Big Thief announce departure of founding member due to “interpersonal reasons”
The American indie folk band Big Thief has announced bassist Max Oleartchik’s departure. The split is seemingly amicable, with the band mentioning “mutual respect.” However, the official announcement also cites “interpersonal reasons.”
Oleartchik, Adrianne Lenker, and Buck Meek co-founded Big Thief in 2015. Over the past decade, they have charmed the world with their immersive catalogue of modern folk music, including 2017’s Capacity and 2019’s U.F.O.F.
Taking to social media to announce Oleartchik’s departure, the band wrote: “After many beautiful years together, Max is no longer in Big Thief. Our love for each other is infinite, and we are so grateful for all we have shared these many years together since the beginning of our journey as a band.”
Continuing, the group thanked Oleartchik for his crucial contributions to their success so far. “We wouldn’t be who we are without Max,” they noted reverently. “This separation marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one for Big Thief.”
“This change was made for interpersonal reasons with mutual respect in our hearts,” Big Thief revealed. Though they haven’t provided any further details at this point, they request support from their global fanbase as they look to reshape and return. “It’s a big change for us, and the four of us ask for your trust, respect, and care as we grow into the next chapter of our lives,” the statement concluded.
Despite the band’s statement’s ambiguity, it’s worth noting that Oleartchik is a native and resident of Israel, which influenced the band to schedule two concerts in Tel Aviv back in the summer of 2022. The decision met strong resistance due to the ongoing boycott in recognition of Palestine.
Big Thief initially defended their decision to schedule the concerts in Israel but ultimately cancelled them in favour of peace. “To be clear, we oppose the illegal occupation and the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people,” they stated at the time. “We believe in total freedom and self-determination for all Palestinians.”
On his Instagram page, Oleartchik denounces the hostility between Israel and Palestine, which reached a new pitch on October 7th, 2023, following a large-scale attack by Hamas. “Cease fire now! Hostage deal now! End this nightmare and push for dialogue,” the bassist wrote in his bio. “We are not our government!”
In 2022, Big Thief released their fifth album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You. In a glowing review, Far Out said: “Big Thief have managed to pull off an album that feels both organic and evolutionary. It’s a record that allows for creativity to grow and procreate among the liner notes while also staying true to the soil it was first planted in.”