PJ Harvey contributes to Shida Shahabi and Oliver Leith albums
Harvey co-wrote and sings on Shahabi’s single “Wreath” and makes multiple appearances on Leith’s released album Doom And The Dooms.
Shida Shahabi has announced First Light At Hand, an album featuring PJ Harvey on its lead single, “Wreath.” Harvey also contributed to British composer Oliver Leith’s Doom And The Dooms, which is available through PLATOON Ltd.
Harvey shares writing credits with Shahabi on “Wreath,” a drone piece lasting six and a half minutes. First Light At Hand is scheduled for release on 3/5 through Still Light. Shahabi, an Iranian-born composer based in Stockholm, met Harvey after being invited to perform at the Gunnersbury Park Festival, which Harvey curated.
Describing their collaboration, Harvey said she asked Shahabi to supply freeform words inspired by the music, then edited and added to them. She kept the melody simple and repetitive, while Shahabi looped her vocal toward the end of the piece. Shahabi said recordings of overtones with slowly developing progressions formed its foundation.
Leith recorded Doom And The Dooms with Sean Shibe, GBSR Duo and 12 Ensemble, with Harvey contributing multiple times. His other work includes Last Days, an opera inspired by Kurt Cobain.
