Indigo Sparke writes with a rare and reflective power, creating music that builds and bursts as she examines love, loss, grief, and a newly realized rage. Born in Australia and now based in New York, Indigo established herself in the Sydney music scene with her EP Night Bloom (2016 ).
She has toured with Big Thief, had a song featured on the TV show Cloudy River, and performed across Australia and the U.S., including at the Splendour in the Grass Festival, a Tiny Desk Concert at NPR, and SXSW 2019 and 2021. Indigo signed with Sacred Bones in early 2021, and made her label debut shortly after with Echo, which Pitchfork described as 'a dark little star of intimacy and intensity'.
In spring 2021, Indigo began work on her second album with producer Aaron Dessner (The National, Taylor Swift ) who said, “It always feels like some weird miracle when songs emerge that you want to listen to all the time -- and this was definitely the case with her record. It feels cohesive and timeless and inspired to me in a way that I know I will keep coming back to. I think the chemistry is right.” That album, Hysteria, is packed with big guitars and layered instrumentation that act as lungs, giving every note breath underneath Indigo’s soaring vocals. This is music that sounds huge even as it zooms in on the trials and turmoils of one’s inner life, from the pulsing immediacy of 'Infinity Honey' to the soaring 'God Is a Woman’s Name', or the towering chorus on 'Hold On'.
"Hysteria showcases Sparke’s ability to glide between minimalism and more forceful storms. While the surface of this album is glossier and broader than its predecessor, the most stunning moments are still ones of hushed reverence" - Pitchfork
"Hysteria will sweep you off your feet. It is an undeniable triumph, an earned masterpiece." - Atwood Magazine
"Sparke’s strength remains largely with her lyrics and the cutting, desperate power of her towering voice. When listening to her music, there is no choice but empathy." - Paste
“The collaboration proves to be seamless with Sparke’s signature guitar flourishes immediately shining through. There’s a perceptible weight added to the new set, though, likely from a combination of Dessner’s floor-pounding production and the singer songwriter’s hard-earned insights.”- Consequence