Ethel Cain & Robin Carolan – “Wynter Waxeth”

Werwulf, the latest painstakingly researched period gothic horror film from The VVitch/Nosferatu director Robert Eggers, is arriving next month. Robin Carolan, the Tri Angle record label founder and composer who scored Eggers' last two movies, provided its soundtrack, and he enlisted Ethel Cain for the original song "Wynter Waxeth." Werwulf is set in 14th-century England, so naturally Cain sings the track in era-appropriate Middle English. Cain explains:It's always been my dream to score a horror film in some way, and I couldn't think of a more perfect first opportunity than getting to work with Rob and Robin on a song for Werwulf. We were immediately creatively aligned so the entire process felt very intuitive and natural. It felt like I was back in the heart of the music I started off making at the beginning of my career, which felt really good to return to. Robin sent me a bunch of old medieval music at the beginning and was very into the psaltery, which introduced me to the traditional instrument. I bought one online and wound up plucking out this simple little harp line on it and that’s where the song began.Carolan adds:I'd send [Ethel Cain] medieval music, prayers, weird ambient stuff, and we'd talk through it all. It was one of those rare collaborations where we just seemed to be on the same page about everything. Initially we'd talked about her contributing vocals to the score in a more textural way, but it wasn't long until we started discussing a full blown song. Her talent and open mindedness to try different things is honestly incredible. She sang the song in Middle English, and with Rob's help she mastered the pronunciation on the hop, practically in one session. She brought so much earthy, feral, haunted beauty to the score, and it's hard to imagine it without her presence.Listen to "Wynter Waxeth" below.TRACKLIST:01 "Werwulf"02 "Huntere Moone"03 "A Gyft"04 "Swere"05 "Delven"06 "A Child Of God"07 "Delivere Me Fro My Synnes"08 "Persecucioun"09 "Come To Me My Child"10 "Hunteres"11 "Kepeth Thee Sauf"12 "Englonde"13 "Y Swer"14 "Fenden Thee From Evel"15 "Nyghtmare"16 "Funeral"17 "Amen"18 "Cursid Kinde"19 "Transformen"20 "Dark Moone"21 "One More Moone"22 "The Hangynge Oak"23 "Hovel"24 "Wynter Waxeth I"25 "Is Not This Love?"26 "Cold Moone"27 "Wicches"28 "Trappes"29 "Slaughtre"30 "Kille, Kille"31 "Uncurseth Me"32 "Uncursid"33 "Wulf Moone"34 "Dore"35 "Fader!"36 "Evermore"37 "Wynter Waxeth"Carolan's Werwulf soundtrack album will be out 12/18 via Back Lot Music. Sacred Bones, and the movie is in theaters a week later on 12/25.Matthew Jackson/Courtesy of Focus Features