Carving her path with her own brand of alternative dark folk, Crowspeak has offered a glimpse into what is to come in her 2024 debut album with her latest single, S W A N (S).
The female singer-songwriter, who lives in Staffordshire, immediately creates an atmosphere of mystique and brooding with her morose guitar, tying together the pace and rhythm of this enchanting record. With influences ranging from the likes of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell to the soulful blues of Billie Holiday and Nina Simone, Crowspeak weaves a tapestry of haunting melodies and introspective lyricism in this evocative and emotionally expressive track.
S W A N ( S ) explores ideas of naivety, youth, faith, and vulnerability, drawing the listener into a world that is as alluring as it is unsettling. The title itself suggests a certain grace and beauty, yet there’s a sense of danger and anxiety also present around these majestic creatures, and these conflicting emotions are something that Crowspeak does a wonderful job of capturing in her music.
Her introspective lyrics tell stories that lull and disturb, sometimes delving into personal experience, while at times bringing something more abstract and fragmented, delicately delivered with a strong yet soulful vocal performance that brings with it a sense of intimacy.
She said: “Lyrically, I like the spirituality and self-reflection found in Leonard Cohen and Joanna Newsom’s work. I also like these artists for the joy they seem to take in lyricism and how they play with words in both their meaning and how they present them with their voices. I find it difficult to categorise Crowspeak as any particular genre, it is just me.”
And it’s that refusal to be confined by genre that is one of Crowspeak’s greatest superpowers, shaped by a myriad of influences, her distinctive singing style and gloomy guitar work maintains intrigue as S W A N (S) develops throughout the five and a half minute track.
With its haunting melodies, soulful vocals, and evocative instrumentation, Crowspeak has crafted a sound that is both ethereal and grounded with S W A N (S), which serves as a mesmerising introduction to the album that is to come.
Listen to S W A N (S) here on Bandcamp.
