The Outsider: January 2020

In the first of a series of posts I will be catching with artists who I featured in my zine The Outsider and on Straight Outta Somerset the CD compilations.

The first artist to be featured is ROWE, being the main interview for issue 3 of The Outsider zine just over a year ago I wanted to see what has been occurring in the last few months for this Somerset born artist now living in London. Rowe has after the release of her first EP Neptune has gone on set up her own label and start on her 2^nd EP.

In the last few weeks we have been treated to no less than four releases. Two original songs from ROWE and two versions of a Dutchkid song with Rowe providing guest vocals (one studio recording from their new EP ‘Youth’ and a live acoustic version released on New Years Day).

Here is the newest single ‘Daze’, an experimental and gorgeous new song drenched in melancholy and an otherworldly soundscape. ‘Inspired by the poem 'Days' by Philip Larkin, Daze dwells in the feelings of when life becomes so unconsciously repetitive that you begin to question what these days are really for.Layers of soft vocals, hushed guitar and electronics clashing with uncomfortable tins and distorted sounds.’

Another haunting song ‘i’d like to grow’ complete with video was released on Christmas Eve with a message from Rowe. ‘As a new decade approaches, I wanted to pay tribute to the past 10 years of my life and thank those that have come with me.I wrote this song a while ago now and thought it needed to be shared but in a way that portrayed the respect and delicacy I have for the girl who wrote it.So this is what I came up with.I certainly have grown but there is a lot more to do and I invite you all to join me’.

That isn’t all as Rowe has also provided some guest vocals for the new Dutchkid EP Youth on the track Timber, this sweet song in a warm acoustic live version is here :-