CrowJane

CrowJane Releases Debut Album Mater Dolorosa

By Pinky Black L.A.-based experimental post-punk artist CrowJane aka Heather Galipo, has been busy lately. In fact, we’re talking extremely busy. She has just released her debut album release, Mater Dolorosa. The album was released through Kitten Robot Records this past month on September 15 th . Coincidentally, that date was also the Roman Catholic observed Holy day of “Mater Dolorosa”, which translates to ‘The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows’, so if you were wondering about what the title of her new album means, there you got it. The album was produced in L.A. by Paul Roessler, who was also behind the releases of Screamers, Nina Hagen, 45 Grave, and the Deadbeats, among others. The album was preceded by the release of “Terminal Secrets”, the first single off the album. Keeping up with the momentum of the album release, CrowJane also released a video for the second single off the album the next day, on September 16 th . The second single from the album is titled “The Pharmacy” and was released through AudioFemme. “The Pharmacy” is definitely one creepy video. You’re going to have to check this one out when you get a chance. As CrowJane explains, “Part of the reason why I chose ‘The Pharmacy’ to be a single is because I had this idea come into my mind for a music video. I didn’t want to portray pharmaceuticals in a literal sense. Instead, I wanted to portray the act of trying to heal someone’s ‘demons’ through mysticism. Some of my favorite subject matters are the occult, voodoo, and demons,” says CrowJane of the creeptastic and sinister video. “I liked it just being a montage of sorts of this imagery that informs the viewer but still leaves them guessing. It was fun to shoot this with my friends and to put demon makeup and goop on myself.” CrowJane is very excited about the release of her debut album. In some respects, she found it very extraordinary that she was able to pull it off, but nevertheless she did. “I’m amazed that Mater Dolorosa is finally coming out to the public and in this way with publicity and a record label. If you would‘ve told me that when I was writing it, I wouldn’t have believed you,” says CrowJane about the album release. “My personal journals/therapy session solo album is being exposed for others to listen to and digest, and I’m just itching to write more. I honestly couldn’t think of a better time to pour out thoughts and emotions onto paper and into songs than right now with the state of this country and in my jobless quarantine.” For CrowJane, the making of Mater Dolorosa was an extreme undertaking that took years to complete. It wasn’t just done overnight. During that time she also worked on other projects, such as Egrets on Ergot, “Sally” and “Nurse Heather” in the twisted cabaret of The Deadbeats. She was also the “front woman” of the L.A. band, Prissy Whip. Her Mater Dolorosa producer was also involved in the later project as he recorded and mixed Prissy Whip’s album release Swallow. Without a doubt, some of the recording of Mater Dolorosa was very experimental and CrowJane and her producer Paul Roessler went through some great extremes to get the sounds and the feelings she wanted for this album release. “Mater Dolorosa was an experimental adventure of messing with different sounds and homemade instruments,” she explains of the unconventional instrumentation that included tin cans, bed railings and even cat litter. “I used foil and hit it with a pencil as a ‘snare’ sound on ‘Circular Valley,’ for instance. I’m happy with the way it turned out and I think it is a good first album and it won’t be the last.” Be sure to give CrowJane and her new debut album Mater Dolorosa a listen when you can. Also be sure to check out the videos for her two singles, “The Pharmacy,” and “Terminal Secrets.” You’re going to be in for a big surprise… this is nothing like you’ve ever listened to before. Mater Dolorosa is out courtesy of Kitten Robot Records.