Touching greatness in 2015…
Rozi Plain
Hailing from Winchester, Rozi Plain seems to be popping up all over the place at the moment. (If you correctly interpret ‘all over the place’ as ‘all over the Radio 6 playlists’…)
The latest of her records ‘Friend’ was written while she was living on a boat – a fact which is reflected in its unhurried flow and in one or two disctinctly watery lines.
She also plays with This Is the Kit.
2015 album: ‘Friend’
Listen to this: when you’re feeling philosophical and just a little bit wise.
Stand-out tracks:
Neatest lyrics:
‘It will be reported to be
a difficult year,
a tumultous year…’ (‘Actually’)
‘It is known that it changed
it had just been rearranged
so the bad and sort of okay
is weighted differently
today…’ (‘Rearrange’)
Julia Nunes
Julia Nunes gained something of a cult following for her YouTube renditions of pop songs, layering sound and video in order to play ALL THE PARTS. However, she is also a mighty fine songwriter.
She is dating Dannielle Owens-Reid of Everyoneisgay.com fame. #FanGirlFacts
2015 album: ‘Some Feelings’
Listen to this: when you’ve started to knit the pieces of your broken heart back together and you’re feeling pretty good about it.
Stand-out tracks:
Neatest lyrics:
‘I want to make so many mistakes
that you’re lowest on the list
I want to make mistakes
and I want you to hear about it…’ (‘Something Bad’)
‘Had I known when I was deciding
that I would feel it
in every empty shelf
I may have stopped myself…’ (‘I Don’t Want to’)
Samantha Crain
…is my favourite find of the last six months. She is just this fantastically exciting combination of classic storytelling and subtle twists of phrase. She makes me want to pick up my guitar and write ten songs in a row.
Samantha Crain is from Shawnee, Oklahoma, and she’ll appeal to country music fans, words people and anyone who enjoys full rich vocals.
2015 album: ‘Under Branch & Thorn & Tree
Listen to this: when you’re looking for something rich but tender.
Stand-out tracks:
Neatest lyrics:
‘My neighbour died on Sunday
35 years old.
Never asked for sugar.
Never said hello…’ (‘You or Mystery’)
‘I know I you broke it,
but I’ve got spare parts.
When you come back
would you bring my heart.’ (‘When You Come Back’)
Keep your ears peeled for these in 2016…
Lucius
Lucius are a super-hip five piece from Brooklyn, New York.
Clever, clever writing with full arrangements that drape themselves around the closely harmonised dual vocals of Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig.
‘Wildewoman’ (2013) was amazing and I am very excited about this year’s offering…
2016 album: ‘Good Grief’ – due out on the 11th March.
Sneak previews:
Chris Pureka
Has been a great lyrical love of mine for many years! In my first year of university I listened to ‘These Pages’ on repeat for a week, then wrote my first proper song. (For ‘proper’ read ‘not terrible/excruciating/teenage’).
Sexy americana cool with heartfeels and a handsome wry smile.
2016 album: ‘Back in the Ring’ – due out on the 1st of April.
Classic Pureka:
Feeling musical now?
Excellent – why not come along to a Songbirds rehearsal?
Every Wednesday at 7.30pm, City URC on Windsor Place, Cardiff.
Songbirds Choir is a non-auditioning community choir for self-defining Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans* women.
Songbirds Choir 