Devin Oktar
For The FADER's Mini Tapes series, we typically ask artists to come-up with short playlists for things like soundtracking a spa day, eating your lunch, or texting your crush. Today, Sharon Van Etten participates in the series with an especially timely one: a playlist dedicated to three artists that have been affected by the on-going Los Angeles wildfires.
Since January 7, over 12,000 homes, businesses, and structures in the L.A. area have been destroyed by the fires and thousands more people and families displaced, with a significant fraction of that being artists and musicians. Fat Tony, Emily Elbert, and Maxim Ludwig are three musicians among those who've been directly impacted by the crisis, and they are whom Van Etten dedicates her Mini Tapes playlist to today, in the hopes of shining "a light on artists you may not know," she tells The FADER.
Van Etten, who herself is based in L.A. and considers these three artists close friends, is gearing up to release the self-titled debut album of her new project Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory. The record arrives February 7 via Jagjaguwar, and she heads on tour on February 3.
Hear Van Etten's playlist below and read her dedications for each song. See The FADER's ongoing round-up of artists affected by the fires and their individual donation pages here, and visit Musicares, Mutual Aid L.A., and the Red Cross for more resources.
Fat Tony, “Dream House”
“I met [Fat Tony] at a barbecue in L.A. We just hit it off. He was really sweet, and we had a lot of mutual friends and we high five over social media and it's just been a really beautiful thing to see him vicariously in videos and online. [This song] is about his partner and his house and his life right now.”
Emily Elbert, “Inside Your Heart”
“She is a touring musician with Leon Bridges and a beautiful, beautiful soul and beyond touring for other artists, she is an incredible artist in her own right. She's also from Texas, like Fat Tony and Leon Bridges, and just has a heart of gold, and she lost her house as well. So Emily, I'm giving you a shout. You are a beautiful person and I can't wait to see you again out there sending lots of love.”
Maxim Ludwig (feat. Angel Olsen), “Mercury Avenue”
“Max is a shining light. He's not only my guitar tech, but he has been my Zen guru. Whenever I'm going through a hard time on stage or just on the road and missing my friends and family, he re-centers me, and he reminds me that everything will be OK and everything is within my power. This is a love song sung between Max Ludwig and Angel Olsen, two beautiful souls that I've toured with, that I've hung out with, that have stood by me through thick and thin.”
