Auto Harp is the forthcoming single from exciting new Oxford band Bedd, a musical project lead by singer, songwriter and producer Jamie Hyatt. Jamie is a longstanding Oxford musician known for his previous bands The Family Machine, The Daisies and Medal as well as his score for the film Elstree 1976. Auto Harp is accompanied by a beautifully atmospheric video by filmmaker Liam Martin, shot on location at Port Talbot beach in South Wales.
Auto Harp was originally composed by Jamie for a film project that never came to fruition, and it’s no surprise given the cinematic quality to the instrumentation which includes reverb-drenched guitars, musical saw, analogue synths and musical toys which are deftly woven to evoke the sky-scraping grandeur and magic of acts such as Mercury Rev and Grandaddy, whilst still maintaining a knowing, deadpan delivery that nods to British Indie heroes such as Blur. Talking about the single, Jamie explains “I wanted to compose a track that leaves the listener feeling simultaneously melancholy and up-lifted. Auto Harp is both intimate and expansive at the same time and is perhaps a perfect encapsulation of our band’s intent, to both draw the listener into a quiet conversation and then take them out into the splendour of the universe”. When asked about the band name Jamie says “the word bedd is Welsh for grave and I liked the idea of drawing a connection between the bed and the grave as the grave is the ultimate resting place”.
Alongside the exemplary talents of Jamie as main songwriter and vocalist, he is ably supported by a range of celebrated local Oxford musical talents. These talented individuals include bandmates from his previous project The Family Machine in the shape of bass player Darren Fellerdale and guitarist Neil Durbridge. Also, in the mix are guitarist Tom Sharp, electronic musician and producer Tim Midlen, also known as The Mancles of Acid, and drummer Sam Spacsman. Auto Harp was recorded and produced by Jamie with the band at Glasshouse studios in rural Oxfordshire and mixed and mastered by Robert Stevenson. Auto Harp follows the debut Bedd single I Whoo Yeah, which was released on a compilation via local Oxford tape label Beanie Tapes and received support from BBC Oxford Introducing. With plenty more tracks in the pipeline it’s only a matter of time before Bedd start reaching plenty more ears far beyond their native Oxfordshire.
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