Photo: Mike Massaro
She may have already won your heart with tracks like 'My Hand', 'Landslide' and 'River', but prepare to fall in love with Robyn Sherwell all over again as she prepares to launch her stunning debut album next week.
We know, you probably can't wait that long, which is why we're delighted to bring you an exclusive first listen stream as a Gigwise premiere a whole week ahead of release.
Tender and considered, this is an ultimately artful listen. Wrap your ears around one of the finest releases of the year so far here, and check out our interview with Robyn below.
Congratulations on the album. How are you feeling about it finally being released?
"Excited and relieved. I can’t wait to finally have it out there."
Is there one thing you'd like people to know before they listen to your album?
"Thank you for listening."
What was the most challenging track on the album, and why?
"I think 'My Hand' was the most challenging. Not in terms of writing, more because I already had a more acoustic version of it established, but I wanted to explore with David Kosten where else the song could go. There was some label pressure on that song especially, which made it harder – at times I felt like whatever we did would end up being a compromise because of that. But at some point we stumbled on some production ideas that felt fun and organic, and most importantly felt in keeping with the process we’d had on the rest of the material, so it worked out."
Do you have a favourite track?
"Not really. They’ve all been part of a journey for me – for example 'Love Somebody' was the first single I ever released properly, so I guess that has a special place for that reason, but there’s no stand out favourite."
What's the music scene like on the Channel Islands?
"Well, I haven’t lived there for some time now, so I wouldn’t claim to be any kind of real authority on the scene there. But there are some thriving summer festivals including Jersey Live and the Sark Folk Festival. And BBC Introducing in both Guernsey and Jersey are always actively showcasing and supporting local talent."
You worked with producer David Kosten, who's also worked with Bat For Lashes and Marina & The Diamonds. What did he bring to your sound that you didn't expect?
"David brought a sense of complete freedom to the recording process. He knew when to switch things up, and when to let things be. A couple of my songs like 'Islander' and 'Love Somebody', he really transformed from the demos I had, with specific drum ideas that he suggested. But then with some of my demos I thought we would want to re-record everything, he would insist they had a charm already, and just sought to enhance them. That was unexpected."
You said you idolised Jeff Buckley growing up. What is it about him you found inspiring?
"It was this rawness I perceived in his music and performance. There’s so much emotional reach in his material, and that affected me. It felt real and powerful, and I craved real and powerful."
Your cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Landslide' was used on the trailer for 'Suffragette'. How did that cover come about? Have you seen the film?
"I was waiting for my label to release my second EP (Islander), and was struggling a bit for a creative outlet. I figured a cover could be a good step and I had this idea brewing for 'Landslide'. Eventually it was suggested that I should include a cover on the EP and I just said, “I know what to do”. It was amazing to then see it used in the Suffragette US Trailer. I was lucky enough to be invited by Helen Pankhurst to go and see a private screening of the film in Mayfair, with a (pretty lively) Q&A with the film’s production team afterward. Both the film and the screening were remarkable – the telling of history, but with so much contemporary relevance."
The music scene now compared with the scene 20 years ago - better, worse, or just different?
"Just different I guess? It’s easy to see the past through rose-tinted-gold-rimmed-its-so-much-harder-now glasses! Gone are the days you could just perform and not have someone standing there with an iPhone in your face, that much is true. If I had a time machine I might like to go back and experience that again, even just as a punter. Maybe Apple will invent one. iTravel or something."
Robyn Sherwell releases her self-titled debut album on Friday 25 March. Her UK tour dates are below. For tickets and more information, visit here.
