SOAK has unveiled a beautiful reworking of St Vincent's 'Digital Witness', ahead of the arrival of her debut album via Rough Trade.
‘Before We Forgot How To Dream’ is due June 1, and will be supported by an official release of 'Blud', following recent single ‘Sea Creatures’ (which was A-Listed at Radio 1, and also playlisted at 6Music and XFM). Named a One To Watch for 2015 via the likes of iTunes, Spotify and the BBC Sound Poll, Bridie has been confirmed for a run of festivals on top of June headline tour.
Describing her cover choice, Bridie writes: "I watched her at Electric Picnic, but I didn't really get into her until later on. She's really good and kind of weird. I like music where you can't tell what the next line is gonna be. She just makes things that are really interesting, and you can hear something new each time you listen."
Already compared with the likes of Laura Marling and Beach House, 'Before We Forgot How To Dream' is a record which traces SOAK's extraordinary journey in her career thus far, and also tackles those more universal themes of friendship, family or what to do with your future.
She started writing songs at the age of thirteen, before an early demo of ‘Sea Creatures’ lit a fuse which picked up the attention of BBC Introducing and also saw A&R board the next flight to Derry (parking up outside the unsuspecting Monds-Watson household). Yet SOAK rushed into nothing, continuing to find her confidence as an artist and as a young woman. Having toured in the school holidays – Tegan & Sara, George Ezra - got her first tattoo (of 19) and completed her studies, things moved forward in 2014, when the soft-release of ‘Blud’ won widespread acclaim and ultimately led to a deal with Rough Trade the same summer most of her friends got their A-Level results.
On its surface, ‘Before We Forgot How To Dream’ may initially appear nostalgic – romantic, even - towards a more innocent time. But despite the tumultuous tone which actually lingers beneath the record, there is still a persistently uplifting element to SOAK’s music. “People grow up and nobody believes in Magic anymore, or you’re told to lower your expectations and that certain behaviour isn’t appropriate. This album is definitely about that time when you believed a bit more in things.” You’d venture that belief will take SOAK further yet in her career, though ultimately her debut album seems to explore those joys and fears we take with us through life, from adolescence into adulthood – but simply get a little better at hiding.
May 14 +15 Brighton Great Escape Festival May 16 Brussels Les Nuits Botanique May 22 Mannheim Mailfeld Derby May 23 Dortmund Way Back When May 31 Barcelona Primavera Sound Festival June 4 London Bush Hall **SOLD OUT** June 5 Manchester Sacred Trinity **SOLD OUT** June 6 Glasgow Oran Mor June 10 Belfast Empire Music Hall June 11 Dublin Pepper Cannister June 12 Galway Roisin Dubh June 13 Cork Triskel Christchurch July 17-19 Suffolk Latitude Festival July 19 Latvia Positivus Festival July 20 Netherlands Valkhof Festival July 24 Austria Acoustic Lakeside Festival July 25 Sweden Way Out West Festival August 21 Norway Pstereo Festival September 6 Portemerion Festival Number 6 September 10 Norway Perfect Sounds Forever Sept 10-13 Isle of Wight Bestival
Check out our Music-News.com exclusive interview at SXSW in March below.
To keep up to date with SOAK follow Music-News.com here.
