A Lake District singer has released her latest single.
Kendal-based Celestial North releases When The Gods Dance on May 5, the first taste of her debut album due this September.
The euphoric dreampop record brings an electronic feel bathed in folklore, taking listeners on a journey of both organic and sythentic instrumentation.
Born and raised in Edinburgh, Celestial North can be found wandering south of the border in Kendal where she now lives with her family, surrounded by fells and the beauty of nature.
Her Scottish roots are anchored in her music and her love of wilderness, mystery and the spirit of the Beltane is evident in her songs.
Having taught herself various instruments, with the encouragement of a Bowie and Flamenco loving father, she became interested in experimenting with different recording techniques and more unusual and primitive instruments.
Hours and hours were spent with her husband, co-producer and chief drummer Woody, recording blocks of ice being hit, or chains being banged inside buckets, or storms passing over their old stone house on the hill. A dulcimer, a Bodhran drum and a piano were gifted to them during lockdown which had a huge impact on the sounds being created at home.
The songwriter is regularly played on the BBC Introducing show. Her most recent release, a reworking of R.E.M.’s Nightswimming – recorded for a God Is In the TV Zine charity album last year, received national radio play with BBC Scotland’s Roddy Hart proclaiming it “Majestic”.
The release was included in online music platform Bandcamp’s Essential Releases with Nightswimming chosen as the Editorial Director’s personal highpoint.
Following a run of early singles Celestial North was touted by Under The Radar and God Is In The TV as ‘One to watch in 2021’ and one of the “finest new acts for 2021”, Celestial North is currently recording her debut album which will be released in September 2022. You can see her live at Kendal Calling Festival.
Reviews
GodIsInTheTV ‘ – “Enveloping and wondrous. Swelling and spiralling gaze pop that’s punctured by big hearted vocals and soaring melodies. Superb riffing, brisk percussive elements featuring Woody from Sea Power on drums and epic choruses laced with a bittersweet quality of the hope and pain of living. Wonderful stuff!”
Under The Radar – “Celestial North has been making some of the most luscious, ethereal sounds over the past couple of years. “Distant Life” is a shimmering masterclass in elegant dream pop”.
Listen here – https://soundcloud.com/celestialnorth/when-the-gods-dance
