The Bad Penny (beta)

“Heavy music can be soft too, and that’s where I come in.”

With that succinct sentence, Marissa Nadler summed up to The Bad Penny what attendees of Psycho Las Vegas 2022 should expect from her Friday performance at the festival. While set times are not yet publicly available, her celestial singing is sure to provide respite to those who risk going deaf at the ear-shattering performances by Emperor, Carcass and Mayhem. And yet, she is a logical fit for a festival featuring artists who challenges themselves and their audiences alike.

Mind you, Nadler is so much more than just an anomalous addition to a festival geared toward music of … let’s say, “the heavier variety.” As she explained in an interview last week, the dark themes in her songs have a great deal in common with those topics upon by most bands on Psycho’s bill. If that weren’t enough, Nadler — who is probably too humble to admit it herself — carries more collaborative bonafides than arguably about any other participating artist. To name just a few, she has teamed with Xasthur, Mercury Rev, Emily Jane White, Okkervil River, Ben Watt, Lushlife … and if you think that short list is impressive, take a gander at the litany of tribute albums on which she has appeared.

As gracious, kind and joyful as they come, Nadler carved out some time to talk with us about her long-awaited, very first appearance at Psycho Las Vegas in just over a couple of weeks. The conversation went a little something like this.