Five Favourites: Erica Nockalls

Having collaborated with renowned bands such as Echo and the Bunnymen and The Proclaimers, and performed at legendary venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, musician and songwriter Erica Nockalls released her innovative album Dark Music From A Warm Place back in 2021, a partnership with Parisian studio producer/artist Jean-Charles Versari. Oozing a dark ethereal splendour throughout, and showcasing Nockalls’ soaring crystalline vocals, it’s a beautifully cinematic collection, brooding with a shimmering grace and immersive musicality. And, more recently, to celebrate her September tour dates with Echo and the Bunnymen, Nockalls shared her own unique rendition of Roxy Music’s ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’.

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 ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’, we caught up with Erica to ask about the music that has inspired her the most. Read about her five favourite songs and watch the video for her cover of ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’ below!

Imogen Heap – ‘Hide and Seek’
I discovered and listened to the shit out of this track in lockdown, somewhere in between sneaking to the studio to mix my own album Dark Music From A Warm Place under the cover of nightfall, and gleefully drinking cocktails for breakfast. Imogen has penned a masterpiece here, and I would very much love to work with her one day because of this song. Her still, honest vocals, layered, creating a vast and chillingly brutal landscape of desperation, sorrow and loss. Lyrics lines effected, ebb in and out, (“Spin me round” has a Leslie effect on it, for example, which I consider to be a production stroke of genius). I enjoy hearing the stacked close harmonies and complex cluster chords, probably (definitely) because I do the same. Such a brave stance to take these days – solely using vocals as your musical ingredients, climaxing into her accompanying herself rhythmically and harmonically without any additional instrumentation. I even believe you can hear a chink of glass bottles been taken out for recycling at one point, which made me think that this evolved from a home recording (or maybe even remnants of a demo) that was lovingly coaxed and manipulated into a thing of utter beauty, but maybe I’m reading too much into it. Best line of the song? “Crop circles in the carpet”… alluding to, in my mind, imagery of recently moved large furniture, because someone just left with their possessions. Heartbreaking, and exceptional. 

Versari – ‘Brûle’
I had the honour of hearing the whole Sous la peau album by Versari, new and fresh from mastering, one warm (and admittedly decadent) evening, on the balcony of a Parisian hotel. I was instantly impressed. I was charmed by how one three piece can deliver such a thorough obliteration both sonically and viscerally; their sound took my breath away. Sung in French – at the time I didn’t understand the lyrics, but I almost didn’t need to – Jean-Charles’s vocal style is low, distinctive, seductive, and effortlessly and tastefully distressed. Now, even though I understand the lyrical content, I still feel the same when I hear this song, which led me to release a remix of it.

Devin Townsend Project – ‘Failure’
I paint a lot to the Transcendence album. I use it as a temporal yard stick – once the record has finished, it’s time to stop painting. Complex, agressive, powerful. A truth behind the personal complexities of performing. Most of us feel like a failure at times. Devin’s honest admissions here gave me the strength to consider continuing what I was doing, even if it scares the absolute shit out of you. I particularly like the drum work here delivered in this track by the epic force that is Ryan Van Poederooyen. His style is watertight yet dynamic, with a playful musicianship not often found in the metal world. Bravo.

Immaculate Fools – ‘Two to Tango’
Raymond is a special human to me. Half godfather-type-figure, half cool uncle, half mentor… (I’ve always been excellent at maths). I was in a testy place just before I moved to Spain to write my third album, ‘Dark Music From A Warm Place’ and, prior to getting my own place, I lived a short while with Ray. He would play guitar in his music room late into the night, and I would fall asleep in the next room listening to him, which was a much needed comfort to me. This track was one of the songs he was working on at the time, which in my humble (and correct) opinion is one of the greatest songs ever to have been written. It’s genius. I often think Ray’s music is a little like Bowie’s, in that they both have the ability to make music sound simple, and palatable, when it’s anything but.

Roxy Music – ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’ 
I remember my Mum driving me to youth orchestra rehearsals on many a friday night in her lovely old Saab. We’d sing along to the tape of For Your Pleasure, both laughing at our occasionally misheard lyrics. ‘Dream Home’ stood out to my juvenile brain. The emotional temperature of the lonesome lyrics spoke to me. Despite sounding so serious, Mum told me it was about a blow-up doll, and… on paper, that does sound like a joke, right? I was happily perplexed. And I liked the album artwork. I loved this song so much. Electing to cover and release it recently was one of my better ideas!

Massive thanks to Erica for sharing her Five Favourites with us! Watch the stirring video for her rendition of Roxy Music’s ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’ below:

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Five Favourites: Sir Jude

Having had previous singles featured in popular TV shows such as ‘Catfish’ and ‘The A List’, Australian artist Sir Jude has now announced the release of her upcoming debut album, Revelations, and shared a sweeping new single with the world. Propelled by a stirring, glitchy energy ‘Madonna‘ reflects on the dichotomy of the Madonna concept – the virgin and the whore. As her rich vocals soar over a gritty electro-infused soundscape, an instantly catchy cinematic alt-pop anthem is created.

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 ‘Madonna’ and the upcoming debut album, we caught up with Sir Jude to ask about the music that has inspired her the most. See below for her choices of her five favourite songs.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘Wet Sand’ 
Growing up, I was such a big Chili Peppers fan. Still am of course. It was the soundtrack to many defining moments, particularly my first love. My journey to discovering them as a band was led by pure intrigue – none of my friends listened to them and I was mesmerised by the sound of psychedelic rock. The lyric in this track – “you don’t form in the wet sand” – I thought was so delicate and beautiful. Despite it feeling like a song about lightness, there is this sense of tragedy and vulnerability. I think Anthony Kiedis mastered that; most of their songs have this wonderful element of dichotomy. Later I watched an interview of Flea talking about how the song for him is a special love song, about the darkness of love, and I deeply resonate with that.  

Imogen Heap – ‘Hide and Seek’
This song was a staple for my teen years! I had first heard this on my favourite show at the time – which I’m admitting was The OC. I think for most people, it was unlike anything else they’d heard before. For me, I wanted to know more. I think Imogen Heap is one of the most talented composers and is an absolute force for women in music. I’m so grateful to her for being so authentic and bold in everything she does. This song inspired a whole era of songs I set to write at 13 or 14 (most of which were terrible). But one song it inspired, titled ‘Sailor Ships’, was the very song that brought me to Abbey Road Studios in London, with my friend and collaborator Bryce Jacobs, and that moment was so special.  

Arctic Monkeys – ‘I Wanna Be Yours’ 
This song gets most of its lyrics from the John Cooper Clark poem of the same name. I first heard this and gasped. I’m not the most romantic person, but for the first time I felt like these words were ones I could understand. It’s honestly a little creepy when you read it aloud, but I think at the heart of the song it’s about loving someone so deep that you want to know and be with every single part of them, and that’s pretty beautiful. I feel like such a sap admitting that, but it’s just lovely.  

Kavinsky ft. Lovefoxxx – ‘Nightcall’
I had heard this song before seeing it in Drive. The movie and the scorpion jacket only added to the iconic etch it made in my mind. The way the album, Out Run, opens is so epic; it paints this glorious mental movie soundtrack that is otherworldly and genius and just so cool. It’s the best nighttime driving song there is. Again, there is this sense of love and tragedy that I resonated with because the concept of the album itself felt so tangible.  

The Naked and Famous – ‘The Sun’
I lean very heavily towards songs that make me feel as though I can cut a quick movie montage of my life in my head. Every time this song plays, I feel so empowered and capable – like something is about to happen. It’s dramatic and aggressive and the lyrics bring about a feeling of frustration, like this person is about to explode; like they’re finally at a turning point. The line “and what the hell have I done” inspired my own song – ‘What the Hell Have You Done’. I just remember feeling so heard in that line. It does something to me every time I hear it. And the whole album is a classic; I think there are a lot of people that can listen to a song from that album and have it take them back somewhere years ago.  

Massive thanks to Sir Jude for sharing her Five Favourites with us!

‘Madonna’ is out now, and Revelations, the upcoming debut album from Sir Jude, is set for release soon!

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PREMIERE: Cerian – ‘Wasteland’ (ft. Robert Taira Wilson)

‘Wasteland’ is the debut single from London-based songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Cerian. It’s the first single to be released from her upcoming EP, Caught in the Dark – a series of songs written in the middle of the night.

A self-confessed “lifelong insomniac”, Cerian’s profoundly personal songs have grown out of her struggle with both the literal and internal darkness felt in the isolation of the early hours of the morning. Frustration and fear have come together in a calm, emotional union on ‘Wasteland’, on which her call & response vocals are matched beautifully with Robert Taira Wilson’s.

Of the track, Cerian explains: “In the dead of the night, terrifying existentialism takes over: seemingly frozen in time, you feel unable to traverse the space between where you are and where you want to be. The precipice of the unknown future is calling, but you don’t know if you’re going to fly or fall, if you can find the courage to jump.”

Fortunately, Cerian found the courage to write, produce, and create all the accompanying images and visuals to accompany ‘Wasteland’. She’s also been involved in numerous collaborations with the likes of U2, Radiohead, Sam Smith, Imogen Heap, Charlotte Church, Laura Mvula and Amber Run. If that wasn’t enough, she’s also proved her work ethic and talent further by performing at Glastonbury Festival, Bush Hall and two sold-out headline shows at The National Portrait Gallery.

With a series of shows planned in the UK, Europe and America this year, Cerian is set to for more big things. Listen to ‘Wasteland’ below, and follow Cerian on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Tom Leishman

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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