Marissa Nadler (born April 5, 1981) is an American dream folk musician and singer-songwriter from Nashville.
Active since 2000, she is currently signed to Sacred Bones Records and Bella Union, and released her tenth full-length studio album, New Radiations, in August 2025. Her music has been characterized as blending "traditional folk, Gothic Americana, and dreamy pop into an original musical framework". Her music "is rooted in old-school country and folk but brings in elements of experimental and black metal". Sometimes the term "dream folk" has been invoked to describe her work.
Singing in a mezzo-soprano, Nadler has received acclaim for her vocals. Her voice was described by Pitchfork as one "you would follow straight into Hades", and also "textured and angelic, with just a hint of pain captured within her iridescent falsetto". The Boston Globe said, "She has a voice that, in mythological times, could have lured men to their deaths at sea, an intoxicating soprano drenched in gauzy reverb that hits bell-clear heights, lingers, and tapers off like rings of smoke".
Biography:
Marissa Nadler was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Needham, Massachusetts. She was raised Jewish. As a teenager, she taught herself to play guitar in a style similar to fingerpicking, playing a steady bass pattern with the thumb and filling out syncopated rhythms with the index finger. It was described as having an "unorthodox, dusky sound". Also while in her teens, she began to write songs as a hobby. She studied painting at Rhode Island School of Design, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in illustration in 2003, and a master's degree in art education a year later. During her studies, she began to perform at open mic events around Providence. While exploring artistic techniques such as illustration, painting, bookbinding, wood carving and encaustic painting, she also honed her songwriting craft. She subsequently recorded an album titled Autumn Rose (2002) as well as the four-track EP Somber Ghost Recordings (2003), neither of which have ever been released. Nadler also contributed to the Pearl Before Swine tribute album For the Dead in Space - Volumes II & III in 2003.
2004–2010: First releases
Nadler released her first official album, Ballads of Living and Dying, on Eclipse Records in January 2004. In a positive review, Matthew Murphy wrote on Pitchfork that, "Nadler has the sort of voice that you'd follow straight to Hades. Her luxurious, resonant soprano is immediately transfixing, and throughout these songs it envelops the listener like a dense fog rolling in off the moors." The follow-up The Saga of Mayflower May was released in July 2005. Both records were distributed in the United States by Eclipse, and by the UK label Beautiful Happiness in Europe. Nadler went on some of her first tours with acts such as the late American primitive guitarist Jack Rose and the drone metal band Earth.
Nadler released her third studio album, Songs III: Bird on the Water, on Peacefrog Records in Europe on March 12, 2007. The album was recorded and produced by Greg Weeks of the band Espers in Philadelphia and was subsequently released in the US and Canada on August 12, 2007, by Kemado Records. It was nominated for two PLUG Independent Music Awards in 2008: "Best Female Artist of the Year" and "Best Americana Record of the Year". Nadler also won "Outstanding Singer-Songwriter of the Year" at the 2008 Boston Music Awards, with three nominations altogether.
Her fourth full-length album, Little Hells, produced by Chris Coady, was released on March 3, 2009 and received praise from many critics, including 4-star reviews from magazines such as Mojo, Rolling Stone in France and Germany, Uncut, and Q. It received an 8.3 from Pitchfork. The album departed from the earlier folk-based template with the introduction of electronic elements. In early 2010, Nadler contributed vocals on Portal of Sorrow, the final album by black metal project Xasthur.
2011–2012: Marissa Nadler and The Sister
On June 14, 2011, an eponymous record was released worldwide on Nadler's own label, Box of Cedar Records. The song "Baby, I Will Leave You in the Morning" was released as a free download on March 8, followed by a subsequent music video. The album was positively received by Pitchfork, which gave it 8.1 out of 10, and it was called "a stellar collection of sullen melodies and lovelorn anecdotes akin to those of Joni Mitchell".
On May 29, 2012, she released The Sister, a short eight-song "companion" album to Marissa Nadler. The album was dubbed by Paste as an "impressive concoction of stark minimalism".
In November 2012, Nadler collaborated with Angel Olsen on two cover songs shared on Nadler's SoundCloud page: the Richard and Linda Thompson song "My Dreams Have Withered and Died" and the Mickey Newbury song "Frisco Depot".
2013–2014: Sacred Bones Records and July
"July is moon music, quiet music, slurp-merlot-in-the-fetal-position music, a slow-burning tapestry of goth-folk torch songs and woozy-pop incantations about love and loss and memory, whispered by the same spirits as Julee Cruise's airy Twin Peaks vocals."
In 2013, she signed to Brooklyn-based Sacred Bones Records. Her album July was released by the label on February 4, 2014 and on February 10 by Bella Union in the UK. It was recorded at Seattle's Avast Studios and produced by collaborator Randall Dunn. The first single from the album, "Dead City Emily", was released in November 2013 and was positively received by Stereogum as an "ethereal spine-tingler" and by BrooklynVegan as "a track as haunting and delicate as any of her best tracks to date". July debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard Folk Albums chart and No. 14 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers albums chart.
July received positive feedback from music critics and "universal acclaim" on Metacritic with a score of 83 out of 100. A majority of music publications gave the album 4 out of 5 stars. PopMatters called the album a "triumph" and "one of 2014's best albums so far", while Spin called it a "masterfully composed release". Vice's Noisey described it as "a moody trip through heat spells and night drives". Steven Rosen of Blurt noted the "almost-hallucinatory effect" of Nadler's multi-tracked vocals.
In July 2014, Nadler collaborated with Father John Misty, releasing a split 7-inch on Bella Union. Father John Misty covered Nadler's "Drive", while Nadler covered "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings".
2015–2016: Strangers
The album Strangers, recorded with Dunn in 2015, was released on May 20, 2016. A limited edition version included original artwork and a pre-release cassette of Bury Your Name. She followed the release with an extensive tour of North America and Europe, then joined Ghost for their US tour later that year.
Strangers has a Metacritic score of 76. It appeared on several lists of 2016's best albums. Spin also listed "Janie in Love" as one of the best songs of the year.
During this period, Nadler directed and animated videos for "Janie in Love", "All the Colors of the Dark", and "Blood and Tears". In late September 2016, she released a video for "Dissolve" on Pitchfork.tv featuring both animation and live performance.
2017–2018: Leave the Light On and For My Crimes
After touring widely, Nadler guested on the Lawrence Rothman album The Book of Law and on Ojalá, the debut album by Lost Horizons. On September 15, 2017, Sacred Bones released her first compilation, Leave the Light On: Bedroom Recordings, a collection of home recordings and demos. She also self-released two covers albums on Bandcamp.
"…For My Crimes is a shining example of how Nadler continues to impress and improve upon each release."
Her eighth studio album, For My Crimes, was released on September 28, 2018. Rolling Stone contrasted it with July, noting its focus on the daily realities of relationships. It was the first of her albums to feature her own artwork as the cover image. Guest vocalists included Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten and Kristin Kontrol. The first video, "Blue Vapor", used mixed media animation, and Nadler collaborated with stylist Jenni Hensler for its visual design. The album was well received by critics.
2019–2020: "Poison", "If We Make It Through The Summer" and Droneflower
On February 21, 2019, Nadler released a collaborative track with John Cale titled "Poison", alongside another track, "If We Make It Through The Summer". Her collaborative album with Stephen Brodsky, Droneflower, was released on April 26, 2019 and received strong reviews. The two performed together on three East Coast shows and released additional covers later that year.
In February 2020, Nadler presented both a performance and an exhibition of self-portrait paintings at Grauzone Festival in The Hague. She also published two limited-edition photography books, released a Simon & Garfunkel cover, and issued two albums of unreleased songs and demos. On July 3, 2020, she released the ambient EP moons.
2021–2024: Instead of Dreaming and The Path of the Clouds
In early 2021 she released the single "Sleepwalk & Lonely People" and the compilation Instead of Dreaming. Her ninth solo album, The Path of the Clouds, followed on October 29, 2021. Written during the early pandemic, it blends themes of transformation, mysticism and true-crime-inspired storytelling. The self-produced album is one of her most sonically elaborate works, featuring guest appearances from Mary Lattimore, Simon Raymonde, Emma Ruth Rundle, Amber Webber and Milky Burgess.
The album received widespread critical acclaim, noted for its production, narrative depth and emotional intensity. Several reviewers described it as one of her finest works.
2025: New Radiations
In June 2025, Nadler released the title track of her album New Radiations, accompanied by a self-made video that incorporated her fine art photography, drawing and painting. This was followed by videos for "Hatchet Man" and "Light Years". The full album was released on August 15. Compared to earlier works, it has an intimate, atmospheric sound with layered harmonies. Nadler produced the album, with mixing by Randall Dunn and instrumental arrangements by Milky Burgess.
Reviews were overwhelmingly positive. Critics praised its cohesion, emotional depth and the blend of fragility and expansiveness across its 11 tracks. Several publications highlighted its poetic lyrics, dreamlike atmosphere and narrative richness. Some called it a career-defining work.
A European tour followed in autumn 2025, with a North American tour in 2026.
Nadler currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been open about past struggles with anxiety, depression and stage fright.
Discography:
Self-released albums:
Four-Track Recordings, Outtakes (2005)
Ivy and the Clovers (2007)
Little Hells: Acoustic Demos (2010)
Various Covers Over the Years (2010)
Covers Volume II (2011)
S/T Demos (2012)
Covers (2017)
Covers 2 (2018)
Unearthed (2020)
Covers 3 (2020)
moons (2020)
Compilation albums:
Leave the Light On: Bedroom Recordings (2017, Sacred Bones Records)
EPs:
The Sister (2012, Box of Cedar Records)
Before July: Demos and Unreleased Songs (2014, Box of Cedar Records)
Bury Your Name (2016, Sacred Bones Records/Bella Union)
The Wrath of the Clouds (2022, Sacred Bones Records)
Singles:
"Diamond Heart"/"Leather Made Shoes" 7-inch (2006, My Kung Fu)
"Diamond Heart"/"Dying Breed" 7-inch (2007, Peacefrog Records)
"River of Dirt" CD (2009, Kemado Records)
"Dead City Emily" digital-only (2013, Sacred Bones Records)
"Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings"/"Drive" 7-inch (2014, Bella Union) (split single with Father John Misty) – #29 UK Physical Singles Chart[111]
"Solitude" (Black Sabbath cover) digital-only (2015, self-released)
"Blood and Tears" (Danzig cover) digital-only (2015, self-released)
"Janie in Love" digital-only (2016, Sacred Bones Records)
"All the Colors of the Dark" digital-only (2016, Sacred Bones Records)
"Poison"/"If We Make It Through the Summer" (2019, KRO Records) (with John Cale)
"This is Not a Dream" 12-inch (2019, Sacred Bones Records) (with Stephen Brodsky)
"In the Air Tonight"/"More Than Words" 7-inch (2020, Sacred Bones Records) (with Stephen Brodsky)
"Where Do I Go" 7-inch (2024, Numero Group) (split single with Happy Rhodes) – #21 UK Physical Singles Chart / #19 UK Vinyl Singles Chart[111]
Guest appearances:
Xasthur - Portal of Sorrow (2010, Hydra Head Records)
Sailors with Wax Wings - "Strange That I Should Have Grown So Suddenly Blind" on Sailors with Wax Wings (2010, Angel Oven Records)
Cloud Seeding - "Unquestioning" on Ink Jar (2011, Bleek Records)
Carter Tanton - "Fake Pretend" on Free Clouds (2011, Western Vinyl)
Hallelujah the Hills - No One Knows What Happens Next (2012, Discrete Pageantry Records)
Case Studies - "Villain" on This Is Another Life (2013, Sacred Bones Records)
Emily Jane White - "Dandelion Daze" and "Faster than the Devil" on Blood / Lines (2013, Talitres Records)
Carter Tanton - "Jettison the Valley" on Jettison the Valley (2016, Western Vinyl)
Ben Watt - "New Year of Grace" on Fever Dream (2016, Unmade Road)
Lushlife - CSLSX - "Integration Loop" on Ritualize (2016, Western Vinyl)
Okkervil River - Away (2016, ATO Records)
Lost Horizons - "Winter's Approaching" and "I Saw the Days Go By" on Ojalá (2017, Bella Union)
Lawrence Rothman - "Ain't Afraid Of Dying" on The Book of Law (2017, Downtown Records/Interscope Records)
Mercury Rev - "Refractions" on Bobbie Gentry's The Delta Sweete Revisited (2019, Partisan Records)
Slow Dials - "To Be Back Home" (2021, Bandcamp release)
Lost Horizons - "Marie" on In Quiet Moments (2021, Bella Union)
Kronos Quartet and Ghost Train Orchestra "High on a Rocky Ledge" on Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog (2023, Cantaloupe Music)
Compilation appearances (incomplete):
"Ballad to an Amber Lady" (Pearls Before Swine cover) on For the Dead in Space – Volumes II & III (2003, Secret Eye Records)
"Ms John Lee" on New Skin for the Old Ceremony: The Polyamory Nine Year Anniversary Compilation (2005, Polyamory)
"Your Dreary Days Are Dead" on Talitres Is 5 (2006, Talitres Records)
"Judgement Day" on Not Alone (2006, Durtro/Jnana Records)
"Clowne Towne" (Xiu Xiu cover) on Remixed & Covered (2007, 5 Rue Christine)
"No Surprises" (Radiohead cover) on Reprises Inrocks (2008, Les Inrockuptibles)
"Lonesome" on Brainwaves 2008 (2008, Brainwashed Recordings)
"The Kiss" (Judee Sill cover) on Crayon Angel: A Tribute to the Music of Judee Sill (2009, American Dust)
"All My Trials" on Beautiful Star: The Songs of Odetta (2009, Wears the Trousers Records)
"Famous Blue Raincoat" (Leonard Cohen cover) on Cohen Revisited (A Tribute to Leonard Cohen) (2009, Les Inrockuptibles)
"Daisy, Where Did You Go?" on Yuletide (2010, Disco Naïveté)
"Dead Birds in Arkansas" on Music & Migration II (2011, Second Language)
"The Killing Moon" (Echo and the Bunnymen cover) on Free Music Impulse (2011, Hybryda)
"You've Got It All Wrong" on For Tom Carter (2013, Deserted Village)
"Half as Much" on You Be My Heart (2013, Devon Reed)
"It's Easier Now" (Jason Molina cover) on Through The Static and Distance: The Songs of Jason Molina (2015, Burst & Bloom)
"The Kindness of Strangers" on Todo Muere Volume 4 (2016, Sacred Bones)
"So Long And Far Away" (Karen Dalton cover) on Remembering Mountains: Unheard Songs by Karen Dalton (2016, Tompkins Square)
"Solitude" (Black Sabbath cover) on Todo Muere Volume 5 (2016, Sacred Bones)
"Carnival" on One Hundred Thousand Voices (2016, Active Minds, Inc.)
"Absolutely Sweet Marie" (Bob Dylan cover) on Blonde on Blonde Revisited (2016, Mojo)
"Rosemary" on Our First 100 Days (2017, Our First 100 Days)
"Cold Wind Blowin'" (David Lynch cover) on Todo Muere SBXV (2022, Sacred Bones)
"What Remains" on The Spine of Night OST (2022, Yuggoth Records)
"Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria," "Sad Cinderella" and "None but the Rain" on Songs of Townes Van Zandt Vol III (2022, Neurot Recordings)
"Fell on Black Days" (Soundgarden cover) on Superunknown (Redux) (2023, Magnetic Eye Records)
http://marissanadler.bandcamp.com
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…shrink me down again