High quality, 2 x 180g pink marbled vinyl, gatefold sleeve and download
code containing the digital album in multiple formats. Singer Nishla
Smith creates vivid, enigmatic stories through sound, her voice stretching
from melancholic sweetness through to dark intimacy
Her debut album 'Friends with Monsters' confirms Smith as a major new vocal
talent and sees the vocalist's affinity for inventive narratives extended over the
span of a full album. The Australian performer travelled via Berlin to eventually
settle in Manchester and is joined here by some of the city's most talented
improvisers. Richard Jones and Johnny Hunter cover piano and drums
respectively, whilst bassist Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley and trumpeter Aaron Wood
add graceful touches to complete the quintet's intimate feel. Smith's depictions of
night-time have an enigmatic quality, inviting listeners on an atmospheric journey
but all the while pointing to something greater.
Smith's work moves swiftly through genres, driven by her unique artistry. A City
Music Foundation artist, she has received commissions from Manchester
Collective and Opera North, as well as Manchester Jazz Festival and Jazz North.
As co-creator of theatre company Ulita, she also creates collaborative pieces that
blend theatre, music and visual arts. 'Friends with Monsters' continues that
theatrical drive - "I'm a very natural storyteller, I just love to tell stories. I find
myself weaving everyday events into tales that are very narratively pleasing."
Set over the course of a single evening, 'Friends with Monsters' explores changing
states of insomnia, informed by Smith's own sleepless nights. It's realised in four
distinct sections; each is introduced by a scene-setting interlude. Delving deeper
into the dreamy world of Smith's storyland rewards greatly.