Bonnie "Prince" Billy Releases New Song Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You
Tuesday, 21 November 2023
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Elsa Hansen Oldham
Bonnie "Prince" Billy has shared a new song called Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You.
Gentle with sweeping orchestration, the soothing acoustic folk ballad shares its title with Will Oldham's new album, though it doesn't appear on the record.
Recorded with Emmett Kelly, singer-songwriter Blake Mills, multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ismaily and drummer Jim Keltner, the song also includes backing vocals from Lacey Guthrie, Katie Peabody, and Heather Summers. Head below to view the accompanying video, directed by Adam Laity, who said:
"Will sent me the demo for Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You about a year ago. I found the song so romantic - the idea of chucking a suitcase in car and heading off on a journey with a lover. And also the humility in the idea of being unable to grow old if we don't come to terms with our faults, in the way that only someone you're in love with can reveal to you.
"Agnes Varda said 'If we opened people up, we'd find landscapes.' The video is really about the affective resonance that landscapes can have for us, that sometimes last our whole lives. It started with the idea of clouds passing over Will's face, and really it just grew from there. I wasn't particularly interested in the video 'making sense', but rather it was about trying to visualize the energy and flow of the song."
Oldham released his 'Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You' LP in August. He's also shared details of a Destroy You, Keeping Secrets Will beer with independent brewery Gan Yam. Head here for details. Brewer Jonathan Le Mare said of the collaboration:
"As soon as Will mentioned he was keen to have a beer with medicinal properties we knew this was a project we'd love to be involved in. Looking for something that fitted the bill we landed on yarrow which is a plant that has been used since ancient times in brewing beer long before hops were used, in part, for its many and varied healing properties. With great serendipity Will happened to have some yarrow growing in his garden and reported back on a cup of tea he made, saying it was 'fascinating and lovely', this felt like all the confirmation we needed that we were on the right track.
"The final beer is a 6.1% sour yarrow gruit, gruit being the term for a beer made without hops. The yarrow has a green tea like quality and the beer itself is delicate and very refreshing. This is a beer we are very proud of and it's been great to have the opportunity to brew such a historical and interesting beer alongside Will."
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