Seattle's Arthur & Yu paired hushed harmonies with lightly psychedelic folk-rock, becoming the first act signed to Sub Pop's new Hardly Art label.
MOODS · intimate · lo-fi · psychedelic folk · warm harmonies · nostalgic · homespun · dreamy · retro 60s · gentle · atmospheric · mellow · indie folk
BIOGRAPHY
Grant Olsen and Sonya Westcott formed Arthur & Yu in Seattle, Washington, taking their band name from their childhood nicknames. Olsen, a Washington native, met Westcott, who had previously played bass with Rogue Wave and had recently moved to the Pacific Northwest from San Francisco, through a Craigslist ad that referenced shared touchstones like Lee Hazlewood, Karen Dalton, and Melanie.
Their homemade demos caught the attention of Sub Pop co-founder Jonathan Poneman, who made them the first signing to his new label, Hardly Art, releasing their debut album In Camera in June 2007. The record won enthusiastic reviews, and the duo toured widely, opening for acts like Iron & Wine and Kevin Drew, and they later contributed to Dntel's album Dumb Luck.
WHY THEY'RE COOL
Arthur & Yu's appeal lies in the blend of homespun harmonies and quietly psychedelic folk-rock, often compared to a lo-fi mix of Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra with a touch of the Velvet Underground, plus an aesthetic nod to John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Being the inaugural signing to Sub Pop's Hardly Art imprint underscores the confidence industry insiders placed in their handmade sound, a distinction reinforced by acclaimed reviews for their debut album In Camera and tours alongside Iron & Wine and Kevin Drew.
