Karen O Draws on Former Crushes for Debut Solo Album ‘Crush Songs’
Versatile Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O has signed to Cult Records – the label founded by the Strokes lead singer Julian Casablancas in 2009 – and will release her first solo album, titled Crush Songs, on September 9th. A vinyl-only special edition will also be available prior to the official release and will include drawings and handwritten lyrics.
See where “Sacrilege” From Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Mosquito Fell in our Best Songs of 2013 List
Karen O recorded the lo-fi set around 2006 and 2007, when Yeah Yeah Yeahs released their Grammy-nominated second album Show Your Bones. “When I was 27, I crushed a lot,” the 35-year old vocalist explained in a statement. “These songs were written and recorded in private around this time. They are the soundtrack to what was an ever-continuing love crusade.”
In his role as O’s label boss, Casablancas shared some kind words about the record, saying, “So excited, lucky and proud to be involved with such a classic album – I just want to listen to it all day.”
Though the Yeah Yeah Yeahs haven’t officially announced a follow-up to 2013’s Mosquito, O has been venturing out on her own for some time. Most recently, she received a “Best Original Song” Oscar nomination for “The Moon Song,” her contribution to Spike Jonze’s Her later released as a duet with Ezra Koenig. “Singing [that] song with Ezra felt like fulfilling a wish of my die-hard romantic junior high self,” O told Rolling Stone earlier this year.
Lest he be out-multitasked, Casablancas will release his second solo record alongside his new backing band, The Voidz, on September 23rd. The album, titled Tyranny, will also come out on Cult Records, and marks his first solo release since 2009’s Phrazes for the Young and most recent record since the Strokes’ 2013 LP Comedown Machine. The Strokes recently played their first shows together in three years, including a classics-filled homecoming performance earlier this month at New York’s Governors Ball.