Ethereal electronica: Carmen Villain shares her top tracks
- Text by HUCK HQ
Carmen Villain’s first album, the 2013-released Sleeper, was an elusive record. Characterised by its woozy vocals and fuzzy guitars, her frustration – lurking just beneath the surface – was fraught and palpable. The half-Norwegian, half-Mexican singer even noted that the album was dedicated to “indifference”, or feeling as if you’re in a “kind of emptiness.”
Her latest record, Infinite Avenue, comes four years after her debut, and is almost unrecognisable. This time around, Villain has shaken off the angst, opting instead for soothing sound tapestries and relaxed ruminations. The result is an intensely personal record; written, recorded and produced exclusively by the singer herself.
“I’ve been listening to a lot of ambient and electronic music lately,” the former model tells Huck. “I’ve also been very inspired by films for this last album, especially films by Cassavetes, Bergman and Antonioni. There’s something about the vibe and the pace of the movies, that they are not necessarily linear but still evoke so much emotion and feeling.”
For our Monday mix, Villain selects a series of tracks that influenced the record, from the hypnotic instrumentals of Jon Hassell to the absorbing ambience of Huerco S. “It’s a mix of fairly chill and ambient selections,” she adds. “I was in a pretty mellow mood when I made this.” Listen below:
Tracklist
You might like
The utopic vision of Black liberation in ’60s & ’70s jazz
Freedom, Rhythm & Sound — As Pan-African optimism spread across the world in the postcolonial era, Black-led record labels gave artists space to express themselves away from the mainstream. A new book collates 500 groundbreaking albums and their covers.
Written by: Miss Rosen
Analogue Appreciation: Wesley Joseph
Forever Ends Someday — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, visual and sonic shapeshifter Wesley Joseph.
Written by: Wesley Joseph
The Strokes condemn US imperialism in Coachella set
Oblivius — The band finished their performance at the festival’s second weekend with a montage of bombings in Gaza and Iran, along with images of world leaders that the CIA has been accused of overthrowing over the past century.
Written by: Noah Petersons
The heady bliss of Glastonbury Festival after the music
Not Done Yet — While the weekend’s headliners and stacked line-ups usually draws the majority of the attention, much of its magic occurs after the music stops. Mischa Haller’s new photobook captures the euphoria and endless possibilities of Glasto’s “in between” moments.
Written by: Isaac Muk
The cathartic roar of Vietnam’s hardcore punk scene
Going hardcore in Saigon — In a country that has gradually opened up in recent decades, a burgeoning youth movement is creating an outlet for youth frustration and anxiety. Frank L’Opez reports from the country’s biggest city’s underground.
Written by: Frank L’Opez
The rise of anywhere and everywhere radio
Cooking up broadcasts — From a London rickshaw to a shipping container in Ukraine, independent stations are redefining what a studio looks and feels like. Bella Koopman speaks to DIY station founders to find out more.
Written by: Bella Koopman
