Track Of The Day: Emily Magpie – ‘All Is Silence’

Bristol-based artist Emily Magpie has been charming our ears for a good while now. In her latest single, ‘All Is Silence’, she takes listeners on a (particularly poignant right now) post-apocalyptic journey.

Inspired by reading Margaret Atwood, ‘All Is Silence’ starts with an ominous introduction that spills into poppy and effervescent longing. Magpie uses her sparkling voice and dreamy ukulele strums in contrast against the muted synths and bass, giving the track a feeling of being inside a bunker, telling stories of many moons ago.

In the moments before the chorus, Magpie tells of the moment we see the one we love and all sound and thought is muted in the background. All is silent. It’s the end of the world, but we’re still here. 

Shot in a garage with bespeckled projections and bicycle tires, Magpie dances to the new dystopia with hope in her heart in the new video for ‘All Is Silence’. Watch here:

‘All Is Silence’ is out now, and Let’s Talk About The Weather – the upcoming debut album from Emily Magpie – is set for release on 3rd April.

Aisha Kasmir
@aisha_vocal

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EP: Emily Magpie – ‘Be Your Own Light’

Following her last release The Witching Hour, Be Your Own Light is the introspective latest EP from Bristol based solo artist Emily Magpie.

Although the opening track ‘Last Train’ deals with the pain of loss and heartbreak, the narrative takes a reflective approach. The emotional analysis lies within not only Magpie’s expressive vocals which soar high for the chorus, but also within the subtle flowing heartbeat of the musical layers. Gentle imagery of raindrops down a glass pane sit within the subconscious as a twinkling soundscape is created. 

Static energy eases us into ‘Stranger’ which contrasts with the sound of nature which sits quietly in the background. “I’m a feral child” Magpie sings as though she is telling us – her confidants – down the telephone. Although she has just told us she is feral, it is hard to believe due to such a gentle landscape being created in the soft beats.

‘Stranger’ paves the way for the title track of the EP which seems to serve two purposes contained within its simmering synths and velvety soft bass. The first purpose being just for the simple joy of entertainment through music, but this could also be combined with an aid to meditation; the gentle sway of Magpie’s dreamy vocals forcing you to focus upon the message of finding happiness within your own self.

It’s seems the message behind the EP is that Be(ing) Your Own Light is not only the key to happiness, but also what makes us all uniquely beautiful. A message that is perfectly summed up in closing track, the brilliantly seductive ‘Things I’d Do?’.

Be Your Own Light is out now. Stream on Spotify or buy on iTunes.

Nicky Lee-Delisle
@Nicky___Lee

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Guest Playlist: Emily Magpie

As Autumn draws in, what better way to remember the summer than by listening to some of the sweetest tunes from this year’s festivals…?! Having just shared the celestial grace of latest single ‘Last Train’, and set to release her new EP next month, Bristol-based artist Emily Magpie has chosen some of her personal favourites for us…

Watch Emily Magpie’s new video for ‘Last Train here:

It’s been such a lush summer of festivals for me, and I’ve gotten to see some amazing female artists along the way. Really proud to see some amazing women doing their thing and blazing a path for there to be more of a balance at festivals – we need more of this please! Here’s some of my faves that I’ve seen/hope to see next year…

China Bowls 
My fellow Bristolian China Bowls is such a superb musician and songwriter… I’ve had the joy of gigging with this lady before and she was all over the festival season. Jazz, neo soul and hip-hop influences, soulful vocals and guitar… Always great solo, or with band in tow, check her out!

Lucy Dacus
I’ve loved ‘…Familiar Place’ by Lucy Dacus since I stumbled across it on Spotify this year, and then managed to stumble across her live set at Green Man Festival this summer after I’d finished mine. I was so happy to see this lovely indie singer-songwriter live; chill vibes, plus she’s hilarious!

Hollie Cook
I caught Hollie’s tropical pop at Boomtown Festival this year, when tropical pop was so so necessary. It was a pretty soggy affair and Hollie brought the sunshine. She’s on tour in Autumn, and I’m definitely going to try and watch her again!

Goat Girl
Saw the end of their live set at Green Man Festival and loved it. Dark, hazy, some shoegaze feels and indie sounds – very cool band.

IDER
IDER are right up my street; with really cool electronic production, their vocals are what really take it to the next level. I’m excited to see what they do next.

Kate Stapley
I saw Kate Stapley live at Bristol Harbourside Festival just after my set. It’s such a great festival for seeing upcoming Bristol artists, and I fecking LOVE Kate’s music. I guess genre-wise it’s indie, but what she does is just magical. The songwriting is fantastic. You need ‘These Planets’ on repeat!

Holly Walker & Malibou State
I’m really into this set up; it’s such great music to chill to, but also kind of dance-able also. It’s on my list to listen to lots more and get into.

This is the Kit
I didn’t manage to catch This Is The Kit at a festival this year, but they were doing the rounds. Such a lovely, lovely band! I was lucky enough to play support to them earlier this year, and they craft the most magical folk songs. A really special band and excellent people, check them out!Frankie Cosmos
Frankie Cosmos is just ace. Somewhere between indie and folk, I love the lo-fi feel of her music, it just makes me feel all happy and soft inside.

Honeyfeet
Honeyfeet are a band you just have to see live. I got taken along to a gig of theirs a couple of years ago, and wow. Perfect festival band – so much soul, so much sass, so much energy, so much dancing. Go listen and get sweaty and happy!

Huge thanks to Emily for putting together this playlist for us! Have a listen, and feel all those luscious summer vibes here:

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EP: Emily Magpie – ‘The Witching Hour’

The second EP from Bristol-based Emily Magpie, The Witching Hour proves that she is never one to shy away from celestial and mythical soundscapes.

Opener and title track ‘The Witching Hour’ is ethereal and ambient – Emily’s taut vocal howling over an electronic instrumental, presenting themes of feminine empowerment. Lyrics filled with lunar imagery tie in to the track’s name, as it skirts around the otherworldly and eerie. Sounds of rain are reflected in the song’s silky percussion, with transparent guitar notes and deep bass echoing the ghostly lyrics.

‘Leave it to Fate’ is soft, with spiralling minimalist guitars and deep production, bleeding into its successor ‘Angel Face’ – a raw, mismatched song that feels more personal, with its heartbeat-like beats and romantic lyrics.

 

Beginning with the line “Paint your faces, and pound your chest”, ‘When We Find It’ pairs unsettling lyrics with stilted, glitchy music box beats and a haunting, child-like instrumental; closing the EP with something obscure and memorably unsettling. 

A release dusted with moments of golden artistry, The Witching Hour sees Emily explore minimalism and electronica, with a focus on celestial and eerie folk-tinged soundscapes. Explaining the record, Emily explains “it’s about claiming your own power deep from within you” – and on listening to it, it’s certainly hard not to feel the pull of a certain magical force. 

Inspired by travelling across South America, Emily worked alongside co-producer Anuj Robin to create the mystical, ambient beauty of The Witching Hour. 

The Witching Hour is out now, and you can catch Emily Magpie live over the next few months:

12th December: Leftbank, Bristol
18th December: The Finsbury, London (for Lost In The Manor)
12th January: St Petrocs Church, Bodmin (supporting This Is The Kit)
9th March: The Finsbury, London (for Get In Her Ears!!)

Erin Bashford

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