Pitchfork

Van Dyke Parks has done pretty much everything a musician could possibly dream of. In addition to releasing several acclaimed solo records, Parks has tackled the co-writing front (various Beach Boys albums, Brian Wilson's SMiLE), the production angle (Randy Newman, Rufus Wainwright), the keyboard (Harry Nilsson, Tim Buckley), and arranging (Fiona Apple, Ringo Starr, U2).

All that's well and good, but dude also did "Bare Necessities" from The Jungle Book and three songs from my favorite children's film of all time, The Brave Little Toaster. See, that's impressive.

Now, Parks is busy ramping up his indie cred. In a recent interview with Bandoppler magazine, Parks revealed that he has been working with femme folk fave Joanna Newsom, handling the arrangements for the singer-harpist's follow-up to her 2004 debut The Milk-Eyed Mender.

"She's marvelous, and modest. I've never had a bigger challenge, or more joy in discovery," Parks said. Awwwwwww.

Parks also mentioned that he's at work on a new solo album, scheduled to be released later this year. We wish we could tell you more about the Newsom collaboration, or Joanna's album in general, but Drag City won't respond to our inquiries. Oh well.

The story-telling songbird has one show scheduled right now, taking place in East Sussex, England, at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival on May 20. Surprisingly, she's not playing the ATP date curated by former tour partner/kindred spirit Devendra Banhart. She's participating in Sleater-Kinny's day. Girl power.