Marissa Nadler and Stephen Brodsky are back together, and this time they’re calling themselves Droneflower. The dark folk artist and the heavy rock frontman have released a new two-track single, Burials, and hinted that a full album is on the way.
The pair first met at Saint Vitus, the Brooklyn metal club that recently reopened at a new location. Back in 2019, they released the collaborative album Droneflower and toured together. Now they’ve returned under that same name, teaming up with Emily Lee of Shearwater, who played keyboard for them on that tour.
Nadler’s Solo Work
Nadler released the solo album New Radiations last year. A couple of months ago, she covered Buddy Killen with old collaborator Milky Burgess. Today, she’s back with Brodsky and Lee on Burials.
The Two Songs
“Sky Burial” opens the single. Nadler takes the lead on the glassy, eerie, occasionally heavy hymn, while Brodsky adds angry peals of echo-drenched guitar. The track is the longer of the two.
“Drive It In” follows. Brodsky steps into the prime vocal role on this much shorter song, which sounds enough like Father John Misty that listeners might wonder if they’ve unmuted a tab.
The Bandcamp Alert
Nadler announced the release through her Bandcamp-alert email. In it, she said that she, Brodsky, and Lee are working on a second Droneflower album.
The History Behind It
Droneflower started as a collaboration between two artists who seemed unlikely to cross paths. Brodsky is the frontman of Cave In and Mutoid Man, heavy Boston bands. Nadler has built a career around dark, atmospheric folk music, often described in terms of her glassy, dreamlike sound.
Their first album together arrived in 2019, and they toured together. Now they’re picking up where they left off, using Droneflower as their official name for this reunion.
Lee’s Role
Emily Lee joined the project for this release. She played keyboard for Nadler and Brodsky when they toured together, and she’s back in that role for the new tracks.
What Comes Next
The two-track single is out now. The full-length album remains in progress, with Nadler saying the trio are working on it.
The Songs Compared
| Song | Length | Lead Voice | Key Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| “Sky Burial” | Longer | Nadler | Echo-drenched guitar |
| “Drive It In” | Shorter | Brodsky | N/A |
Why This Matters
This reunion matters because it brings two distinct musical voices together again. Nadler’s glassy, atmospheric style and Brodsky’s heavier, angrier guitar work don’t always sit side by side.
The new tracks show both sides of their partnership. “Sky Burial” leans into Nadler’s folk-tinged sound, while “Drive It In” lets Brodsky step forward as the primary vocalist.
A Second Album in Sight
Nadler’s statement about a second album suggests this isn’t a one-off. The trio are still working on new material together, and the single itself is a sign that Droneflower is an ongoing project rather than a one-time experiment.
For fans of either artist, the return of Droneflower is a welcome development. The new tracks arrive with a promise of more to come.
The two songs are available now, and the full album is still in progress. Nadler, Brodsky, and Lee are working on it.
See the a run of 18 images at Stereogum.
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