Five Favourites: The Fauns

Following a decade-long hiatus, and having received acclaim from the likes of Steve Lamacq on BBC 6Music over the years, Bristol based shoegaze ensemble The Fauns have now returned to charm our ears, releasing their new album, How Lost, this month.

With original members, Alison Garner, Michael Savage and Guy Rhys Davies, reuniting for the album, How Lost showcases the sweeping ethereal soundscapes that we’ve come to know and love from the band, whilst dipping into newer, electro-driven sounds. Oozing a mystical allure, each track floats into the ears effortlessly as glistening instrumentals provide a backdrop for Garner’s exquisite emotion-rich vocals. I’ve had it on repeat since first hearing it, finding myself truly immersed in its captivating blissful haze.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the release of How Lost, we caught up with Alison from the band to ask about the music that has inspired her the most. Read about her five favourite songs and watch the video for latest single ‘Shake Your Hair‘ below!

Kate Bush – ‘Wow’
Since the days of listening to her on cassette on repeat during family car trips to the caravan when I was little, Kate Bush has been a huge influence on me. It’s hard to chose one track, but ‘Wow’ – with its experimental vibes and Kate’s ever changing vocal style – made my tiny brain say exactly that. Her quirky vocals in this song made me start to experiment with my own. I realised it’s not about hitting the perfect note (try telling my childhood singing teacher that!), it’s about feeling, about expression, about finding your own voice, and about pushing boundaries. Bush’s influence guided me towards a more open-minded vocal style and remains a reminder of the beauty in embracing individuality, and to explore the limitless possibilities available to us when using the voice.

Caterina Valente – ‘The Breeze and I’
This one holds a special place – it was my Grandma’s favourite song, and damn she had good taste! Valente’s voice is nothing short of sublime; from soaring highs to velvety warm lows, it’s downright sexy and captivating. ‘The Breeze and I’ is a soothing yet dramatic lullaby, showcasing Valente’s impeccable vocal technique. Her ability to effortlessly navigate the song’s nuances inspired me to explore the full range of my own voice (if only I could match her prowess!). Every single syllable she weaves carries an emotional weight that’s beyond inspiring. This song stands as a timeless reminder of the enduring power and artistry of a beautiful voice.

Cocteau Twins – ‘Pitch The Baby’
The first time I heard Elizabeth Fraser’s dreamy vocals riding the waves of atmospheric soundscapes it was like stumbling upon a musical secret. The whole Cocteau Twins influence was eye-opening and gently nudged me towards a more ethereal vocal style. This track in particular made me re-think my voice as an instrument. The song is like a musical playground, and urged me to explore, experiment, and break free from conventional vocal norms. It’s still a reminder to get playful with my voice, embrace textures and layers, and craft intricate sonic landscapes that go beyond the expected.

PJ Harvey and Nick Cave – ‘Henry Lee’
Each utterance from the sexy mouths of Harvey and Cave in ‘Henry Lee’ is a punch to my gut, laden with raw, authentic emotion. It’s a storytelling masterpiece and you hang on their every word. The palpable chemistry between these two music gods sculpts a vocal landscape teeming with passion and sexual tension. It’s beguiling and intriguing, and an inspiration for my own performance. For me, this track serves as a reminder that it’s not enough to just sing, that you have to feel… And the incredible potency that passion, intensity, and expression have in crafting a sonic experience that will resonate with the listener.

Aldous Harding – ‘Imagining My Man’
This track is a masterclass in the power of restraint and deep simplicity. The haunting ache in Aldous’s voice, set against a stripped-down arrangement, is downright mesmerising. As a performer she’s unmatched — I’ve never witnessed someone captivate an audience like her. Aldous’ voice celebrates the strength found in subtlety, revealing the authentic beauty of a voice laid bare. Although my musical style in The Fauns is more often enveloped within a wall of sound, her influence echoes in my latest album, serving as a reminder that impactful moments in music often arise from the simple, genuine, well-delivered expression of a powerful lyric.

Massive thanks to Alison for sharing her Five Favourites with us! Watch the video for latest single ‘Shake Your Hair’ here:

How Lost, the new album from The Fauns, is out now via Invada.

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PREMIERE: Sukie Smith – ‘Into The Light’

Having released critically acclaimed albums with her band Madam over the last decade, as well as collaborating with the likes of Tricky, multi-disciplinary artist Sukie Smith has now announced the release of her debut solo album, The Glass Dress and a Ringing Bell.

Taken from the album, new single ‘Into The Light’ reflects on summoning the power to leave a turbulent relationship that Smith found herself trapped in during lockdown. Showcasing her rich vocals alongside scuzzy hooks and a ’90s reminiscent whirring energy, a gritty, empowering spirit glistens throughout, creating an impassioned, yet catchy, indie anthem. A fierce ode to survival and understanding our own strength as women, from a truly innovative artist.

‘Into The Light’ is accompanied by an artfully created new video, directed by James Alexander, which beautifully portrays the sparkling energy and fizzing sense of celebration at the heart of the song. Watch, for the first time, here:

‘Into The Light’ will also feature an additional remix by Adam Franklin of Swervedriver, so keep your ears peeled for that too! The Glass Dress and a Ringing Bell, the upcoming debut album from Sukie Smith, is set for release on 8th March.

Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: James Alexander

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New Track: Moor Mother – ‘Guilty’

Following critical acclaim for her 2021 album Black Encyclopedia Of The Air, innovative artist Camae Ayewa – aka Moor Mother – has now announced the release of her 9th studio album, The Great Bailout.

Our first taste of the album comes in the form of new single ‘Guilty‘, a collaboration with Lonnie Holley, Mary Lattimore and Raia Was. Oozing a mystical energy, it encapsulates the sentiment of the album – a poignant and necessary message, bringing to our attention crimes committed by our ‘fair isle’. With a glistening splendour, layers of chiming instrumentation swirl together with vocals, intertwining to create a truly stirring anthem. As its whirring musicality provides a backdrop to lists of ‘great’ Britain’s injustices against humanity and the harsh realities of colonialism, the juxtaposition of the horror of ‘Guilty’s message with the beauty of its musicality is stark. At over ten minutes long, I urge you to immerse yourself in this hauntingly beautiful offering; one that we need to pay heed to, now more than ever. An urgent message encased in an evocative sonic grace.

Of the track, Ayewa explains:

“Displacement and its effects are not discussed enough… The PTSD of displacement should be a focus, and as we have the opportunity to learn about things happening in the world, we also have the opportunity to learn about ourselves. We’ve been through so many different acts of systematic violence.“

Watch the affecting lyric video now:


The Great Bailout, the ninth album from Moor Mother, is set for release on 8th March via ANTI-. Pre-order here. Catch Moor Mother live in London or Bristol in March, info and tickets here.


Mari Lane
@marimindles

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz

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Five Favourites: Montañera

Having recently released her captivating new album, A Flor de Piel, London-based Columbian artist María Mónica Gutiérrez – aka Montañera – creates innovative immersive soundscapes fusing together traditional South American musical influences with contemporary ambient electronics. Breaking through the confines of genre, the album offers a poignant reflection on Gutiérrez’s experience as an immigrant; an artist; a human being. Shimmering with a sweeping twinkling splendour and stirring raw emotion throughout, the album takes the listener on an exquisite sonic journey.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the release of A Flor de Piel, we caught up with María to ask about the music that has inspired her the most. Read about her five favourite songs and listen to latest single ‘Santa Mar‘ below!

Sona Jobarteh – Fasiya
Sona’s album has been a great inspiration for me since the moment I became interested in Senegalese music. Her voice and kora playing were a true inspiration alongside traditional griots who carry this tradition. Her style was a referent for me when I composed ‘Me Suelto Al Riesgo’ – a song I made whilst learning about Senegalese traditional kora music with my amazing teachers Kadialy Kouyate and Lucy Duran in London. I have always found kora music to be very soothing and almost celestial, the timber of its strings captivated me right away. Sona’s album, however, allowed me to understand this tradition through a lens that was in-keeping with my own music. I really enjoy how kora music makes me feel when I listen to it; the same sensation that I was looking for when making my new album A Flor De Piel.

Lido Pimienta – Miss Columbia
I have been a massive fan of Lido’s music for quite a while now. However, when she released Miss Colombia, I really identified with her music as a singer and as a songwriter. She is one of my favourite singers, I love her voice, and production-wise, her album was a great inspiration for my music as well. I love how she blends traditional Colombian music with very fresh, fun and well written arrangements. The sonic world of her music is full of colours – I wanted to achieve something similar in my album, but through my own aesthetic, heavily constructed by synths.

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith – Ears
This is one of my favourite Kaitlyn’s albums, it captivated me right away the first time I listened to it. Personally I think it’s one of my favourite ambient albums, her tracks are always interesting and really well crafted; they are not predictable, but allow you to flow with them, and I wanted to attain something similar in my album. I wanted to make a really carefully thought ambient album with my voice playing an important role. Her sounds and aesthetic influenced me quite a lot when composing this album with my synths, I wanted each layer to be interesting – each layer to have a purpose and not just to add sounds for the sake of it. This was also the way I wanted the producers in my album to work, and her music was also a great influence to them. Ambient is a very delicate genre, and her album was a clear reference of the craftsmanship I wanted to reach.

Marina Herlop – Pripyat
I discovered Marina not so long ago, but her aesthetic and uniqueness blew me away immediately; I felt very inspired by her from the first minute I listened to her music. She has become an inspiration not only for the making of my latest album, but also for my performances. She looks like a Goddess from the future, and her music is beyond anything I’ve heard. It seems as though she has arrived from the future, and that is how her music sounds. Her aesthetic and how unpredictable her music is have become a major inspiration for me.

Canalón de Timbiquí – De Mar y Río 
I love traditional music from all around the world, however, Afro-Colombian music has been a personal favourite for quite a while now. It was maybe fifteen years ago when I sang a traditional song from Colombia’s Pacific coast for the first time, and since then a huge curiosity and interest for this music was born. Nidia Gongora has become a massive influence for this kind of music for me – she represents the strength of the Afro-Pacific Colombian women, who are all very inspiring. I find this music not only inspiring for its musical vastness, but also for the story of resistance, resilience and joy that it carries. I feel immensely honoured to have a song in my album with one of the current marimba players, Cankita, and with the amazing Cantadoras de Yerba Buena. It was through a process of research to understand their musical practice which began this musical collaboration with them. They are a massive inspiration not only to make music with, but for life.

Massive thanks to Montañera for sharing her Five Favourites with us! Listen to latest single ‘Santa Mar’ here:

A Flor de Piel, the stunning new album from Montañera, is out now via Western Vinyl. Listen / order here.

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