Martha Tilston, formerly one half of folk-duo Mouse and a Radio 2 ‘Best Newcomer’ nominee, is the daughter of Steve Tilston and former Tru Thoughts, Zero 7 and J-Spool collaborator. Martha and her team of collaborators coined Nomad when writing during improvised jam sessions with her collaborators in an isolated cottage in Cornwall. Tilston has announced details of her new single ‘Stories’, the second single to be taken from her album Nomad, via Martha’s own Squiggly Records label.

Nomad stands as Tilston’s most compelling work to date, an album full of experimentation and impulse. The album was born whilst recording 2014’s much praised album The Sea: ensconced at a cliffside cottage in Cornwall, Martha and her frequent collaborators Matt Tweed, Nick Marshall and Tim Cotterell, amongst other new faces, would pick up instruments in the late hours and begin to experiment with Martha’s other ideas. Often just blueprints, the outcome of these sessions arising from spontaneity, experimentation and maturing songwriting was to become Nomad.

Across the album, musical arrangements realm from the pinhead intimacy of acoustic guitar and voice to the expansive electric guitar, slide guitar, rolling beats, deep bass, banjo and string arrangements. There are subtle undertones of old country music flittering throughout this album, suggestions of rock and pop and a good dose of stripped back acoustic cinema for the listener to submerge in.

Thematically Nomad explores various elemental features of existence – first single ‘Nomad Blood’ invites the listener to make a fire outside and lie back, looking up at the stars around and embrace the environment in which we live. ‘Green Moon’ which originally began as an acoustic song opens up slowly, building in its musical arrangement and drawing on the vibratto of violins and mandolins. Speaking about the song, Martha says: “We are all a hair’s width away from feeling either a part of, or outside of any experience or relationship. Do we stay forever outside looking in, never daring to reveal and leave ourselves vulnerable, or do we say; screw it, so you told my secrets to everyone, I will survive and I will trust again.”

Elsewhere the album points towards loss and guidance on ‘Little Arrow’ and on ‘Stories, it begins to ask questions of how we use older, deeper tales to advise and reflect upon our more personal novellas. Martha touches upon the conquests that musicians and artists face on ‘Climbing Gates’ before exploring the regaining of self-confidence that she experienced as a female in the music industry on ‘Fish Tank’. Ultimately Nomad examines the human condition through filters of storytelling and reflection, rarely pointing to answers but instead leaning upon the moniker of ambiguity. It is an album of self-discovery rather than an album of answers: a true nomadic journey.

Martha Tilston has grown up immersed in music from a young age. Her singer-songwriter father Steve Tilston and renowned folk singer Maggie Boylge (step-mother) were obvious influences, with their musician friends Bert Jansch, John Rebourn and John Martin often gathering and singing in the family kitchen. Martha’s own musical journey has taken her from the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury to touring the far reaches of the globe. Originally one half of folk duo Mouse (alongside Nick Marshall), Martha often shared the stage with the likes of Kate Tempest and Damien Rice before earning a nomination from the BBC for best newcomer and featuring on the Zero 7 album, Yeah Ghost. Following the release of Nomad, Martha will have released seven albums to date on her own label Squiggly Records building up a large audience worldwide.

Listen to Nomad here 

Live dates;

Kent, Small World Spring Gather - May 27th

Bath, Shindig Weekender - May 28th

Birmingham, Hare & Hounds - June 8th

Guildford, Boileroom - June 9th

Frome, The Wheatsheaves - June 15th

Shrewsbury, Severn Tavern - June 16th

Penzance, The Acorn - June 21st 

Totnes, Acoustic Haven @ HillyFields - June 24th

Petty Crimes is the second studio album from Kill For Eden. Blending a classic hard-rock swagger with polished, radio-ready production, Petty Crimes sees the London quartet at their finest. Kill for Eden are purveyors of classic hard rock, radio ready riffs and powerful female vocals. Based in London, but with a distinctly international flavour (two Brits, an Australian and a drummer from Siberia), they have been making high-octane heavy rock together since 2011.

The band consist of Australian singer Lyla D’Souza, Dave Garfield Brown, a veteran guitarist who has toured alongside acts including Joe Cocker and Rammstein, bassist Julian Palmer and drummer Wally Miroshnikov from Siberia. To date the group have released two EPs as well as their self titled debut album which came out in 2013 and had extensive coverage including XFM, Kerrang! Radio, Bloodstock Radio and on numerous independent stations across Europe. They have also appeared on stages including the legendary Hard Rock Cafe, Cockermouth Rock Festival, Camden Rocks and more.

From the defiant 'Woke Up Alone' to the timely 'Brave New World' , and featuring a cover of Republica’s 'Ready to Go', the twelve tracks are delivered with Lyla D’Souza’s inimitable vocal power. The album also features vocalist Doogie White (Ritchie Blackmore, Michael Schenker) on ‘Halley’s Comet’ and a guitar solo courtesy of Dave Colwell (Bad Company) on ‘Toe The Line’ .

Kill For Eden - Petty Crimes Tracklisting

1 // Burn Out

2 // Woke Up Alone

3 // Army Of Ants

4 // Love You So

5 // Give Into Me

6 // Pay The Piper

7 // Toe The Line

8 // Halley’s Comet

9 // Sticks Man

10 // Brave New World

11 // Ocean Breeze 

12 // Ready To Go