Olenka and the Autumn Lovers
Indie / Pop / Folk
London, Canada
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About
***SONGS ON VIRB***
The songs featured on Virb are an accompaniment to the more official songs on Myspace. The Virb song collection is mostly comprised of early recordings or rare demos of songs that have been reconceptualized in their official current album recordings. The collection is also comprised of demos of the numerous songs that Olenka has penned over the course of her seemingly endless songwriting output. These songs have yet to find homes, but many are slated for various forthcoming album projects.
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"If fresh, interesting folk music moved units like bad pop does, Olenka Krakus and her bandmates would be zillionaires." - Dave Jaffer, Hour Magazine
"Krakus' lyrics prod at her Polish ancestry, exploring moral inquiries from her dying planet to life in suburbia, while spinning stories reminiscent of the likes of raconteurs Tom Waits or Nick Cave (who would make great drinking buddies for Krakus and her Lovers)." - Rachel Weldon, Soundproof Magazine
Olenka and the Autumn Lovers formed in early 2008. The band, fronted by Polish singer/songwriter Olenka Krakus, has a sound that mingles a strong Eastern European influence with elements of North American country and folk music. The band’s diverse instruments (cello, violin, accordion, trumpet, saxophone, lap steel, mandolin and glockenspiel) provide a unique musical backdrop to Olenka’s sophisticated, often narrative, form of songwriting. Influenced by her memories of Communist Poland and by the country’s folklore, Olenka investigates themes of social injustice and personal responsibility, populating her songs with melancholy outcasts from both Polish and Canadian landscapes.
In 2008, the band released three albums, including Warsaw Girl (a 6 song EP of solo and minimally arranged songs), a self-titled full-length (11 fully-orchestrated, Eastern-European influenced pieces), and Papillonette (a 6-song EP of classic folk and country inspired melodies and narratives).
In addition to these releases, the band toured widely throughout the year and participated in numerous festivals, including NXNE, LOLA, and the Home County Folk Festival. In May of 2009 the band toured east again and will be returning to the Maritimes in October. 2009 Festival appearances include/will include NXNE, Pop Montreal, and Halifax Pop Explosion.
Music by O&AL has been featured on CBC 1, 2, and 3 and has been played extensively on Canadian college radio. The self-titled album won the CHRW local-album of the year award for 2008 and has been charting strongly in Earshot charts. Several songs have also been licensed for film projects.
O&AL’s music has been compared to that of Beirut, Wilco, Cat Power, Gillian Welch, Gogol Bordello, Tom Waits and Arcade Fire.
Current Lineup:
Olenka Krakus - lead vocal, guitar
Sara Froese - violin, vocals
Paterson Hodgson - cello, vocals
Daniel Mancini - drums
Blair Whatmore - lap steel, electric guitar, accordion, mandolin, vocals
Past Members and Collaborators:
Kevin Brasier - upright bass
Andrew James - accordion, trumpet
Simon Larochette - trumpet
Pete Lebel - glockenspiel
Nic Lefebvre - accordion, shakers
Kevin Matheson - clarinet, shakers
Michael O'Brien - accordion, trumpet
Aaron Simmons - accordion
Will Vandermeulen - mellophone
View Olenka's Myspace Profile
View Olenka's EPK
Stats
- Plays today
- 0
- All-time plays
- 1,367
- Profile views
- 2,963
Palatypus, May 21, 2008:
I can hear your foot stomp like an echo from behind. It's memory, voice-throwing, a distant taunt, subversive - the pluck of an upright. Once the paranoia subsides, I realize I'm proud to know you, troubador, content to remember your face peering around my entry-way when only the drugged indigent had done so before. Stomp on, woman, blaze the stage your path...
fattoriadelvento, Apr 29, 2008:
If you want, listen to "fattoriadelvento"-> free download da www.muertepop.com
fattoriadelvento, Apr 29, 2008:
-----------------------Thanks for your add---------------------------------------------------
Matt Knight, Feb 26, 2008:
Nice one Olenka (Alexandra Krakus)! Great tunes, I love the worn feeling they have. Tx for the request.
Palatypus, Dec 28, 2007:
New York EP Part 2?
Lazuli, Nov 6, 2007:
Salut Alexandra! Thank you for your nice message in french! I'm not very good too in english. You have a beautiful voice and style! I'm glad to be your friend! Danielle
Gagosian Liga, Aug 18, 2007:
I thank you for adding me and hope you enjoy my music! Feel free to download it! Greetings from Munich/Germany!