Ancestress (song) explained

Ancestress
Type:single
Artist:Björk featuring Sindri Eldon
Album:Fossora
Released:22 September 2022
Length:7:17
Label:One Little Independent
Producer:Björk
Chronology:Björk
Prev Title:Ovule
Prev Year:2022
Next Title:Fossora
Next Year:2022

"Ancestress" is a song by Icelandic musician Björk, featuring backing vocals from her son Sindri Eldon. The song was released on 22 September 2022 as the third single from her tenth studio album Fossora.[1] A music video directed by Andrew Thomas Huang was also released alongside the single.[2]

Background

"Ancestress" was written as a tribute to Björk's mother, who died in 2018. In an interview with Pitchfork, she stated: "If I was a priest, it's what I would've said at the funeral."[3] The song was "written in an epitaph in an Icelandic folk style" and features heavy use of strings and features vocals by Björk's son, Sindri Eldon.[4] Eldon participated in the arrangement of the vocals alongside his mother. Like other tracks on Fossora, Soraya Nayyar contributes percussion to the song.

Reception

"Ancestress" was named the 18th best song of 2022 by Pitchfork.[5] The music video was also nominated at the 2023 Icelandic Music Awards in the Music Video of the year category.[6]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Björk's official website:[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Breihan . Tom . Björk releases new song 'Ancestress' . . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922131517/https://www.stereogum.com/2200351/bjork-ancestress/music/ . live .
  2. Web site: . Björk shares personal new single 'Ancestress': 'This song is a letter to my mother' . Skinner . Tom . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922114651/https://www.nme.com/news/music/bjork-releases-new-single-ancestress-listen-video-watch-3315199 . live .
  3. Web site: Corcoran . Nina . Monroe . Jazz . Björk Shares Video for New Song "Ancestress" . . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922134720/https://pitchfork.com/news/bjork-shares-video-for-new-song-ancestress-watch/ . live .
  4. Web site: Frank . Jason P. . 2022-10-03 . How to Get Into Fossora (If You Don't Get Björk Yet) . 2023-03-01 . Vulture . en-us.
  5. Web site: 5 December 2022 . The 100 Best Songs of 2022 . 5 December 2022 . Pitchfork.
  6. Web site: Marína og Magnús með fernu hvort . mbl.is . 22 March 2023 . Icelandic . 9 March 2023.
  7. Web site: Fossora . 22 September 2022 . Björk . 29 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220929010642/https://www.fossora.com/ancestress . live .