At the core of Widowspeak’s allure is the creative chemistry between singer-songwriter Molly Hamilton and guitarist Robert Earl Thomas. In the decade since the group first formed in Brooklyn they have released four critically-acclaimed full-length albums and toured extensively. Sonically, the band remains perennially anchored by Hamilton’s honeyed vocals and Thomas’s warm, expansive arrangements—references to 90’s dream pop, 60’s psychedelia, and a certain unshakeable Pacific-Northwestness. It’s comfortable, lived-in: humble in structure, heavy on mood.
Widowspeak have returned, just when we needed them most. Their brand new song “Breadwinner” is a captivating reflection on shared burdens in life and love.
During their recent tenure in the Hudson Valley and Catskills region of New York State, the duo took to writing new songs unhurriedly amidst the reality of day jobs, with an intentional hiatus from touring as the grounding force. “Breadwinner” is the first of these newer songs and points towards an absorption with pragmatic observations, small and personal realities of a rapidly changing world.
The inspiration for “Breadwinner” came from the cover of a zine by Ian Vens, which had sat on display in their home for years. It read, “OH PLEASE BABY JUST QUIT OK IF ANYTHING COMES ALONG PLEASE PROMISE ME YOULL QUIT THAT JOB.” Hamilton felt there was a lot of truth in it, in her own experiences with dead-end work that felt unfulfilling, the economic instability that goes hand-in-hand with choosing to “follow one’s dreams,” and the pain of watching those close to you suffer just to pay for the realities of their existence. The lyrics were also inspired by a growing fascination with bread as allegory; the idea of proving oneself, and reaping the reward of labor. “Breadwinner” is a song about shared burdens in life and love, and hoping that there’s something transcendent, honest in whatever it is to work.
The Fat Angel Sings 