Sharon Van Etten’s recommendation: “For the last few months, I have been couch surfing at different friend’s houses. I wake up in a different place almost every day. One morning, I woke up to Julianna Barwick’s song Cloudbank. The sun was just peeking through the windows. It was an early dusty light and in a moment of grogginess, I didn’t know where I was. But I was lulled awake by her beautiful church-like vocals echoing through the apartment. I got slightly teary, in a happy way, and walked towards the music. My friend, Sean, was playing her album, Florine, and though I knew her music before, I had experienced it in such a wonderful way. It has become one my favorite albums.”

MP3: Cloudbank by Julianna Barwick

Editor’s note: Julianna is raising money over at Kickstarter to release her album on vinyl. If you have a few extra bucks, please contribute to this most excellent cause.

About our guest author, Sharon Van Etten: Sharon has been stunning artists and the music press since her first full length collection, Because I Was in Love came out in 2009. After being exposed to her self-described brand of “sad prairie folk music,” TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone played her music on his guest spot on NPR and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon has covered her song Love More in live songs. Oh, and NPR’s Robin Hilton wishes to be buried with her new record, Epic. Enough of an endorsement for ya? Be sure to check Sharon’s web site for tour dates and more info about the artist.