When you’re in your teens there are plenty of things to deal with. The turmoil of school mixed with an influx of hormones, those damn pimples and the stress of getting your license – it’s a lot for one to juggle. Add to that a massive break in the British music scene with two EPs that were written and recorded within a year plus an album on the way and you’re living the life of SOAK.
At just eighteen years old, SOAK creates delicate folk driven pop songs, inspired by 70s soul and 80s pop that show talent far beyond her meagre years.
Bridie Monds-Watson is the eighteen year old musical genius behind the musical endeavour SOAK. Whilst international audiences have only recently been graced with her music, SOAK has been kicking around the UK music scene since the tender age of sixteen. She started experimenting with music growing up in Ireland, dabbling in different sounds until she was sixteen where she decided to take her talents more seriously. Unable to find what a suitable manager to help rein in her unique sound, Bridie enlisted her mother to “help look after things.” And look after things she did. With the help of her mother, Monds-Watson refined her sound into a beautiful amalgamation of soul and folk and SOAK was born.
Now eighteen, she has been picked up by the BBC, played Glastonbury and dropped out of school completely to explore her music full-time (who wouldn’t?). With two EP’s under her belt already, one being the acclaimed Blud EP released through Goodbye Records which includes a killer remix by CHVRCHES, SOAK is set to release her debut record Before We Forget How To Dream due out May 29th.
Lead track Sea Creatures is stunning journey, explored through elaborate and poetic lyrics that glide over harmonious undertones of waves and the ocean. The track’s poetic prose is an obvious high point, with lyrics like “When they tell you they love you/I don’t think they mean it/I don’t think they know what they knew/I don’t think they know what love is” that are far beyond the eighteen short years that SOAK has lived.
The second single B a noBody is sparse and hypnotic, with instrumentation that is soft and understated, allowing the vocals to take the forefront. And what gorgeous vocals they are. Monds-Watson’s voice is smoky and delicate, laid bare by its accompaniment so that vulnerability shines through. The track is never overcrowded by instruments, but neither is it just a ‘girl and her guitar’ kind of track that has been so overdone. SOAK has crafted something special: folk-music informed by a history of 70s soul and 80s pop, all from a girl born in the late 90s. So good it’s hard to fathom.
Thankfully SOAK is old enough to tour the world, and following a stint in Europe she will be gracing Australian shores for the first time this April, presented by the legends over at Handsome Tours. Be sure to catch a show, it will be something special:
Wednesday 15 April – Hibernian House – Sydney NSW
Thursday 16 April – Paddington Uniting Church – Sydney NSW
Friday 17 April – Shadow Electric – Melbourne VIC
Buy tickets though Handsome Tours here.
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