NEW TRACK: Mere Child – ‘Don’t Let Me Go’

A delicate rumination on grief and hope, independent artist Aimee Herbert aka Mere Child has shared their latest single ‘Don’t Let Me Go’. Written, recorded and produced in her “poorly soundproofed kitchen/conservatory”, Mere Child’s new track is a tender, atmospheric ode to persevering in the face of adversity.

Herbert started Mere Child as a solo project back in 2016, a few of years after her son was born and after the loss of her father prior to his birth. She felt the need to start writing and recording in a different way after these life events. Going solo seemed to fit with the content of her new songs, which were far more vulnerable and anxiety driven.

She released her first single ‘Not Good Enough‘ in 2016 and began playing live shows in London and Brighton, but the Covid-19 pandemic understandably put a stop to Herbert’s project for a while. Now, she’s back and ready to share her new music, with ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ being the first offering. Mixed and mastered by Julian Tardo at Church Road Studios in Brighton, the track is a poignant reflection on a difficult time. ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ shimmers with its melodic guitars, earnest lyrics and Herbert’s soft, clear vocals, which provide a lullaby-like comfort.

Speaking about her new single, the songwriter explains: “Battling depression and a creative lull, I wrote this song on an acoustic guitar late one evening. It sits somewhere between hope and trepidation. It’s the first new single in three years, with an EP to follow later in the year.”

Listen to ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ below.

Follow Mere Child on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook & Instagram

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: A.A. Williams – ‘The Echo’

A heavy lament that explores the push-and-pull relationship between the heart and the head, London-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist A.A. Williams has shared her latest single ‘The Echo’. Taken from her upcoming second album, As The Moon Rests, which is set for release on 7th October via Bella Union, the track is a powerful blend of Williams’ bittersweet vocals and trademark cathartic drop ins.

“’The Echo’ is a dialogue between a person’s heart and the head,” Williams explains about her new single. “the head [is] trying to persuade the heart that what they need is to take time for themselves and prioritise their own well-being, not seek verification of one’s worth through their relationships with others.”

Originally named ‘Forever Blue’ – which is also the title of her debut album – Williams’ has re-worked ‘The Echo’ into a song of “yearning, sorrow and beauty.” These sentiments are reflected in the track’s accompanying video, directed by Fraser West. The visuals follow a young man on his journey through London during the night, encountering strangers and seeking connection in unexpected places.

Following on from her previous singles ‘Evaporate’ and ‘Golden’, ‘The Echo’ continues to spotlight Williams’ intuitive talent for creating captivating, enthralling music. She will be performing tracks from her upcoming album As The Moon Rests with her band and a full string quartet at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall this Saturday (17th September). You can grab a ticket here.

Watch the video for ‘The Echo’ below.

A.A. Williams’ UK Tour Dates 2022
Saturday 17th September – London – Queen Elizabeth Hall
Saturday 12th November – Glasgow – The Great Eastern
Sunday 13th November – Leeds – Brudenell Social Club
Monday 14th November – Milton Keynes – Craufurd Arms
Tuesday 15th November – Birmingham – Hare & Hounds
Wednesday 16th November – Cardiff – Clwb Ifor Bach
Thursday 17th November – Falmouth – The Cornish Bank
Friday 18th November – Bristol – Thekla

Follow A.A. Williams on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Photo Credit: Thomas Williams

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: AGAAMA – ‘Sarehole Mill’

A captivating blend of hypnotic vocals, experimental instrumentation and altruistic beats, Birmingham-based artist, composer, vocalist and producer AGAAMA has shared her latest single ‘Sarehole Mill’. Taken from her upcoming EP Wandering Worlds, which is set for release on 15th September via The state51 Conspiracy, the track is a warm musing on the importance of spaces that nurture creativity and humility.

“‘Sarehole Mill’ is about places and people that ground us,” AGAAMA explains about the context of her new single. “We all have these spaces and these people. I hope that when people listen to the track (even though they may not know what or where Sarehole Mill is), that it makes them feel nostalgia, safety, fondness and love and makes them think about being in their own city savannah with their mates.”

Exploring this notion through her atmospheric electronics and cinematic orchestral horn arrangements, AGAAMA creates a palpable atmosphere of contentedness, soothing listeners with her jazz-inspired vocals. Her eclectic sounds stem from a childhood rich with varied musical experiences. Growing up in a British-Jamaican household, AGAAMA was influenced by the contemporary classical tastes of her Father and her Mother’s love for Sarah Vaughan and Quincy Jones. She sang in Church on Sundays and studied classical trombone as a teenager, but she also spent her weekends raving to UK bass music and writhing in the mosh pit at metal gigs. This glorious array of musical experiences have all informed her work as AGAAMA, making her sounds as vast and altruistic as her collective memories.

Her upcoming EP, Wandering Worlds, reflects this kaleidoscopic musical vision perfectly, whilst also tapping into something darker. “I grew up listening to a lot of angsty, heavy music – metal, dubstep, prog rock and bass music. I wanted to make something where you could explore angst and frustration,” AGAAMA explains. “I found that having a space to release angst within music was healthy and helpful on my path toward healing. I really wanted to incorporate this brooding, meditative, almost primal thing that hooked me into music. At the time of making the record, I lost complete interest in beautiful sounds and music. I was craving something darker.”

Listen to ‘Sarehole Mill’ below.

 

Follow AGAAMA on Spotify, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

AGAAMA UK Tour Dates 2022
19th August – London, Shacklewell Arms (with Muna Ileiwa)
22nd September – London, Hootenanny (with Jack Tyson Charles)
29th September – (EP Launch) London, state51 Factory
3rd October – Birmingham, The Night Owl

Photo Credit: Lucy Feng

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Maria BC – ‘The Only Thing’

A gentle musing on relinquishing yourself to the feeling of being in love again and having that feeling reciprocated, Maria BC has shared their latest single ‘The Only Thing’. Taken from their debut album Hyaline, which is set for release on 27th May, the track is a disarming, tender reflection on the serenity that sets in once you are fully “seen” by your partner in a new relationship.

Following on from their dreamy debut EP Devil’s Rain (2021), on Hylaine, Maria BC has created another tender collection of songs that “Let the world wash over you…rather than trying to pin it to one single thing.” This immersive quality is captured beautifully on ‘The Only Thing’, through Maria’s tentative guitar picks, atmospheric beats and soothing vocals.

“The track is about allowing yourself to be seen fully by another person. When you find they aren’t afraid, you realise you shouldn’t be either,” Maria explains about their new single. “It took me a bunch of tries to finish the arrangement for this one. It felt too sparse, while the song is about that full, effervescent, sun-is-coming-up feeling of new love. I spent several weeks adding parts and scrapping them — you know, getting nowhere. Then, at some point, I realised the refrain of another song I was working on had the same chord progression as ‘The Only Thing’ refrain. I turned that into a kind of counter-melody, Liz Fraser style, and I think it tied the whole thing together.”

The new track is accompanied by a beautiful video, shot by Olivia Q. Pintair and choreographed and Performed by C Green. Watch it below.

Follow Maria BC on bandcamp, Spotify, Instagram, Twitter & Facebook

Photo Credit: Ulysses Ortega

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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