Squirrel Flower is the stage name of American musician Ella O'Connor Williams.[2]

Squirrel Flower
Sled Island 2019, Calgary, Canada
Background information
Birth nameElla O'Connor Williams[1]
Born (1996-08-11) August 11, 1996 (age 27)
OriginBoston, Massachusetts
GenresIndie folk
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano, bass
Years active2015–present
LabelsPolyvinyl Records, 2000 Pigs Records, It Takes Time Records
Websitewww.squirrelflower.net

Early life edit

Williams grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts. When Williams was a child, she gave herself the nickname Squirrel Flower.[3] In 2014, she moved to Iowa to attend Grinnell College.[2]

History edit

After getting involved in the DIY scene in Boston as a teenager, Williams moved to Iowa. There, she wrote her first EP as Squirrel Flower and began setting up small tours for herself. This first EP, titled Early Winter Songs From Middle America, was self-released in 2015.

In 2016, Williams released her second EP titled Contact Sports on a St. Louis-based DIY tape label called It Takes Time.[4]

Williams' debut album, I Was Born Swimming, was released in 2020 via Polyvinyl Records.[5][6] The album was produced by Gabe Wax.[5] This anticipated label debut earned overwhelming praise from the likes of Gorilla vs. Bear,[7] NPR Music,[8] and Paste,[9] and she was named Rolling Stone Artist You Need To Know,[10] Stereogum's Artist to Watch,[11] The FADER's Gen F,[12] and The Guardian's One to Watch.[13] In May 2020, Squirrel Flower released the single "Take It Or Leave It", backed with her cover of Caroline Polachek's "So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings."[14]

Discography edit

Studio albums

  • Contact Sports (Deluxe Edition) (2018, 2000 Pigs)
  • I Was Born Swimming (2020, Polyvinyl)
  • Planet (i) (2021, Polyvinyl)
  • Tomorrow's Fire (2023, Polyvinyl)

EPs

  • Early Winter Songs from Middle America (2015, self-released)
  • Contact Sports (2016, It Takes Time. Re-released on vinyl in 2018 by 2000 Pigs)
  • Planet (2022, Full Time Hobby)

Singles

  • "Midwestern Clay" (2016)
  • "Not Your Prey" (2016)
  • "Red Shoulder" (2019)
  • "Headlights" (2019)
  • "Streetlight Blues" (2020)
  • "Take It or Leave It / So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings" (2020)
  • "Explain It to Me / Chicago" (2020)
  • "Hurt a Fly" (2021)
  • "I'll Go Running" (2021)
  • ”Flames and Flat Tires” (2021)

References edit

  1. ^ "ALLEY LIGHT". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Martoccio, Angie (February 19, 2020). "Squirrel Flower's Tender-Hearted Indie-Rock Breakthrough". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  3. ^ Morris, Damien (January 11, 2020). "One to watch: Squirrel Flower". The Guardian. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Finn, Rachel (June 22, 2018). "Squirrel Flower lays out her emotions on new EP 'Contact Sports'". DIY. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Touros, Cyrena. "Squirrel Flower's Debut Finds The Beauty In Transient Things". NPR Music. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Gerber, Brady. "Squirrel Flower: I Was Born Swimming". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "Squirrel Flower – Red Shoulder". GORILLA VS. BEAR. October 25, 2019.
  8. ^ "Squirrel Flower's Debut Finds The Beauty In Transient Things". NPR.org.
  9. ^ "Catch Squirrel Flower If You Can". pastemagazine.com. January 31, 2020.
  10. ^ Martoccio, Angie (February 19, 2020). "Squirrel Flower's Tender-Hearted Indie-Rock Breakthrough". Rolling Stone.
  11. ^ "Artist To Watch: Squirrel Flower". January 9, 2020.
  12. ^ "Squirrel Flower finds clarity in solitude". The FADER.
  13. ^ "One to watch: Squirrel Flower". The Guardian. January 11, 2020.
  14. ^ "Squirrel Flower – "So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings" (Caroline Polachek Cover)". May 5, 2020.