Watch PJ Harvey and Josh Homme perform ‘Make It Wit Chu’
When looking at alternative music in the 1990s, there are two virtually unavoidable names: PJ Harvey and Queens of the Stone Age. Both monumental artists in their own right, and the two rock titans had a brief crossover period during The Desert Sessions, a side-project of Queens frontman Josh Homme, which saw him collaborate with various other musicians. His work with Harvey remains some of the most lauded from The Desert Sessions.
PJ Harvey greatly impacted alternative rock with her debut album Dry, and the follow-up, Rid of Me, in the early 1990s. The English singer-songwriter gained notoriety for her punk-influenced sound and incredible songwriting ability, which has earned her multiple Mercury Prizes among various other accolades, including an MBE for services to music.
Meanwhile, Queens of the Stone Age formed in the rock and roll haven of Seattle, Washington, in the mid-1990s. Blending Krautrock influences with guitar-led heavy rock, the group’s discography has no shortage of headbanging hits. With controversial frontman Josh Homme at the helm, Queens has witnessed a hugely successful career that still remains strong today.
In 2003, Homme invited PJ Harvey to collaborate with him for Volumes Nine and Ten with his rock ensemble Desert Sessions. The collective was formed by Homme in 1997, centred around an old house in Joshua Tree packed to the brim with obscure instruments and rare recording technology. The Desert Sessions allowed Homme to explore realms of music outside Queens of the Stone Age and embrace more acid rock and grunge influences. Over the years, various artists from the world of hard rock, grunge, and stoner rock have been invited to record in the house.
For 2003’s Desert Sessions release, Josh Homme called upon various notable musicians, but his work with PJ Harvey stole the show. Harvey recorded lead vocals for four tracks on the record, in addition to providing saxophone, piano, bass, melodica and even pandeiro for other songs. In what should come as no shock to fans of the artists, when they came together for the compilation album, the pair created some truly unforgettable material.
Drawing on each other’s signature sounds, the pair can be seen in an entirely new light on these tracks, the stand-out of which was ‘I Wanna Make It Wit Chu’. Homme sounds refreshingly mellow, and Harvey remains as captivating as ever – although her presence on this track is not as prevalent as some of the other material on Volumes Nine and Ten.
The track later appeared on the 2007 Queens of the Stone Age album Era Vulgaris, yet that version fails to capture the same kind of magic that was created by Harvey and Homme’s collaboration. The pair appeared on Later With Jools Holland back in 2003 to perform some of this joint material, and the results were stunning.
Check out the seminal meeting of musical minds below.
