Hand Habits – wildfire covers EP _ Artwork

Angel Olsen, Lomelda & more cover Hand Habits on new benefit EP

Angel Olsen, Lomelda, Kacey Johansing, Tara Jane O’Neil and John Andrews & The Yawns have all covered Hand Habits‘ “Wildfire” (from this year’s placeholder) for a new compilation EP with proceeds going to the Amazon Conservation Association. Hand Habits’ Meg Duffy explains a little more about the project:

Being a touring musician 8 months out of the year, you are exposed to a lot of varying degrees of climate change effects in a short period of time. From the gasoline that’s used to fuel touring vehicles, to the massive amount of plastic waste at the end of every show, to the carbon emissions released into the air by all the travel, it’s often not the most environmentally conscious career. I wanted to contribute, even if in a small way, to the efforts at work by the people at the Amazon Conservation Association for being dedicated to preserving such a vast and heartbreakingly crucial part of our ecosystem that has been threatened by wildfires, deforestation, and the effects of climate change. I believe that writing and performing music can be a healing force, used for good, and not always for capitalizing on emotions and commodifying a personality or lifestyle. People need to be able to relate to each other, in times of joy, and especially in times of sorrow or struggle. The Wildfire Compilation, in partnership with Bandcamp and Saddle Creek, will be donating all of it’s funds raised to the ACA in hopes to lend a helping hand to those on the front lines of fighting climate change in places that may seem inaccessible to those of us unable to travel at length. I chose 5 artists, Tara Jane O’Neil, Lomelda, John Andrews, Angel Olsen, and Kacey Johansing to interpret and cover my song “wildfire” that I wrote during the California Wildfires in 2017. All of these artists are dear friends and have all taught me a lot about the complexity of emotions in music.

You can listen to Lomelda’s atmospheric version of “wildfires” below.

Once the fundraising goal is met, the vinyl will be put into production and the full EP will be made live exclusively on Bandcamp.

Meanwhile, Meg just finished up a run of dates where they played guitar for an expanded band version of Sylvan Esso. From Meg’s post on Instagram about the experience:

this has been a fully life changing lesson in how to be a part of the machine for greater good and connection via MUSIC and i hope i never wake up! thank you thank everyone in this psychic group of freaky geniuses thank you @sylvanesso for being the ultimate facilitators in sharing resources and community. thank you to @grahamtlbrtfoto for catching us all in moments of love and goof

Angel Olsen, meanwhile, just wrapped up a three-night run at Brooklyn Steel.