Canadian indie rock collective Broken Social Scene has officially announced their upcoming project titled “Anthems: A Celebration of Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It in People.” The album will be released on June 6 via Arts & Crafts. It features an eclectic cast of more than 15 artists who’ve put their own spins on songs from the legendary 2002 album, “You Forgot It in People.” Equal parts artistic resurgence and sonic experimentation, this expansive project pays homage to the band’s influential sound while unearthing the gifts of contemporary musicians.
The title of the album is derived from the closing track of Broken Social Scene’s self-titled album, underscoring the band’s lasting impact on the indie music scene. Notable contributions include a collaborative effort by Maggie Rogers and Sylvan Esso, who together offer a fresh interpretation of “Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl.” Rogers elaborated on her personal connection to the original song, sharing how it “radically altered [her] existence.”
Toro y Moi, Mdou Moctar, and The Weather Station are among the other exciting artists represented. Each of them really had their distinctive approach to the project. Ouri joins the mix with “Capture the Flag,” while fellow Canadians Hovvdy take on “KC Accidental.” Benny Sings interprets “Late Nineties Bedroom Rock for the Missionaries,” and Miya Folick/Hand Habits take on “Almost Crimes.” Middle Kids, serpentwithfeet, Sessa and Babygirl all offer a distinct artistic interpretation to these timeless tunes. They take on “Cause = Time,” “Lover’s Spit,” “Ainda Sou Seu Moleque,” and “Pitter Patter Goes My Heart,” in that order.
Maggie Rogers explained the importance of the original song’s lyrical concepts to her artistic development. She emphasized the meditative qualities that have existed within the music.
“There’s something about the lyrical repetition that functions as a sort of mantra within the song and it made me understand at a very early point in my creative life that music could be a form of meditation.” – Maggie Rogers
As Sylvan Esso put it, resonating with Rogers’ sentiment, they were thankful to get to create alongside Rogers.
“It was a joy to cover this beautiful song with Maggie—we all grew up loving this record—to be asked to cover ‘Anthems…’ together was an honor and led to a truly lovely time.” – Sylvan Esso
On the new album, titled Old Prayers & Vintage Hearts, Broken Social Scene reflects on their legacy thus far. It speaks to the continued impact and influence of their music, as new artists reinterpret their sound. By inviting a diverse range of musicians to participate, the project highlights the communal spirit that has always characterized Broken Social Scene’s work.