accordion (former Hold Steady), Brian Viglione on drums (Dresden Dolls), Todd Sickafoose on upright bass (Righteous Babe/Ani DiFranco) and Emily Hope Price on cello (Pearl & the Beard). In the studio she teamed with producer James Frazee (Blondie, Betty LaVette) to create a shimmering and fully crafted folk pop landscape accented with flowing strings, plucky banjos, and Vogelzang’s warm and inviting full-throated vocals filling and floating above the spaces in between.
Anna Vogelzang, “Die Trying” by Evanschl
