St. Vincent on Working With Dave Grohl: ‘It’s Really Full Circle’

Annie Clark, known to the world as St. Vincent, has never been one to play it safe, and her seventh studio album All Born Screaming is no exception.

While All Born Screaming is unmistakably a St. Vincent album, Clark’s keen ear for talent has brought some serious star power into her orbit.

At the top of the list? None other than drum legend and Foo Fighters frontman, Dave Grohl, whose thunderous beats grace two tracks on the album, “Broken Man” and “Flea.”

“Dave Grohl is a buddy, and he’s, well, Dave Grohl,” Clark told Rolling Stone Australia as she prepares to head Down Under for ALWAYS LIVE 2024. “I thought, ‘What if fucking Dave Grohl played on this song?’ Then I remembered, oh, I can hit him up, you know? He was totally down, so generous and cool, and just came over to my studio and killed it.”

For the multitalented artist, Grohl’s contribution wasn’t just an exciting feature—it was a full-circle moment that bridged her past and present.

“He’s the best. I mean, he’s everything you want him to be,” St. Vincent enthused. “I wouldn’t be playing if it wasn’t for the music of Dave Grohl and Nirvana, so it’s really full circle.”

But the drumming deity isn’t the only notable name to make an appearance on All Born Screaming. She also welcomed contributions from a host of talented musicians, including Rachel Eckroth, Josh Freese, and Justin Meldal-Johnsen.

St. Vincent also spoke highly of the creative synergy she shared with singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon on the album’s title track.

“Cate’s one of my best friends and, honestly, my favorite modern songwriter,” she revealed.

“I was really at a point in making the record where I was close to being done but just burnt out. I brought Cate in to play bass on some songs and sing and just get her take on it. She was so helpful.”

As the mastermind behind All Born Screaming, Clark also took on the role of producer for the first time, navigating the challenges of wearing multiple hats. “It’s not for the faint of heart,” she confesses. “You wrestle with ego, you wrestle with self-doubt, you wrestle with all kinds of things.”

St. Vincent has consistently made her mark on the Billboard 200 with several of her albums. Her 2009 album Actor reached No. 90, followed by Strange Mercy in 2011, which climbed to No. 19. In 2012, her collaboration with David Byrne, Love This Giant, peaked at No. 23. Her self-titled album St. Vincent in 2014 reached No. 12, and Masseduction in 2017 peaked at No. 10.