PHOTOGRAPHY BY NEDDA AFSARI.A
nnie Clark, better
known by her
stage name St.
Vincent, describes
herself as a
“weirdo”. A Grammy-winning,
chart-topping, critically
acclaimed weirdo. But on the eve
of releasing her fifth studio
album, Masseducation, it seems
as if the word “successful” might
be overtaking the “weirdo” label.
She’s been called a “bona fide
star” by The Guardian and
compared to Kate Bush, Björk
and Patti Smith. But Clark, who
got her start working as a roadie
for her aunt and uncle ( jazz duo
Tuck & Patti) when she was a
teenager, doesn’t buy into hype.
Whether she’s playing for
“four people at a pizza parlour”
or headlining a festival in Tokyo,
Clark says her main drive is
simply to make tunes that
describe her world. The new
album, which is co-produced by
Jack Antonoff (who is also Lena
Dunham’s boyfriend), is a
reflection of Clark’s life. “It’s the
manic panic, high highs, low
lows and the in-between of the
last three years,” she says.
Writing about her manic
panic isn’t difficult, explains
Clark. “Anyone who acts shocked
by the things I say is not being
honest with themselves,” she
says. The real challenge of
creating an album? “Finishing.”
Clark’s advice for the next
generation of female rockstars is
to not be intimidated: “Don’t let
anyone tell you who you are,
who you can be or what you can
do. Just get in the game.”
Masseducation (Universal
SING ALONGMusic) is out on October 13.In 2015, St. Vincent
became the first
woman to win a
Grammy in the Best
Alternative Music
Album category in
nearly 25 years.
Now, the American
musician wants
to inspire the next
generation of female
rockstars – with a
brand-new album“THE QUEEN IS DEAD”
THE SMITHS
“The greatest album of all time”,
according to NME, is being reissued
with exclusive demos and live tracks.
Out October 20“HEROES”
DAVID BOWIE
Celebrate the 40th
anniversary of Bowie’s iconic
album with a re-released 7”
picture disc. Out nowRELEASE,
RINSE,
REPEAT
Sometimes you have to be
honest: you liked their old
stuff better. This month we’re
loving classic re-releases
“A BRAND NEW ME”
ARETHA FRANKLIN
Franklin’s timeless vocals paired
with new arrangements by the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Out November 10