Our Song of the Day comes from Rozi Plain with her latest single ‘Swing Shut’, from her upcoming album ‘What A Boost’ on Memphis Industries, coming 5th April 2019. The single is Rozi’s sliding doors moment as she sings “if the door swings shut then we would both be stuck then what would we do?” over a shuffling jazzy beat. Says Rozi of Swing Shut:
“Swing shut was started in LA with Chris Cohen. Continued in London and Glasgow and finished in Chicago. I think it thinks about doors opening and closing between people. Responsibilities to do with keeping the doors open or knowing when to close them. Who’s keeping the key? Who’s kicking out the door wedge? Who’s haunting who? Relationships changing, leaving and moving. Opening up and shutting down. Wanting some real talk. Getting real talk and not wanting it. The feelings of urgency to hold on when things might feel like they’re slipping away. The worry of being misunderstood. Trying to keep calm.”
Refined during a year spent touring the world playing bass in This Is The Kit, ‘What A Boost’ nurtures its homely roots and then blooms into a record that isn’t strictly about life on the road but is undoubtedly, and beautifully, shaped by it. Textural, repetitive, propulsive, the whole piece plays out like a soundtrack to the world flying by; “I feel like you do a lot of looking back, looking forward, looking at your life, and looking out of the window.” Rozi reveals.
‘What A Boost’ is also the product of the singular spaces within which it was created. First, there was the Old Dentist’s Studio around the corner from Rozi’s home in Clapton, an RAF base in Suffolk and a day off in L.A recording with Chris Cohen. A week of one-off collaborative performances as part of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner of The National’s PEOPLE in Berlin opened up the songs. Then back in London, the album really came together at The Total Refreshment Centre, a somewhat legendary fixture in the flourishing London jazz scene and the hub of Plain’s creative world.
You can catch Rozi and her band boosting around the UK on these dates below:
Rozi Plain Live Dates
24th April 2019, Brighton, Hope and Ruin
25th April 2019, Bristol, Southbank Club SOLD OUT
26th April 2019, Northampton, The Black Prince
27th April 2019, Reading, Are You Listening Festival
28th April 2019, Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
2nd May 2019, Manchester, YES
3rd May 2019, Glasgow, Blue Arrow
5th May 2019, Leicester, Handmade Festival
6th May 2019, Bath, Komedia
7th May 2019, London, Oslo Hackney
29 Aug – 1 Sep, Larmer Tree Gardens, End of the Road Festival