Jo Bywater is a notable musical phenomenon that has newly appeared on the scene. Hailing from Yorkshire and based in Liverpool, Jo reaches out to a wider UK audience with the release of her new EP Cycle Grace Pulse Break. On the album Jo shows her multifaceted faces as musician and artist having designed the cover art as well.
Already her telling name denotes musicality; it resembles movement, pastoral landscape and a grounded connection to nature. On Cycle Grace Pulse Break Jo Bywater aptly reflects her alias in her music.
The songs expose her empathy with bluesy folk-tunes and portray the singer as a mature artist who knows her flaws and virtues yet knows how to play to the gallery. Hammering away on the guitar, Jo offers hoarse and energetic vocals, sometimes trying too hard to sound genuine and verging on affectedness, but she has a rocky and tasty ring to her voice.
Laced with tangible and intended rawness the guitar arrangements convey a passionate and dynamic musical drive that Jo deliberately keeps gutsy and thankfully far from smooth or slick.
Review by: Judith Wiemers
Photo Credit: Hayley Blackledge
Video
Tracks