Amy Thatcher (Kathryn Tickell, The Shee, Monster Ceilidh Band) has teamed up with multi-instrumentalist Fran Knowles, specialising in drums, percussion, and keys for a new project and debut release.
Amy delivered her stunning “Solo” album back in 2019, which we reviewed here. Her playing was described as playful and full of beautiful, quirky melodies, unexpected rhythmic turns and an overall sense of joy and spontaneity. Later this month, she has a new 4-track EP out titled ‘Let What’s In, Out’ (17 November).
In the press for ‘Let What’s In, Out’, she explains her reasons for the new solo EP – Firstly, to share her experience of being a mother to premature babies, in the best way she knew how with notes, not words. Words cannot fully describe all her feelings, then or now. The fact that it has taken nearly two years to do that is part of the second reason; the first year of raising her twins has, to say the very least, been difficult. And this is the same for all new parents, by the way, particularly mothers – it’s demanding of your time and your energy, but it also denies you of being you, whatever made you feel like you have taken a back seat. That is a really hard thing to endure consistently for a year. The words Let What’s In, Out has become her very simple rule for relearning how to be…me, be creative and be at peace with your identity. Mothering three children is something she enjoys doing, yet Amy also enjoys making and performing music and has learnt, with some struggle, to make time for that.
That EP is quite a powerhouse offering over just the space of four tracks, as is this new track with Fran Knowles – Keep Your Eye on the White Ball, also our Tune of the Day. Fran’s percussion skills are beautifully intuitive, and she’s no stranger to progressive exploring, which makes the possibilities of this duo so refreshing and exciting – together, they have a mesmerising energy that will be great to witness live.
Watch them performing Keep Your Eye on the White Ball, recorded and filmed locally at Ginger Studios.
The duo will be in the studio recording new material in the Spring & on the road with their ‘White Ball’ Tour in the Autumn of 2022.
More here: https://amythatcher.co.uk/