Soaking It All Up
She may be only 16, but chances are you’ll have heard of Bridie Monds-Watson before long...
Colin Carberry, 11 Sep 2012
Bridie Monds-Watson isn’t a name you’d ever imagine encountering outside the pages of a novel by Dodie Smith or Somerville & Ross. This year, however, by sheer force of recommendation, it’s one that’s not only become familiar – it’s started to sound commonplace.
The Derry-born songwriter prefers to be known as Soak, and since the release of her second EP Sea Creatures, the hum of excitement initially generated by her debut four-track Trains has developed into a roar.
We talk of talent being ‘nurtured’, as if it’s something sea-shell fragile that needs to be kept in a pillowed box and placed on a shelf. And in some cases, indeed many, that’s the correct approach. Especially when, as it is here, you’re talking about a 16-year-old.
But Soak really isn’t going to help the ‘softly softly’ approach if she continues to produce music of such startling quality.
Lots of the recent singer-songwriter brood seem round-shouldered and aspire no higher than a slot on a mobile phone commercial. But with Soak – while the noise is subtle, and the mood low-key – all the evidence points to the presence of a confident and brave aesthetic. ‘Numb’ exhibits a mastery of mood not unlike a certain Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power), while ‘Sea Creatures’ manages to float like a Janie Ian tune, while all the time bearing a mournful and expertly delivered lyrical weight.
Caution is the watchword – for everyone’s sake. But Soak has laid some incredible foundations, and with clear heads in the background, we could be looking at something very special.
Another performer garnering attention of late is Katharine Philippa. And like Soak, her latest EP Fallen, is only going to spread the word further.
Again, any initial ‘wounded-wing’ scepticism is shooed off on a first listen. Like Soak too, these are quiet and measured songs, and as is the case with her near contemporary, Philippa seems in full command of the material.
For far too long, the Northern music scene gave every impression of being a boys’ club. Add these two to a list that now includes the likes of Silhouette and Allie Bradley, and you’ll see that’s clearly no longer the case.
Colin Carberry
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