Angel Olsen was kind enough to make us another staggering LP of emotionally charged power ballads, and “Lark” is the second preview of how amped the songwriter’s Wattage is expected to be on All Mirrors. Going full Grace Slick over orchestral swells, “Lark” is a far cry from the lonely acoustic folk of her 2014 breakout LP.
Equally cinematic is the Ashley Connor–directed video for the six-and-a-half minute epic, charting Olsen’s spiritual journey projecting from rolling green hills like Julie Andrews to braving the elements (water and fire specifically) to get her message across.
“‘Lark’ is the cathartic release we all ask for but so rarely get, an anthem to scream on the tops of hills or in the back of a truck or just in the privacy of our own home,” director Connor notes in a press release. “We cried on beaches, we broke bones, got wet, rolled in the grass, danced around a fire with friends and gave each other a lot of hugs—an apt exploration of every broken heart we’ve ever had.”
“The message of the song developed at first from an argument I once had with someone about trust and support,” Olsen also notes. “Later, I pulled from recurring themes in my life as a musician and as a human that dreams for a living. It’s easy to promise the world to those we love, but what about when our dreams change and values split?”
All Mirrors is out October 4 on Jagjaguwar. You can pre-order it here.
