The album will arrive next month!
Image: Yoko Ono.
Canvasback Music / Atlantic Record have today announced a new compilation body of work that celebrates the work of multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and activist Yoko Ono. Curated by Death Cab for Cutie frontman and songwriter Benjamin Gibbard, Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono will coincide with the artists 89th birthday.
The album is set to feature 14 all-new versions of Ono’s tracks, reimagined by a bevy of artists in all stages of their careers. Featuring performances from Ono’s previous collaborators Deerhoof, The Flaming Lips and Yo La Tengo, the record also enlists Sharon Van Etten, Death Cab for Cutie, US Girls, Japanese Breakfast, Jay Som, Stephin Merritt (of Magnetic Fields), Thao, Sudan Archives, We Are KING, and Amber Coffman. The first taste of the album is available now with David Byrne and Yo La Tengo's collaborative cover of Who Has Seen The Wind?.
Speaking of the release, Gibbard details: “Yoko makes art that teaches all of us that peace is possible. Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono was born out of both love and frustration. The ‘love’ part is pretty obvious; It is the seemingly bottomless well of inspiration and enjoyment Yoko Ono’s music has provided me and I must assume everyone else present here on this compilation. The ‘frustration’ part, on the other hand, goes back decades." He conitnues, “As an advocate, the tallest hurdle to clear has always been the public’s ignorance as to the breadth of Yoko’s work. To put it into context; This is an artist whose output has run the gamut from avant-garde to bubblegum pop, often across a single album.
"For years, it has been my position that her songwriting has been criminally overlooked. She has consistently created melodies as memorable as those of best pop writers. As a lyricist, she has always written with poignance, sophistication and deep introspection. Some of her best songs have been covered and compiled here by a generation-spanning group of musicians for whom her work has meant so much. It is my sincere hope that a new crop of Yoko Ono fans fall in love with her songwriting due in some small part to this album we have put together.”
A portion of the album’s proceeds will be donated to WhyHunger, a non-profit organisation. Ono has supported the organisation throughout her life and their efforts to transform our food system by building social justice and striking at the root causes of hunger and poverty.
Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono is out February 18. Listen to David Byrne and Yo La Tengo's cover of Who Has Seen The Wind? below.