It’s only a year since they met at a gathering for musicians in Barrow, but the past 12 months has seen duo Brass and Blaise make a mark.
Brass and Blaise – Dom and Lou – have been on a ‘steep learning curve’ to not only craft the catchy tunes and thought-provoking lyrics that have become their hallmark but also learn how to make their music available to a wide audience.
“I’ve been making music for myself for years and using devices such as an iPad and apps like Garageband means that I can mix and edit at home,” Barrow-based teacher Dom told Cumbria Crack.
“When I met Lou I asked if she’d be able to add her vocals to my tracks and that’s how Brass and Blaise was born.”
Blaise is Lou’s skater name from when she was a teenager.
Her soulful, classically-trained voice is the result of years spent performing standards for family and friends but she admits singing with Dom has opened up a new – and sometimes challenging – world.
“I remember having real stage fright, performing was like an ‘out of body’ experience, when I sang even in a small venue,” Lou says. “We’ve worked on around 20 songs and the lyrics mean a lot with certain phrases giving the songs – we hope – a real texture.”
The duo’s style mix trip hop beats, the distinctive sound of brass and Lou’s soaring vocals; think Portishead with a Barrovian twist.
On Friday, with the help of Dom’s brother, a Newcastle-based music producer, the duo’s first EP will be released.
Fall from Grace, like many of the pair’s songs, the lyrics relate to relationships and life in general. They recently performed in support of Mind In Furness and say mental health features frequently in their writing.
Lou and Dom are grateful for the support of Barrow-based Seahouse Records in making their progress so far possible.
“The turning point was last September when we worked with Seahouse,” Dom says. “Their experience really helped us craft our sound and point us in the right direction.”
With an album already on the cards for release next year and more live performances coming up, this duo and their mix of trip hop beats and soulful jazz seem set to blaze a musical trail far beyond Barrow.
