HOLLY HUMBERSTONE

October 13 sees the release of "Paint My Bedroom Black", the long-awaited debut album from Holly Humberstone. Already the opener and title track shows that it's straight to the point here. Direct, unvarnished lyrics and sharp guitar lines confirm the uncompromising nature of the Englishwoman and at the same time show the development she has taken in the past two years. Sure, the chasms that permeated her acclaimed debut EP "The Walls Are Way Too Thin" are still present in the lyrics and music, but songwriting and production have gained depth and quality throughout. As a result, the music seems even denser and more finely spun. The dark and otherworldly space that Humberstone builds here and invites her fans into is almost visceral, as if the singer's microphone is linked to a camera always on her shoulder. These songs focus like a lens on her chaotic thoughts and deep feelings, combining music and content into a compelling whole. It's no wonder, then, that the Brit has already been nominated for two Ivor Novello Awards, won last year's BRIT Rising Star and cleaned up on the up-and-coming stage at Glastonbury. If one can wrest a positive aspect from the Covid pandemic, it's the depth of this music, as Humberstone has opened up her inner world when the world was closed off. Writing songs, shaping sound and her open energy proved to be tonics in dark days. It gave her strength to let her sound and songs become so strong as well. Striking themes of lost love, family cohesion and the deep-seated fears of youth intertwine with an organic sound production held together by that soaring voice. Holly Humberstone recently proved that this can also become an overwhelming experience live at the Reeperbahn Festival and at a fine and very intimate performance in Berlin. Now she has confirmed that she will be coming to us again next February. -