Photo Credit: Ella Pavlides
The music of Laura Misch does not waste time in inviting the listener into a unique and welcoming soundscape. For the London-based artist, producer and songwriter, music in all its forms is an avenue for escape; a promise that the possibilities can be endless once one has stepped over the threshold from their current day-to-day, and into her world of alt-pop, jazz-infused folk music.
Here, we see a kaleidoscope of ideas and sonic references blend together with precision and beauty on Misch’s long-awaited debut album, Sample The Sky. Out now through One Little Independent Records, the ten-track collection of music paints an engaging and gorgeous portrait of an inquisitive and open mind.
It establishes Laura Misch as more than one to watch, but one who is here to stay.
Working alongside collaborator and producer William Arcane on this project, Misch was able to flex an interest in electronic music that has become beautifully mixed into her already established talents and grasp on jazz and contemporary music. The title itself represents her journey so far; from studying biomedical sciences, through to developing her artistry as a career musician.
“I’ve always found parallels between biomed and music, a microphone is a microscope of sound, and a studio is laboratory of distillation, producing feels like you’re discovering, it feels akin to uncovering in science, Sample The Sky felt like a meeting between these two worlds, to study a ‘sample’ is to gather and look deeply, whilst the ‘sky’ symbolises our interconnectedness to nature”.
LAURA MISCH
The otherworldliness of Sample The Sky can be felt in the gorgeous synth and electronic patterns that balance the saxophone and strings. Songs like ‘Sax Rise’ and previous single ‘Hide To Seek’ represent this beautifully, as Misch’s experimentation led her to creating the body of work with an open mind and soulful approach to each new pathway.
‘Wild Swim’ and album closer ‘Birdseye’ evoke the vocal weight and dreaminess of Portishead and My Bloody Valentine, while the subtleties of songs like ‘Portals’ and ‘Outer Edges’ all highlight Misch’s understanding of sonic textures and their relationship to the lyrical emotional core perfectly.
Laura Misch’s upward trajectory in recent years has seen her emerge as one of the U.K.’s brightest new names. Performances on renowned stages and at events including SXSW, Royal Albert Hall, Berghain and Eurosonic speak to her versatility and sphere of influence. And then there’s the widespread support of her music from global media and radio including BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music, Wonderland Magazine, The Guardian, NME and Clash Magazine – Laura Misch has wasted no time in establishing a legacy for her name, all on her own.
PRAISE FOR LAURA MISCH
“Laura Misch brings such sentimentality to her music and imbues it with modern electronic flourishes”
PopMatters
“Absolutely gorgeous – all pensive rhythms and intelligently layered vocals”
Clash Magazine
PLAY/LISTEN
SAMPLE THE SKY is out now
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