Quitters
Christian Lee Hutson: Indiefolk ace with celebrity helpers
At first glance, Christian Lee Hutson seems to be just one of many in the big US indie folk scene. He shows how good he is with his new album. Behind them are prominent friends.
With a still comparatively unknown musician like Christian Lee Hutson, it pays to pay attention to the small print and his sponsors.
Then, when you come across indie pop greats like Phoebe Bridgers or Conor Oberst, it’s clear that this 31-year-old from Los Angeles is already a highly regarded and respected singer-songwriter in celebrity circles.
With his fourth album since “The Hell With It”, self-released in 2013, the mini hype surrounding Hutson could now become a bigger wave. Because “Quitters”, like its predecessor “Beginners” (2020) released by the Auskenner label ANTI-, has once again become an enchanting gem of US neofolk.
Somewhere between Cat Stevens, Paul Simon and Elliott Smith, the gentle Californian can be located as a singer and songwriter in the 13 new songs. The arrangements (eg in «Age Difference», reduced to guitar, bass and spherical trumpet tones by Nate Walcott) are of exquisite beauty. In the electric guitar parts by Meg Duffy, the distortion is also used.
Produced by Phoebe Bridgers and Conor Oberst
Phoebe Bridgers (27) is considered one of the greatest US talents of her generation as a solo musician and as a member of the bands Boygenius and Better Oblivion Community Center. Conor Oberst (42) had this reputation more than twenty years ago with the Bright Eyes. As joint producers, the two have now polished Hutson’s “Quitters” into a veritable folk rock jewel with great attention to detail.
The collaboration was obviously uncomplicated: “Phoebe is my best friend and recording ‘Beginners’ with her was so pleasant and easy that I wanted to work with her again,” says Hutson. And he adds: “Having Conor there served the purpose of having someone I really respect as a lyricist and who could ease my fears.”
With «Quitters», Christian Lee Hutson is now well on his way to climbing the level of his already much more renowned indie folk buddies.