Olivia Chaney's Folk Ballad Haunts Wuthering Heights Film Soundtrack
In Emerald Fennell's adaptation of Wuthering Heights, Margot Robbie's character glides across the moors in a gauzy wedding dress, accompanied by the haunting voice of folk singer Olivia Chaney. Chaney's rendition of the 19th-century ballad Dark Eyed Sailor provides a raw, emotional backdrop to the film's themes of love and longing, a choice that felt eerily personal to the artist.
A Spooky Personal Connection
Chaney recounts from her Yorkshire living room how the song's inclusion resonated deeply with her own life. "I was at the beginning of my relationship with the man who is now my husband and the father of my two children – he nearly married someone else, and I nearly had kids with someone else," she explains. Seeing the song support Cathy's emotions about being with the wrong man felt "very spooky." Fennell selected this track from three options, drawn to its raw emotional power, which Chaney attributes to her voice standing alone without orchestral accompaniment.
Musical Journey and Serendipitous Timing
The song's revival came at a pivotal moment for Chaney, who has recently returned to folk music after a diverse career. Her previous albums, including 2024's Circus of Desire, feature originals and collaborations, such as a remix by Vessel and live performances with Zero 7. On February 27, she debuts with her new British folk-rock band, News From Nowhere, boasting an impressive lineup including drummer Tom Skinner and composer Leo Abrahams.
Chaney's path to folk began in her 20s, despite early training in classical and jazz music. A chance encounter with busker Matthew Ord, who introduced her to traditional songs like Dark Eyed Sailor and the harmonium, shaped her direction. "I really responded to the words and the emotions in it," she says, highlighting how Ord's influence cemented her folk identity.
Respect in the Folk World and Cross-Cultural Explorations
Chaney has earned acclaim as one of Britain's most exciting folk performers, collaborating with veterans like Shirley Collins and Richard Thompson. She fronted the folk-rock supergroup Offa Rex with the Decemberists, earning a Grammy nomination for their 2017 album Queen of Hearts. This summer, she releases an album of Henry Purcell songs, performing at Kings Place in London, where she is an artist in residence. "Purcell wrote for kings and queens, but he was also down the pub listening to the ballads," Chaney notes, emphasizing her interest in cultural connections.
Her cross-cultural mindset extends to appreciating Charli xcx's contributions to the Wuthering Heights soundtrack. "I think her music's great and very harmonious with my song – it all ties in really well together," Chaney observes. "Even though there are some bangers, harmonically they are in a similar world to Dark Eyed Sailor. There's even synths and sounds that are in a similar sonic tonal world to my harmonium."
Recording and Emotional Impact
After years of only live YouTube clips, Chaney finally released a recorded version of Dark Eyed Sailor last Friday, produced by Oli Deakin. She had attempted multiple versions before, but it wasn't until the film's premiere on February 5 that she heard it fit perfectly. "Drinking champagne behind Richard E Grant? Insane," she laughs, describing the event. "I gripped my husband's hand so tight when the song came in – hearing my voice all alone – that it reminded me of giving birth." The song reappears in key moments of the film, haunting the narrative as it has haunted Chaney herself.
Chaney's residency at Kings Place begins on February 27, marking another chapter in her evolving musical catalogue that bridges history and modernity.
