Exclusive Song Premiere: ‘Golden Bird,’ Sondra Sun-Odeon

Candles, stockpiled booze, nowhere to go, rain lashing at the windows… As Hurricane Sandy bore down on the East Coast this week, we hunkered down with the perfect soundtrack for a stormy day or night (or three) indoors: Sondra Sun-Odeon’s Aetherea.  

Otherworldly and intimate, Sun-Odeon’s first solo venture (after several successful years as half of duo Silver Summit) calls to mind Damien Rice in its moody lyrics and swelling instrumentals. Guitar loops melt into nimble violin; throaty cello slips into plucked guitar; and all the while, Sun-Odeon’s eerie voice moves throughout. “Golden Bird,” a track we’re pleased to premiere here, exemplifies the layered sound and highly personal songwriting of this record. The single opens with a lone violin, simple guitar and Sun-Odeon’s earthy voice. However, “Golden Bird” doesn’t stay pared down for long. Gradually, the violin branches into two and the song builds with the introduction of each new, carefully selected element as Sun-Odeon’s vocals become more forceful. It’s an organic single, but in no way accidental.

Recorded throughout 2011 in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Aetherea is deliberately wandering. And just as soon as we have reliable power, we’re excited to give this record—which also features contributions from Espers’ Helena Espvall, Beach House’s Ben McConnell, and Leyna Marika Papach—more than just a passing listen.

SONDRA SUN-ODEON’S AETHEREA IS OUT NOVEMBER 20. FOR MORE ON THE ARTIST, VISIT HER WEBSITE.