“As people we love to impose our own coherence on these things that are very much plotless - loss, failure, disappointment.”
I sat down for an (as ever) up-beat, in-depth chat with Sam Walker-Smart from Clash Magazine.
http://clashmusic.com/features/doesnt-kill-you-the-anchoress-interviewed
After its premiere today on Digital Spy, you can now watch the brand new video for ‘You and Only You’ on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/FRMHzPXvZls
Keep your eyes peeled later this week for the Philip Reach version of the track and its special dance video…
Myself and Paul Draper have gone full-on gear porn for Drowned in Sound, talking about how ‘You & Only You’ was put together. If you’ve ever wondered what really happens in the studio, read this: http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4149583-planet-gear–the-anchoress-and-mansuns-paul-draper
I also spoke to the lovely people at Gigwise about my favourite Manics songs and their influence on my own music: http://www.gigwise.com/features/104129/anchoress-picks-her-best-manic-street-preachers-songs
In case you missed any of it, here’s a roundup of some of the online coverage so far for my new sngle, which features guest vocals from Paul Draper. The song has also been picking up lots of radio play from 6Music, Radio X and Amazing Radio, with Radio X premiering the Cenzo Townshend alternative string mix as their ‘Shock of the New’ last week, Q magazine premiere and Steve Lamacq bagging the first radio play and then hammering it all week on 6Music!
Q MAGAZINE PREMIER - http://www.qthemusic.com/12934/premiere-the-anchoress-you-and-only-you-ft-paul-draper/
CLASH - http://www.clashmusic.com/features/their-library-the-anchoress
GIGWISE - http://www.gigwise.com/features/104129/anchoress-picks-her-best-manic-street-preachers-songs
DROWNED IN SOUND - http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4149583-planet-gear–the-anchoress-amp-mansuns-paul-draper
XS NOIZE INTERVIEW - http://www.xsnoize.com/a-conversation-with-the-anchoress-paul-draper/
LOUDER THAN WAR INTERVIEW PT 1 - http://louderthanwar.com/interview-the-anchoress-and-paul-draper-mansun/
TLOBF - http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/the-anchoress-reveals-paul-draper-collaboration-you-and-only-you
BEAT MAGAZINE - http://www.thebeatjuice.com/trax/2015/11/26/13939/the-anchoress-shares-music-for-misfits-playlist/
VON PIP TRACK OF THE DAY: http://www.thevpme.com/2015/11/18/track-of-the-day-the-anchoress-ft-paul-draper-you-and-only-you/
AMASS (JAPAN) http://amass.jp/65045/
GIGSLUTZ TRACK OF THE DAY - http://www.gigslutz.co.uk/this-feeling-track-of-the-day-15-11-15-the-anchoress-feat-paul-draper-you-and-only-you/
STEREO ON BOARD - http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/194875/9
Huge thanks to Steve Lamacq for premiering the new single today on BBC 6Music, which features guest vocals from Paul Draper.
The 5 track digital EP is out Jan 8th, just one week before the album release. Preorder info coming tomorrow X
The Quietus and The Line Of Best Fit announce the release of the album via Kscope with The Quietus premiering the first taster track, ‘Popular’.
The track is available now when you preorder Confessions Of A Romance Novelist from iTunes.
“ It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not.” - Andre Gide
“Popular” is one of my older songs that made it onto the album after Paul E Draper (my co-producer on the album) heard my original demo amidst a bunch of tracks I sent over to him for consideration. It came out of something my Mum used to say to me all the time during some particularly tough years at my first school. Kids seem to have some innate sixth sense for difference and decided I was “weird” from the outset. It ended up with me and the other autistic boy being taught separately in the art room…Tall, lanky, and good at maths. Never gonna be popular… We had a brilliant time producing this track as I hope you can hear from all the crazy voices and ad libs. It’s rare that something turns out exactly how you hear it in your head. I spent an additional week during mixing on piecing together and extending the end reprise section (yes, it’s supposed to sound like that…). P-Dub, who mixed the majority of the album, had the patience of a saint with me. “Just one more change… I promise..”
Fun fact: There are 9 instances of the word “bastard” in the song.
A bit like my life…
Confessions Of A Romace Novelist is released on January 8th 2016 via Kscope.
PREORDER THE GATEFOLD CD DIGIPACK
PREORDER THE ALBUM ON iTUNES
Had a little chat with Eddy Temple Morris on Friday night and played a little sneak preview of something new… I’m up two songs into the show. Listen back here- https://www.mixcloud.com/sohoradio/the-remix-with-eddy-temple-morris/
Clash Magazine Track by Track
Read a track by track guide to the One For Sorrow EP on Clash now and get your ears around Philip Reach’s reworking of ‘One For Sorrow’ (which features some rather prominent use of producer Paul Draper’s glorious falsetto backing vocals…)
http://www.clashmusic.com/news/premiere-the-anchoress-one-for-sorrow-ep
The One For Sorrow EP is out November 3rd on 12" vinyl, limited CD and digital EP.
VINYL
The beautiful 12" vinyl EP designed by Michael Speed.
Available from all good record stores, including the following online stores:
CD
This special collector’s edition ribbon-wrapped bundle includes a limited 4-track CD of the One For Sorrow EP, alongside a personalized hand stamped library card from The Anchoress, and a hand-picked vintage romance novel (as used in the “book-bath” which featured in the EP artwork and promo photo shoot).
Buy the ltd edition signed CD here.
DIGITAL
The EP is also available from iTunes, Amazon, and all other digital stores, including an iTunes bonus track remix by Ghosting Season.
The One For Sorrow EP by The Anchoress is out November 3rd 2014
This week has been a surreal one…
On Monday, Simple Minds revealed a secret that I’ve been keeping very close to my chest for a few months now…I’ll be joining them on tour throughout 2015! How this all came about is something of a distant echo of the duet I co-wrote for The Dark Flowers album a few year’s back which also featured Jim Kerr… You never know where things might lead! I’m looking forward to seeing some bookshops and art galleries around Europe. Pitstop suggestions welcome…
Yesterday I also found out that “One For Sorrow” (from the forthcoming EP) is up for the BBC 6Music Rebel Playlist. This is voted for by YOU, the music-loving public. If you could spare a moment between now and midnight this Sunday evening (and maybe ask your friends, ex-lovers and your sister’s dogs to vote too…) if we win the vote it means that the song gets played on all the 6Music daytime shows for a whole week! It takes five seconds to vote here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0072lb2
I’d be very grateful indeed if you did : )
If you haven’t already pre-ordered the EP, all the details are here: www.iamtheanchoress.com/music. There’s still a few limited editions remaining.
Catherine xox
p.s. Here’s the new Simple Minds video:
In The Quietus…
“I call him the lizard man…” The Quietus have just published the essay I penned about working with Paul Draper and how the album came together…
http://thequietus.com/articles/16327-the-anchoress-long-year-catherine-ad-paul-draper-essay
NME premieres Long Year…
It’s been an exciting few days. NME have premiered my song ‘Long Year’ - a first taste of the forthcoming One For Sorrow EP.
Huge thanks also to Steve Lamacq for the first radio play on his 6Music show!
http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/listen-the-anchoress-returns-with-the-haunting-long-year
The One For Sorrow EP will be released on November 3rd via Hiraeth/PIAS.The EP will be available as a 12” vinyl from all good record stores, digital download (with an iTunes exclusive remix from Ghosting Season), and a limited edition signed CD/romance novel edition, exclusively from Bandcamp, now available to preorder:
Ltd Signed CD/Book Bundle: PREORDER HERE
iTunes exclusive 5 track EP: BUY HERE
12” Vinyl:
*Update* Thanks to everyone who bought the vinyl - we sold out the entire run on preorder in the first 24 hours!
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You can now preorder the 7inch clear vinyl of the debut single from the following stores. There is only a limited edition of 500, so be quick!
Jumbo - Leeds - SOLD OUT
Spillers - Cardiff - SOLD OUT
Rough Trade - London SOLD OUT
Resident - Brighton SOLD OUT
Drift - Totnes - SOLD OUT
Piccadilly - Manchester - SOLD OUT
“A great, dark classic pop song” - STEVE LAMACQ, BBC 6MUSIC
“Imperious vocals… oddball & accessible.” - 20 tracks you have to hear this week, NME
“What happened to Mansun’s Paul Draper? Well, he’s producing The Anchoress and the results are quite something” - CLASH
‘What Goes Around’ is one hell of an introduction, mixing epic Broadway strings with military drums, a sprinkling of Disney pianos, menacing slithers of riffs, and lyrics that make you fear ever messing with womankind.“ - DROWNED IN SOUND
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‘What Goes Around’ will be released on May 5th 2014 via TOO PURE