Purple Pilgrims

Purple Pilgrims is a New Zealand dream pop duo composed of sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon.

Purple Pilgrims
Purple Pilgrims at Laneway Festival, 2017
Background information
OriginNew Zealand and Hong Kong
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • synthesizer
Years active2016-present
LabelsFlying Nun

Background

Sisters Clementine and Valentine Nixon are great-granddaughters of folk musician Davie Stewart.[1] They were raised itinerantly between Christchurch, New Zealand and Hong Kong, China.[2][3]

Musical style

Purple Pilgrims' music combines elements of dream pop,[4] noise,[5] lo-fi, folk, and atmospheric jazz.[6] The duo has been frequently likened to Kate Bush, Beach House[7][8] and 1980s dream pop artists.[9] Stuff has referred to the band as "Aotearoa's answer to haze-pop pioneers Dead Can Dance and Cocteau Twins".[10]

The sisters' soprano vocal styles have been compared to Marianne Faithfull, Mary Hopkin,[11] Joni Mitchell,[12] Judy Collins, Sandy Denny,[13] Vashti Bunyan and Linda Perhacs.[10]

Purple Pilgrims utilize a mixture of digital and analog recording techniques in their work, from an early DIY approach using cassette tape collage[14] to analog studio processing in their later work.[15]

Career

Purple Pilgrims released their first recording a self-titled 8" lathe cut record in 2011 via New Zealand underground label Pseudo Arcana.[16] The limited edition release came with a 12 page art zine. The New Zealand Listener called the work "assertively lo-as-fi-can-go ... a good example of gently and deeply moving elegant dream pop."[17]

In 2013 the band released a split LP with American avant-garde musician and frequent Purple Pilgrims collaborator Gary War via London-based label Upset the Rhythm.[18][19]

Purple Pilgrims released their debut LP Eternal Delight in 2016 via Los Angeles based label Not Not Fun Records.[20] The Guardian said that the album "could’ve come direct from golden era 4AD Records when the Cocteau Twins still roamed."[30].[9]

Purple Pilgrims' sophomore album Perfumed Earth was released on August 9 2019 via Flying Nun Records.[21] The Sydney Morning Herald called the album "an alluring combination of hazy soundscape and songwriting finesse…"[11] while Pitchfork noted “...its lush melodies, strands that wind and splay like a carpet of vine”.[6]

Purple Pilgrims have toured with Ariel Pink, Aldous Harding,[22] John Maus,[23] and Weyes Blood.[24]

Discography

Albums
  • Eternal Delight (Not Not Fun Records 2016)[25]
  • Perfumed Earth (Flying Nun Records 2019)[26]

Other Releases
  • Purple Pilgrims Self-titled (8" lathe cut, Pseudo Arcana 2011)[16]
  • "Drink the Juice" (online single, Not Not Fun Records 2017)[27]

Collaborations
  • Gary War / Purple Pilgrims (Split LP, Upset the Rhythm 2013)[28]
  • Mirage by Roy Montgomery and Purple Pilgrims (Roy Montgomery 'Suffuse' LP, Grapefruit Records 2018)[29]

References
  1. Street, Danielle (2014-04-14). "Purple Pilgrims - Interviews at Undertheradar". UnderTheRadarNZ. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
  2. Gleason, Emma (2020-01-16). "Purple Pilgrims' Valentine & Clementine Nixon on their cult-chic style | Miss FQ". Fashion Quarterly.
  3. Mulligan, Jessie (2020-01-17). "Great NZ Album: Purple Pilgrims - Perfumed Earth". RNZ.
  4. Clausen, Danielle (2016-12-16). "Favourite Things: The Sisters of Purple Pilgrims". Viva.
  5. "SHOP". www.notnotfun.com.
  6. "Purple Pilgrims: Perfumed Earth". Pitchfork.
  7. "Album of the Day: Purple Pilgrims, "Perfumed Earth"". Bandcamp Daily. August 8, 2019.
  8. "Perfumed Earth, Purple Pilgrims | South Sydney Herald".
  9. Hennessy, Kate (April 1, 2016). "Music You Missed: 10 essential releases from the Australian underground" – via www.theguardian.com.
  10. "Purple Pilgrims: The Kiwi sisters conquering the world from the Coromandel". Stuff. March 7, 2020.
  11. Zwartz, John Shand, Bernard Zuel, Barney (August 23, 2019). "Music reviews: JJ Cale, Snoh Aalegra, Andrea Keller and more". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. "Purple Pilgrims | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  13. "Perfumed Earth - Purple Pilgrims | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  14. "Feature - Purple Pilgrims: A Single Shared Heart".
  15. "Purple Pilgrims – In Their Own Words". August 15, 2019.
  16. "Purple Pilgrims - Purple Pilgrims". Discogs.
  17. https://www.noted.co.nz/archive/archive-listener-nz-2012/purple-pilgrims-and-radiant-door-by-crystal-stilts-review
  18. "UPSET THE RHYTHM | Artists | Gary War / Purple Pilgrims". www.upsettherhythm.co.uk.
  19. "Listen to "Earthly Heaven/Joon" by Purple Pilgrims" – via pitchfork.com.
  20. "Purple Pilgrims - Eternal Delight". Discogs.
  21. "PURPLE PILGRIMS ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM - 'PERFUMED EARTH'". FLYING NUN RECORDS.
  22. "Aldous Harding announces New Zealand tour for 2020 Arts Festival with Weyes Blood and Purple Pilgrims". NZ Herald.
  23. "John Maus : Mistletone".
  24. "Aldous Harding / Weyes Blood / Purple Pilgrims". The Big Idea. November 11, 2019.
  25. "Purple Pilgrims - Eternal Delight". Discogs.
  26. "Purple Pilgrims - Perfumed Earth". Discogs.
  27. "Drink the Juice, Watch the Video and Join the Surreal Cult of Purple Pilgrims". www.vice.com.
  28. "Gary War / Purple Pilgrims - Split". Discogs.
  29. "Roy Montgomery - Suffuse". Discogs.
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