An elegant, eclectic soundscape that gently ruminates on the duality of emotion, London based, independent artist and producer afromerm has shared her latest single ‘held’. Formerly known as CIL, who we named as one of our ‘Ones To Watch‘ earlier this year, under her updated moniker afromerm is marking a ‘new era’ of her work, and ‘held’ is an ambient, poetic introduction to her fresh perspective and invigorated journey into sound.
We first saw afromerm live when she supported the equally talented Bristol-based artist t l k at The Jago in Dalston in March 2022. Her skills as a composer, poet and producer were deeply impressive. She manipulated sound via a motion-controlled synthesizer, and watching her gracefully move her hands around the idiosyncratic equipment was hypnotising. Since then, afromerm has collaborated with the esteemed NYX Drone Choir during a residency at the Southbank Centre and she has been busy working on new solo material.
Through her atmospheric electronics, minimal lyrics and sparse echoing beats, on ‘held’ afromerm has crafted a deeply soothing, evocative piece of art. Her soothing voice lilts over diverse soprano saxophone and alto flute sounds, performed by Buster Woodruff-Bryant and YUIS. “Your head, it’s been held / in sounds of joy / and I see, though you’re loved, you don’t feel it” she sings at the close of the track, tapping into conflicting feelings in such a gentle, measured way. Written, produced and mixed entirely by afromerm, ‘held’ showcases her enigmatic and instinctive talent to create such a strong sense of feeling with considered, seemingly effortless execution.
Listen to ‘held’ below.
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