We’ve a beautiful video premiere today from singer and multi-instrumentalist Nigel Bunner who goes by the name of Sugardrum. The story behind the song ‘Postcard’ may well resonate with many of you who have been to intimate folk festivals where there is a wishing tree, which, over the course of a long weekend, becomes adorned with ribbons upon which are written wishes. The first time I witnessed this was at Purbeck Folk Festival and reading them can bring out a mix of laughter, happiness and sorrow. This, along with finding, in his family home, a collection of handwritten postcards from the early 1900s is what inspired the video below.
The hidden words left on the back of postcards are depicted in the song Postcard by Sugardrum. A lost soul starts leaving their thoughts to their true love on the back of postcards. More and more cards are added by passersby adding their own hidden messages until it becomes a wall full of cards, each one with a heartfelt message hidden away behind the sea of colourful images.
It’s no real surprise, after listening to Postcard, that Sugardrum’s music has led to comparisons with Sufjan Stevens and Nick Drake. He has that feel and tone that Drake used major/minor chord progressions to create and he also transforms it into something all the more beautiful with delicate moving harmonies. The track features on his debut album ‘Postcards’ from which we’ll be featuring more music in our radio playlist over the coming weeks.
Each song tells a tale, be it fantasy – a magical trail under the stairs offers a glimpse into a future self, the hidden words written on postcards on a wall, a cat who tries to break free from its natural instinct to eat everything that moves – or the joy of taking the day off to play in a snow covered landscape.
First single ‘Choccy Rolls’ is a heartfelt account of watching a loved one lose words and memories as they succumb to dementia, and is in part based on Nigel’s own experience within his family.
The album will be accompanied by a limited edition book of short stories, each one written by Nigel and based on a song from the album.
The album will be available on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify etc and from the Sugardrum shop from 25th March. You can buy the CD version which comes in a full colour digisleeve packaging complete with lyrics booklet via the Sugardrum shop from that date, or come to the launch gig on 12th March at the Gallery Cafe, London where he’ll have copies for sale.