Olden Yolk

Olden Yolk, the project of songwriters Shane Butler and Caity Shaffer, return with their second album, Living Theatre, due May 17th on Trouble in Mind. This morning, NPR Music presented the video for lead single “Cotton & Cane.”

The follow up to their 2018 self-titled LP, Living Theatre conjures moments of stark minimalism and cinematic maximalism, most potent for Shaffer and Butler’s lyrical intimacy and vivid arrangements. The title was inspired by the experimental thespian movement in New York of the same name, in which actors broke from tradition by creating an experience of communal expression.

The album was conceived alongside percussionist Booker Stardrum and co-producer Jarvis Taveniere (Woods) in collaboration with Eliza Bagg, Frank Maston, Peter Wagner and Benjamin Levinson. It was recorded at Comp-NY in Los Angeles by Jarvis Taveniere with additional help from Vishal Nayak at The Black Lodge in New York City.