‘Wuthering Heights’: Meet the Folk Singer Whose Obscure Radio Performance of a 19th-Century Ballad Captured Emerald Fennell’s Ear

For singer and multi-instrumentalist Olivia Chaney, the traditional folk ballad "Dark Eyed Sailor" proved to be a song of remarkable patience. Despite preparing it for three different albums—including her 2018 Grammy-nominated record "The Queen of Hearts"—it was consistently cut at the final stage. Its long-awaited debut has now arrived in a cinematic form, with a raw 2013 recording Chaney made for a BBC Radio session featuring prominently in Emerald Fennell's audacious new adaptation of "Wuthering Heights."

The film's soundtrack is dominated by an intense, original score from pop icon Charli XCX. Chaney's rendition of the 19th-century song serves as the only vocal piece, its plaintive melody underscoring key narrative moments. It plays as Cathy, portrayed by Margot Robbie, traverses the moors to marry Edgar (Shazad Latif) while tormented by her feelings for Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi). The ballad's own story—a sailor returning in disguise to test his lover's faithfulness—directly mirrors Cathy's internal struggle between societal expectation and raw, passionate longing. This deliberate selection roots the film's gothic intensity in a layer of authentic folk history. The choice also highlights a broader trend in period filmmaking, where directors increasingly use source music from the era to build immersive worlds rather than relying solely on contemporary orchestration.

Chaney, a pivotal figure in the modern British folk revival celebrated for her collaborative project Offa Rex with The Decemberists, first encountered "Dark Eyed Sailor" over a decade ago through Irish musician Matthew Ord. She was immediately drawn to its narrative complexity. The 2013 BBC session where she captured the track was a significant personal milestone, representing her first solo performance billed under her own name. Accompanied solely by a harmonium, the recording emerged from a period of personal difficulty. "I was in a state of real flux emotionally," Chaney told Variety. "That performance allowed everything I was feeling to pour directly into the music, which created a specific, fragile honesty."

When director Emerald Fennell's team reached out, Chaney initially suggested recording a fresh, studio-quality version. Fennell, whose film "Promising Young Woman" earned her an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, was adamant about using the original take. "It has to be this one," the director insisted—a sentiment Chaney ultimately agreed with. The more refined attempts intended for her albums had never felt fully realized, whereas the unpolished 2013 recording held the precise emotional gravity the film demanded. In the final edit, the track is subtly enhanced with minimal orchestral elements, preserving the haunting centrality of Chaney's voice and harmonium.

To coincide with the film's premiere, Chaney officially released her version of "Dark Eyed Sailor" as a single on February 13. She will perform the song during an upcoming residency at London's Kings Place, a major arts venue known for its eclectic programming, beginning February 27 with her new electric folk-rock band, News from Nowhere. Her creative path continues to delve into historical inspiration: she is currently completing a new album influenced by the Baroque compositions of 17th-century English master Henry Purcell, slated for release in November. Now living in Yorkshire—the iconic setting of Brontë's novel—with her family, Chaney finds a profound resonance in the song's belated arrival. "It feels both destined and beautifully odd," she reflects. The entire experience reinforces her conviction that meaningful art often requires time to find its proper context. "The material for my next record," she notes, "has been with me just as long as this old ballad. Some works simply insist on their own timeline."