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Folk Artist's Near-Death Experience Fuels New Music
29 Apr
Summary
- Artist faced health crisis during album recording.
- New album explores recovery and living with symptoms.
- Music evolves beyond mentor's influence and past style.
Beneath its tranquil surface, Angelo De Augustine's minimalist folk music conveys a profound, resilient strength. The artist recently shared that he collapsed at his Los Angeles home in late 2021, halfway through recording his album "Toil and Trouble." Facing a health crisis he believed might be fatal, he pushed to complete the record.
His latest album, "Angel in Plainclothes," chronicles his return from that edge. It explores how he is renegotiating his life, singing, and guitar playing while managing persistent, unexplained symptoms, which he suspects are linked to chronic stress. Interestingly, he finds that being in water helps him cope.
De Augustine is solidifying his distinct artistic voice, moving past his association as an heir apparent to artists like Sufjan Stevens and Nick Drake. His music, while still minimalist, now carries an otherworldly fragility that feels hard-earned. Tracks like "Empty Shell" and "Pet Cemetery," featuring his mother's backing vocals, highlight his evolving sound and emotional depth.
