Following the death of Leonard Cohen in 2016, First Aid Kid performed a two-night tribute to the late musician at Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theatre, and today, the sister duo have announced plans to release an album of 20 songs culled from the 2017 show. Their live album, titled Who by Fire, will arrive on March 26 via Sony Sweden/Columbia Records.
With the duo joined by Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist, Frida Hyvönen, Loney Dear, Jesper Lindell and other artists, the record features heartfelt renditions of Cohen classics, including "You'd Sing Too," "Hallelujah," "You Want It Darker" and more.
In a statement, First Aid Kit's Johanna and Klara Söderberg said of the record:
We recently listened back to this concert and realized that this was something out of the ordinary for us. It was a challenge to create a performance that wasn't centred around First Aid Kit songs. It was something we'd never done before, but everything came together so well.
Dwelling deeply into Cohen's world was a pleasure, he was so prolific as both a poet and a songwriter, and everything he ever put out held a very strong standard. He cared immensely for his work. The band, the guest artists, the atmosphere on stage… everyone had a great passion and it felt magical. This is definitely a record that is best enjoyed listening to back-to-back with no interruptions. Allow yourself to just disappear into Cohen's world for a little while.
We decided not to edit any of the performances. The flaws are part of the live experience. In a time when you sadly can't go to an actual physical live show, you can listen to this and imagine you were there…
Today, they've shared their cover of Cohen's "Suzanne," which you can find below, along with the record's tracklisting.
"If you ever put a guitar in our hands and ask us to sing, we will always play 'Suzanne,'" the Söderbergs said in a release. "When we heard it for the first time we were transfixed. 'How does one do that?' we thought. 'How does one write like that?'"
They continued: "One doesn't, we suppose, only Leonard Cohen does… In the midst of this deep sadness, we are so intensely grateful... [His art] has been a guiding light for us for these past ten years since we started making music, both a consolation and an arrow pointing at where to strive…"
Who by Fire:
1. Tired (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
2. Suzanne (ft. First Aid Kit)
3. Sisters of Mercy (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
4. Who by Fire / As The Mist Leaves No Scar (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
5. Twelve O'Clock Chant (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
6. Everybody Knows (ft. Frida Hyvönen, First Aid Kit)
7. Avalanche (ft. Loney Dear)
8. The Future (ft. Maia Hansson-Bergqvist, First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani)
9. Chelsea Hotel No.5 (ft. Jesper Lindell, First Aid Kit)
10. You Want It Darker (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
11. If It Be Your Will (ft. First Aid Kit)
12. The Asthmatic (ft. Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist, First Aid Kit)
13. Famous Blue Raincoat / Anthem (ft. Maja Francis, First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani)
14. Show Me The Place (ft. Jesper Lindell, First Aid Kit)
15. Hallelujah (ft. Annika Norlin, First Aid Kit)
16. Prayer for Messiah (ft. Klara Söderberg)
17. Bird on the Wire (ft. First Aid Kit)
18. Who by Fire (Reprise) / Letter to Marianne (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
19. So Long Marianne (ft. First Aid Kit, Frida Hyvönen, Loney Dear, Jesper Lindell, Annika Norlin, Maja Francis, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
20. You'd Sing Too (ft. Johanna Söderberg)
Pre-order Who by Fire.
With the duo joined by Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist, Frida Hyvönen, Loney Dear, Jesper Lindell and other artists, the record features heartfelt renditions of Cohen classics, including "You'd Sing Too," "Hallelujah," "You Want It Darker" and more.
In a statement, First Aid Kit's Johanna and Klara Söderberg said of the record:
We recently listened back to this concert and realized that this was something out of the ordinary for us. It was a challenge to create a performance that wasn't centred around First Aid Kit songs. It was something we'd never done before, but everything came together so well.
Dwelling deeply into Cohen's world was a pleasure, he was so prolific as both a poet and a songwriter, and everything he ever put out held a very strong standard. He cared immensely for his work. The band, the guest artists, the atmosphere on stage… everyone had a great passion and it felt magical. This is definitely a record that is best enjoyed listening to back-to-back with no interruptions. Allow yourself to just disappear into Cohen's world for a little while.
We decided not to edit any of the performances. The flaws are part of the live experience. In a time when you sadly can't go to an actual physical live show, you can listen to this and imagine you were there…
Today, they've shared their cover of Cohen's "Suzanne," which you can find below, along with the record's tracklisting.
"If you ever put a guitar in our hands and ask us to sing, we will always play 'Suzanne,'" the Söderbergs said in a release. "When we heard it for the first time we were transfixed. 'How does one do that?' we thought. 'How does one write like that?'"
They continued: "One doesn't, we suppose, only Leonard Cohen does… In the midst of this deep sadness, we are so intensely grateful... [His art] has been a guiding light for us for these past ten years since we started making music, both a consolation and an arrow pointing at where to strive…"
Who by Fire:
1. Tired (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
2. Suzanne (ft. First Aid Kit)
3. Sisters of Mercy (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
4. Who by Fire / As The Mist Leaves No Scar (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
5. Twelve O'Clock Chant (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
6. Everybody Knows (ft. Frida Hyvönen, First Aid Kit)
7. Avalanche (ft. Loney Dear)
8. The Future (ft. Maia Hansson-Bergqvist, First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani)
9. Chelsea Hotel No.5 (ft. Jesper Lindell, First Aid Kit)
10. You Want It Darker (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
11. If It Be Your Will (ft. First Aid Kit)
12. The Asthmatic (ft. Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist, First Aid Kit)
13. Famous Blue Raincoat / Anthem (ft. Maja Francis, First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani)
14. Show Me The Place (ft. Jesper Lindell, First Aid Kit)
15. Hallelujah (ft. Annika Norlin, First Aid Kit)
16. Prayer for Messiah (ft. Klara Söderberg)
17. Bird on the Wire (ft. First Aid Kit)
18. Who by Fire (Reprise) / Letter to Marianne (ft. First Aid Kit, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
19. So Long Marianne (ft. First Aid Kit, Frida Hyvönen, Loney Dear, Jesper Lindell, Annika Norlin, Maja Francis, Nina Zanjani, Maia Hansson-Bergqvist)
20. You'd Sing Too (ft. Johanna Söderberg)
Pre-order Who by Fire.