LISTEN: SOHN Releases Eerie Cover of “Song To The Siren”
LISTEN: SOHN Releases Eerie Cover of “Song To The Siren”
The cover is an electronic spin on a folk classic
Words By: Jason Russo
British electronic producer, singer, and songwriter SOHN is back with a cover of the ethereal “Song To The Siren” by esteemed 70s folk artist Tim Buckley. The track is taken from Bills & Aches & Blues, the recently released anniversary covers collection from the iconic British record label 4AD. Celebrating a legacy spanning nearly 41 years, the label asked current artists to dive into their rich discography and chose a track from 4AD’s past to reimagine for today’s listeners.
“Song To The Siren” has a rich musical history, released back in 1970 on Tim Buckley’s fifth album Starsailor. It was first covered by Robert Plant in 2002, followed by This Mortal Coil in 2012 and was also featured in the blockbuster film The Lovely Bones. SOHN perfectly blends his signature sparse yet determined electronic production with the original’s acoustic, guitar-driven folk sound. Reverbed guitars melt over SOHN’s incredible voice and the gently pulsing bass production, singing, “Did I dream you dreamed of me?/Were you hare when I was fox?/Now my foolish boat is leaning/Broken lovelorn on your rocks.”
“Song To The Siren” is a dark ballad, playing on the disturbing yet passionate myth of sirens luring sailors into the depths of the ocean which Buckley equates to his feelings for the love interest. The distance expressed in the lyrics of the original mesh perfectly with SOHN’s artistry. His lyrics are deeply poetic and somewhat ambiguous, giving them a cool and eerie vibe that matches the writing of Tim Buckley and the haunting legend of sirens themselves.
Bills & Aches & Blues features several impressive covers from some of 4AD’s biggest stars, like Tkay Maidza’s cover of “Where Is My Mind” by Pixies and Big Thief’s cover of “Off You” by The Breeders. According to their website, “The compilation features 18 of its current artists covering a song of their choosing from 4AD’s past: a creative experiment rooted in the spirit of collaboration and a snapshot of 4AD, 41 years after its inception.”
SOHN is a British born, Vienna-based singer, songwriter, and producer who has been making a name for himself since 2012. His first LP Tremors was a foundational project that led him to produce for some of the biggest names in electronic-influenced music like Rihanna and Banks. His signature sound has earned him prestige within the industry, and many artists seek him out personally for official remixes like his reworkings of “Where You Belong” by The Weeknd, “Ride” by Lana del Rey and “Alaska” by Maggie Rogers. SOHN’s second LP Rennen was similarly successful and featured singles like “Hard Liquor” and “Conrad.” After a nearly four-year hiatus, SOHN returned with an incredible live, orchestrated album with Grammy nominated and world renowned symphony the Metropole Orkest. “Song To The Siren” is hopefully the first of many more new projects from SOHN in the coming months. Check back for more updates from SOHN!
