STACK April 2016 Issue 138

76 / 98

play everything on the piano, ‘cause that’s
how they started initially.”
She admits that it can be weird to
take herself to emotional places when
performing – “I quite like the title track
Beautiful Lies, but it’s so intimate, so that’s
kind of scary because you hear every single
word” – but the release so clearly meshes
this mature musician’s head and heart that
it seems she truly isn’t afraid to open up to
her growing sea of fans.
"W e don't want perfection, because it's boring," says Bleached
frontwoman Jennifer Clavin. "We want to make music that's as
real as life." You can't poke a stick at the sophomore effort the LA three-
piece have come up with: Welcome the Worms sees vocalist/guitarist
Jen, her sister Jessie (guitar), and bassist Micayla Grace combing through
creative and personal mess-ups and triumphs with an honesty that's far
more confident in its groove than the band's former, more impatient and
restless sound.
piano that can meander like a stream or pound
like a waterfall, particularly when the beats
come in.
Beautiful Lies’ skeleton and skin comprises
synths, strings and dance-influenced drums:
“Sometimes I imagine the drums when I’m
writing, but it depends,” she says thoughtfully.
“I can write melodies fast, so sometimes they
just come out and in my head it’s obvious
what it’s going to be: like a ballad or something
with drums – and then I can continue writing
with that in mind.” But the album’s veins are
undeniably filled with Birdy’s piano. “Most of
the time I just write a song which will be played
on the piano with singing. Most of them, even
the ones on the album that have drums, I can
BIRDY
If you’re going to record a cover of Bon Iver’s
Skinny Love, you’re going to want to know
what you’re doing lest you arouse the rage (or
mirth) of millions of people. It’d also be ideal if
you were older than 14.
In 2011, Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer
van den Bogaerde was not older than 14. But
she recorded Skinny Love, and upon its release
into the world it steadily ascended European
charts and went six times platinum in Australia.
Now 19 years old, the singer and pianist – who
has gone by the nickname ‘Birdy’ since she
was a child – has just released her third album,
and the levels of poise and spirit she’s revealing
are up near the Florence Welch spot on the
spectrum – but it all started with that one little
piano workbook.
"I had one of those books that had loads of
little songs in it, and exercises, like Pat-a-Cake
or something,” she says warmly. “And then
finally at the end of the book you got to this one
good one, called Swan On A Lake or something
silly. It wasn’t anything great but it was kind
of nice and had a tune to it. I was like, ‘Oh my
God, I can play.’ You get to a point where it’s
kind of exciting to be able to play rather than
just boring practising.” From those beginnings,
Birdy has created a sound which balances a
delicate vocal intensity with beautifully-etched
BLEACHED
Welcome
The Worms
by Bleached
is out now
through Inertia.
visit MUSIC REVIEWS
04 APRIL 2016
MUSIC
With sessions for The Who’s fifth
album, Who’s Next , underway, the
band embarks upon a series of ‘secret’
unannounced UK gigs during the summer
of 1971. On Sunday July 4, The Who are
driving from Sheffield to Leicester for a
show at De Montford Hall that evening.
Passing through former mining town
Easington Colliery, in County Durham, rock photographer Ethan Russell spots
a concrete obelisk protruding from a slag heap. He asks the four members of
The Who to urinate against the monolith, but not everyone needs to go. So the
photographer collects rainwater in empty film canisters to complete the job.
Russell captures the band turning away from the concrete pillar, pulling up
their zips, and the iconic photo is chosen for the album artwork. Who’s Next is
released on August 14, 1971 to critical acclaim.
WHAT'S THE STORY?
We have a look back at the fascinating tales
behind some of our favourite album covers.
This month:
Who's Next, The Who
INTERVIEW
continued
Beautiful Lies by Birdy
is out now through Warner.