Death Vessel

Providence, Rhode Island-based guitarist, singer, and songwriter Joel Thibodeau uses Death Vessel chiefly as an outlet for his own work. The project draws from the pastoral country-folk spirit of Gram Parsons while embracing the exploratory approach of present-day alternative folk artists such as Iron & Wine, Thao Nguyen, and Devendra Banhart. Born in Germany and equipped with a striking falsetto, Thibodeau passed his early years along the East Coast, dividing his time among Boston, Providence, and New York City. His first release under the Death Vessel name, Stay Close, arrived in 2005; the Sub Pop debut Nothing Is Precious Enough for Us followed in 2008 and was promoted through tours with Low, José González, and the Books. Six years later came the 2014 album Island Intervals. To shape its lush, icy atmosphere, Thibodeau headed to Reykjavik, Iceland and enlisted production assistance from Sigur Rós collaborator Alex Somers along with Múm’s Samuli Kosminen.