Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile, two of this generation’s most exciting and unique singer-songwriters, released a collaboration album, the result of 8 days in the studio spread over almost 15 months when Courtney and Kurt’s respective touring schedules allowed for them to be in the same place at the same time. 

Courtney recalls the seeds of the collaboration: 

“In 2014 I scored a support slot opening for Kurt at the Abbotsford Convent [outside Melbourne]. We met briefly after the show but I was a bit nervous and didn’t wanna bother him, just grateful for the gig. Years later we started bumping into each other on the festival circuit all around the wide world and we became friends. He hit me up when he was coming to Melbourne next and said he thought we could work together.”

As Kurt tells it:

“I just love her voice in general... great lyrics of course... I love all her music but the song that really hit me was "Depreston"—I know it's popular but her voice is so good in that song and it's so pretty and sincere... I'm a sucker for that kinda song: instant classic.

It started out as, maybe we'll do a split 7" together but then I figured let's make it a 12" so it doesn't get lost in the world, shoot for 5 songs. It wasn't until i had another KV tour booked for the following summer in Oz that we thought we should record as much as we can, just see what happens, no major goal to make it a full length, but it came together that way ‘cause the vibe was so strong with everyone.”

For Courtney, the admiration is mutual: 

I’m a huge Kurt fan. Smoke Ring was one of my first purchases on vinyl. I was getting over a big break-up, unemployed and drifting and I would just lie on my bed and listen to ‘Peepin' Tom’ on repeat. One of the most beautiful and luscious albums I ever heard.”