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Katie Crutchfield, also known as Waxahatchee, is currently comfortable at home wearing a Breeders T-shirt and cardigan. Her hair is styled in a high bun with headphones on. She is contemplating the past decade and notes that her 30s have brought more opportunities for happiness. Each day, she wakes up realizing she has evolved and grown. She chuckles wistfully, acknowledging that she has transformed.
Crutchfield, at the age of 35, attributes the change to her maturity, sobriety, and success. She clarifies that these aspects are all interconnected. She has been a part of bands since her teenage years in Alabama, often with her twin sister, Allison. Her breakthrough into the mainstream came with her fifth album as Waxahatchee, titled Saint Cloud. The album, released in March of 2020, received widespread acclaim. The collection of reflective, country-influenced indie rock songs center around Crutchfield’s decision to stop drinking in 2017 and her exploration of her newly sober self. These themes resonated with listeners who were also rediscovering themselves during lockdown.
Following the lifting of restrictions, Crutchfield embarked on a postponed victory tour, traveling to Saint Cloud for a period of 18 months. In October 2022, she debuted an album with singer-songwriter Jess Williamson under the name Plains. Currently, after spending a quiet year at home with her partner and occasional musical collaborator, Kevin Morby, Crutchfield is preparing to release a new album.
Even though Tigers Blood is Waxahatchee’s sixth album, it has a sense of being a student project. She describes it as an experiment, saying that while her previous album, Saint Cloud, was somewhat unplugged, this one is even more so. She reflects on how she has isolated herself and constantly strives to push that boundary.
Crutchfield has established boundaries over the past three years, shielding herself not just from substances, but also from things that may divert her focus and exhaust her as an artist and individual.
The album Tigers Blood has a more expansive perspective compared to its previous one, without a dominant storyline. According to Crutchfield, Saint Cloud had a definite theme of someone’s journey towards sobriety, which was ironically oversimplified. She clarifies that while there was a narrative, it was mostly perpetuated and solidified by the media.
In interviews, Crutchfield has frequently emphasized that her struggles with substance abuse were not extreme. However, her journey to sobriety has inspired many of her songs on Saint Cloud. Throughout the album, Crutchfield reflects on her codependency and addiction and works towards showing herself more kindness, as demonstrated in the powerful track “Fire”.
As a musician, Crutchfield has always been intrigued by her inner self, often depicting “two versions of Katie” in her music. After being sober for five years, she has developed a new perspective on herself and her art. “I have been contemplating this a lot: it’s not the glamorous and fresh sobriety that everyone imagines – I am truly living it now,” she explains.
After giving up alcohol and relocating to Kansas City to live with Morby, Crutchfield, who had previously been constantly touring and moving between her hometown of Birmingham, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Long Island, was warned by a friend that she would not recognize herself for some time. “That turned out to be true,” says Crutchfield. “But now I can confidently say that I know myself completely while sober.”
She occasionally faces challenges, but overall, she feels confident. Crutchfield’s music in Tigers Blood reflects her self-assurance, capturing the current positive phase of her life.
Not all of them are love stories. There is a variety of topics, such as addiction and being in a relationship with other addicts. However, there are also songs that express my thoughts on being in the music industry and the overall culture.
Feeling uninterested, specifically, centers around her increasing annoyance with a close friend of many years: Crutchfield’s tone, uneasy and complaining about conforming to expectations, rises to a loud yell during the refrain: “My kindness just disappears / I become uninterested.”
According to Crutchfield, the lyrics of the song reflect her personal journey in her mid-30s when relationships can become more difficult and paths can diverge. She believes that as one gets older, life becomes more intriguing.
During her tumultuous twenties marked by excessive drinking, drug use, and extreme behavior, Crutchfield is now on a path towards self-discovery and acceptance. This journey has led to a decreased tolerance for people who do not align with her true self.
Crutchfield’s evolution as both an individual and an artist is evident in her recognition of the passing of time. While she still appreciates the passionate emotions often found in music created by young adults, she particularly admires Olivia Rodrigo’s talent, referring to her as “Fiona Apple for Gen Z”. However, Crutchfield now seeks to find inspiration in her own serene daily experiences and learn to take things at a steady pace.
Crutchfield and her sister Allison learned how to play instruments and compose music at a young age of 14. They formed a band called the Ackleys when they were 16 and quickly gained popularity in their local community. They were also skilled enough to go on tour. They spent most of their school breaks on the road.
When they were 18 years old in 2007, the twins changed their focus to pop-punk music and formed a new band called PS Eliot. They embarked on national tours lasting up to eight weeks, which they booked themselves without any guaranteed income, simply because they enjoyed it. Crutchfield explains, “We did it for the love of the game.”
Despite her young age and the distractions of everyday life, she was determined to pursue a career in music. She was inspired by Brian Wilson’s latest album, which delved into a new chapter of his life. At the time, she was so consumed by the dramas of being in her early twenties that it became the main focus of her writing.
“I understand the importance of having a long-lasting career and in order to achieve that, I believe it’s crucial to be fully present and always ask myself, ‘What is my truth in this moment?’ This may not seem as thrilling as the chaos of my youth, but I need to focus on this and keep moving forward.”
In her latest album, “Crimes of the Heart,” Crutchfield confronts her struggle to find her footing in the ever-changing landscape of the online music industry. She also reflects on the expectations placed on her to constantly strive for more. She compares herself to a fortune teller working for free in someone else’s profitable field and advises to not stretch oneself too thin.
Crutchfield chooses not to engage on social media due to concerns about algorithms potentially affecting her songwriting and emotional depth. She jokingly acknowledges the need to protect her “human brain” and laughs at herself for sounding paranoid.
Saint Cloud was a project where the artist aimed to challenge the notion that suffering is necessary for creating captivating art. In contrast, Tigers Blood explores a variety of topics that were on the artist’s mind at the time, taking on a more conversational tone with the audience rather than delving deep into personal introspection.
In 2017, Crutchfield used an “outward” approach in her album Out in the Storm, where she reflects on a painful breakup. While she still supports the album, she admits that its rawness makes it difficult for her to listen to again.
Tigers Blood proved to her how much she’s grown since then, confidently channelling not just that earlier, angstier album’s searching perspective, but also its heavier sound. MJ (Jake) Lenderman – of the band Wednesday, whose third solo album, Boat Songs, was widely regarded as one of the best of last year – plays electric guitar throughout the record, and also sings harmony.
When Crutchfield initially witnessed Lenderman’s performance at South by Southwest a few years back, she was compelled to work with him. She was enamored with his raw and distinctly southern style of guitar playing.
However, it was the suggestion of producer Brad Cook to have Lenderman join their initial recording session, even though they had no concept of the upcoming album.
Initially, Crutchfield had doubts and was already feeling somewhat vulnerable about creating another album after Saint Cloud, which was also produced by Cook. Although they didn’t openly discuss it, both Brad and Crutchfield felt pressure to not make it seem like a coincidence.
“We were trying to give Waxahatchee the recognition it deserves,” Crutchfield explains, chuckling as she remembers the enthusiastic brainstorming sessions where they used words like ‘big’ and ‘epic’ to hype each other up. In reality, “we were just going in circles.”
I admit that I have a hard time picturing the “legendary” Waxahatchee album. Crutchfield explains, “It’s ironic because I believe we were hinting at pop production, which neither of us truly wanted to pursue.” However, with the success of a “game-changing” album, she adds, “that opportunity is available, and it’s tempting to take advantage of it.”
After spending three days in the studio with Lenderman, Cook and Crutchfield came to the realization that they didn’t have to completely change themselves or meet the expectations of Saint Cloud. They simply needed to stick to their tried and true formula.
According to Crutchfield, her love for Saint Cloud, Tigers Blood, and the Plains album is undeniable. She believes that using these approaches has been more successful for her. She trusts her instincts in choosing the right people, as things tend to work out for her when she does.
Now Crutchfield says her ambition is to maintain her present level of success, while prioritising happiness alongside it. She feels grateful for the pace of her career so far: “Had I had a lot of success really young, I think that would have been a fucking mess. I feel that with every door that opens, I’m very ready to walk through it,” she says. “I’m making what I think is my best work right now – and there’s never been more attention on it.”
Crutchfield playfully states in a melodic tone, “Everything fell into place as it was intended.” She initially begins the sentence with hesitation, lightly poking fun at the tidy storyline – but concludes with a sigh of contentment.
The release date for Tigers Blood is March 22nd.
Source: theguardian.com
