music
March 1, 2026
How Courtney Barnett Made Her New Album By Retreating to the Desert: ‘It Nearly Drove Me Mad’
After closing her scene-making record label and moving to the US, Barnett decamped to Joshua Tree – where she learned to slow down and make noise again
TL;DR
- Courtney Barnett moved to Los Angeles and closed her label, Milk! Records, experiencing disorientation that fueled her new album, 'Creature of Habit'.
- The album's sound is more confident and bold compared to her previous, more timid, lockdown-influenced work.
- Barnett spent time in Joshua Tree, finding inspiration in the desert and immersing herself in the life of painter Georgia O'Keeffe.
- The album's title track, 'Mantis', originated from an old demo and was completed after a significant personal breakthrough inspired by seeing a praying mantis.
- Barnett engaged in new activities like surfing and pottery in LA to embrace change, and the album concludes with optimism on the track 'Another Beautiful Day'.