EDINBURGH singer-songwriter Lewis McLaughlin has announced details of his debut album ‘Feel The Ground You Walk Upon’ – out via Andy Monaghan’s (Frightened Rabbit) label Monohands Records on 25th March.
Along with the news, McLaughlin has shared the album’s lead single ‘Wolf In The Woods’.
Known for blending traditional Scottish folk influences with the electro-indie of Sylvan Esso and Animal Collective, McLaughlin has created a warm, loving sound that is entirely his own. ‘Wolf In The Woods’ showcases this perfectly as he brings these two seemingly unlikely ends of the musical spectrum together effortlessly. Drum machines and light synths blend beautifully with accordion and fiddle – creating a rich, uplifting backdrop for his introspective songwriting to shine.
Speaking about the track, he said: “I wrote ‘Wolf In The Woods’ before I even knew what Anxiety was, but it was manifesting itself in me. It was quite a confusing and scary time for me, as I had all these unexplained symptoms and feelings.
“In an age of extreme Anxiety throughout the world, it can be pretty therapeutic to sing/shout about it. Anxiety can be an incredibly lonely thing to go through, but I’ve found that being open about it is so important and helpful to yourself and others around you. It seems so simple but literally just talking (to friends/family/professionals) about what’s going on is so beneficial, although it’s daunting taking that first step. It took me a long time anyway to open up.”
From complex personal feelings to life’s simple pleasures, Lewis McLaughlin is able to distil these experiences into a warm, misty-eyed tracks that are comforting and unifying in equal measure.
He will launch the album at The Hug & Pint on 26th March.
Listen below.
