XL Recordings head Richard Russell has a musical project called Everything is Recorded where he collaborates with different musicians, often in surprising pairings. (Think UNKLE.) He’s just released a new single, “Porcupine Tattoo,” that features Bill Callahan and 2021 Best New Artist Grammy nominee Noah Cyrus, who are performing together for the first time here. Here’s more on how this came to be:
Reaching out to Callahan – an artist he’s long admired and whose song “I’m New Here” was covered by, and provided the title for, Gil Scott-Heron’s final, Russell-produced studio album – Russell asked the simple question “who would you like to write a song for?”. “Noah Cyrus” was Callahan’s reply. The final single features Callahan’s original demo vocal, pitched down and resting on layers of sub bass and complemented by Cyrus’ crystalline counterpoint vocal. It was recorded during a rainy week of sessions in a bungalow at Los Angeles’ Chateau Marmont, which Russell described as “comfortable but haunted.”
Listen to “Porcupine Tattoo” below.
There’s a 7″ of “Porcupine Tattoo” that’s out January 31 via Drag City which features another Everything Is Recorded song with Callahan, “Norm,” which is about Norm MacDonald.
Earlier this year Russell released the debut album from Sam Morton, his musical collaboration with actress Samantha Morton.