NEW ALBUM VISIONS OUT NOW
“The Stevie Nicks of Folk” is quite a label to live up to. Thanks Mr Mark Radcliffe, although clearly meant as a compliment. Whatever the expectation, the UK country/Americana market is a stronger place for Alex Hart’s presence.
Martin Barre (featuring on the Summery single Strangers And Lovers), Seth Lakeman and Benji Kirkpatrick (whose own new solo album is also imminent) all make guest appearances. Alex of course, is familiar enough with Seth and Benji from being a regular touring partner in the terrific trio to bring their contribution to play, subtly enhancing her songs without overpowering the quality of the songwriting.
Visions is a set of songs co-written with Josiah J Manning, who also produces – a deceptively easy collection that lulls with a gentle acoustic palette; peaceful and organic, yet as Alex says, it’s also an album about “feeling powerful and overcoming hard situations and difficult hurdles.”
Give Yourself is a choice opening cut. The first of several featuring Seth, it’s what you might expect of the heady and potent combination of Hart/Lakeman. The rustic rumble of wooden instruments sets the tone as Seth adds an aching fiddle to Fix This (as well as possibly some percussive banjo decoration). Taking a more measured tempo, amidst the feel of resignation, there’s a steely determination about the lyric and a rare, almost unnoticeable hit of percussion adding backbone.
Making good use of her musical connections, Benji cameos with a ringing contribution to Blackbird. Another lovely and lively acoustic piece evolving from the period of isolation that contains some nice flourishes – listen out carefully just after the “walk down to the garden” line. “If I can’t see you again, I don’t know what I’m gonna do,” she laments on Losing You that in a less is more arrangement that revisits and contemplates the feeling of isolation and loneliness.
Old Man shares a title and vibe with the Neil Young song and for anyone who doesn’t wig, it IS the Neil Young song. It stirs the thought that she might strike (a heart of) gold with an unplugged set of classic NY numbers. It’s perfectly placed to segue neatly into the NY-esque Wild, which given the familiar Lakeman sawing away at the fiddle accompaniments alongside an intense blues inflected arrangement, provides an album highlight. Talk of wicked and cruel scavengers, and posing the question “Do you believe in a fairytale end?” darken the mood. Brooding and desolate, it sits within the Hollis Brown book of desperation that’s the ‘devil at the crossroads’ antidote to some of the more Summery and carefree moments offered on Visions. Can’t beat a bit of menace and threat.
And with that in mind, the calm after the storm, the sunshine after the rain of Tilly’s Song ensures we’re brought to a fitful conclusion. Maybe visions of a return to the peaceful Devon countryside, accompanied by a dreamy and warm “I know you so well, you’ll always be around.” A fine place to sign off on an album that’s a constant box of delights.
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NEW SINGLE
FIX THIS FEAT SETH LAKEMAN
My new single featuring the beautiful violin playing from Seth Lakeman is OUT NOW!
I wrote this song on my Banjo, it’s the first single off the new album (which is due for release THIS SEPTEMBER alongside my UK tour - check the tour page for dates.
You can listen to this song on Spotify, iTunes, Deezer…. whatever online platform you use.
Alex Hart and Seth Lakeman unite their talents on the captivating track “Fix This”.
Melodic Harmony and collaborative brilliance: Alex Hart and Seth Lakeman Illuminate ‘Fix This’ with their artistic alliance.
"Fix This" by Alex Hart featuring Seth Lakeman is a captivating and well-crafted collaboration that showcases the immense talent of both artists. Hailing from the Southwest UK, Alex Hart is a singer-songwriter with a soulful and powerful voice, while fellow Southwest musican Seth Lakeman is a highly accomplished musician known for his virtuosic playing. Together, they create a musical partnership that elevates "Fix This" to new heights.
The song opens with an enchanting instrumental arrangement, combining acoustic guitars, delicate percussion, banjo, bass, and Seth’s unmistakable, and haunting violin. The production quality is top-notch, with a meticulously balanced mix that allows each instrument to shine through. The attention to detail is evident, creating a rich sonic landscape that perfectly sets the stage for Alex Hart's mesmerizing vocals.
Speaking of vocals, Alex Hart delivers an exceptional performance in "Fix This." Her voice is both powerful and vulnerable, carrying a raw and emotional quality that resonates deeply with the listener. While Seth Lakeman's vocal contributions may not be present on this track, his musical prowess shines through in his instrumental contributions. His skilful playing adds depth and intricacy to the arrangement, enhancing the overall musical experience.
The lyrics in "Fix This" are thoughtfully crafted, exploring themes of personal growth, resilience, and the pursuit of finding resolution. Alex's poetic storytelling shines through, as she weaves vivid imagery and introspective introspections into the fabric of the song. The collaboration with Seth Lakeman adds another dimension to the track, with his musical contributions seamlessly integrating into the composition.
The song's structure is well-crafted, with seamless transitions between verses, choruses, and any additional sections. The melodies are infectious and memorable, with hooks that linger in the listener's mind long after the song ends. The arrangement strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and depth, allowing Alex's vocals to shine while providing enough musical intricacies to captivate the ear.
"Fix This" showcases the musical chemistry between Alex Hart and Seth Lakeman. Their combined talents create a powerful and captivating listening experience that leaves a lasting impression. The song stands as a testament to their artistry and demonstrates the beauty of collaboration in music.
"Fix This" is a remarkable collaboration that exemplifies the talents of both artists. From the captivating instrumental arrangement to the soul-stirring vocals and introspective lyrics, every element comes together to create a deeply moving and memorable experience. It's a testament to the power of collaboration and the ability of music to connect on a profound level. “Fix This” is unmistakeably Alex Hart, “Fix This” is unmistakeably Seth Lakeman.
REVIEW BY MNPR MAGAZINE 2023
BIO
Described by BBC Radio 2 presenter Mark Radcliffe as “the Stevie Nicks of Folk”. The south-west based singer/songwriter Alex Hart has just released ‘VISIONS’ her most exciting and anticipated album to date.
At 18 Alex was noticed by producer Neil & Cass Stainton who honed her talent, worked with her during her early career and co-wrote and recorded her debut album ‘On This Day’. Alex also worked closely with musician and songwriter Barney Dine from Torbay with whom she co-wrote many songs from this album, songs afterwards and gigged extensively. During this time, she was able to grow as a musician and perfect her craft.
From this she collaborated with electronic duo Electronic Youth on a cover of Angie Stones’ “I Wish I Didn’t Miss You” which had huge global radio success reaching No.2 in the Music Week Dance Charts and was supported by Pete Tong on BBC Radio 1. This recognition spearheaded a run of high-profile festivals performances and a slot opening for UK folk sensation Turin Brakes at the Lyme Regis Folk festival. Alex’s opening performances landed her two record deals, as she was quickly snapped up by US label OK!Good Records and Right Track Records UK. Alex started working with Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer Terry Britten (famous for “What’s Love Got To Do With It” for Tina Turner) and went on to release the single ‘Life Saver’.
Following the success of Alex’s debut album, her voice and musicianship caught the eye of legendary Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre, who asked Alex to be a part of his band as a musician and vocalist for their European and international tour dates. Alex has performed and toured all over the UK/Europe with the band and has embarked on many international US tours.
Alex also collaborates and performs alongside the critically acclaimed Devon born folk singer Seth Lakeman. Alex’s voice as well her multi-instrumental playing features heavily on his brand-new album. The single “Higher We Aspire” received huge BBC Radio 2 support, and Alex performed the song live on BBC Breakfast TV. Alex tours extensively with Seth as a duo, trio and part of the band. Keep a lookout for gigs across the UK.
As well as a busy touring schedule, Alex is constantly working on new music ready for new releases in 2024, including her new album ‘VISIONS’ which has just been released alongside a successful UK tour.
You can now buy a CD, Vinyl or download the new album ‘Visions’ on Bandcamp.
“This album has been a real labor of love for me. Each song tells a story about a certain time in my life, some reflecting on relationships with friends, family and my career. I wanted this album to resonate with others, hopefully helping them through the difficult hurdles we face. This album is about feeling powerful and overcoming hard situations. One song, however, ‘Blackbird’ which features well-known folk artist Benji Kirkpatrick on Bouzouki, is all about lockdown. Everytime I walked around the park near my home I felt like the blackbird was following me. It was a constant reminder of my family and how much I missed seeing them. I’ve been very lucky to have some amazing guest appearances on my new record, including Seth Lakeman and Martin Barre from Jethro Tull. They are great friends of mine, I have toured the UK, Europe and the USA with them and they have contributed highly to my journey in the music industry. The album artwork was created by Phil James, an artist from Plymouth who is a dear friend of mine. He has captured the sentiment completely. Myself and Andy, my husband got engaged near Yosemite in 2022, so using the wanderlust photo was fitting for this project, marking this poignant time in my life. Writing and recording with Josiah at Momentum Studios was also such a highlight, it took a few months to gather the material together, time spent alone first in my home studio and then bringing the ideas to Josiah, where we would rework the songs together. We both played many of the tracks live and then overdubbed different instruments. I wanted to get the most organic sound as possible and I think we made a great team. Visions is definitely my best work so far. I am so proud of this album, it is completely self-funded and it was so special to have complete control over every aspect. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
Alex Hart is not only a talented vocalist, but an accomplished musician too, 2024 is set to be her most successful and exciting year yet.
"Alex Hart is set to make a global impact"
THE GUARDIAN
"Alex Hart is not only a talented vocalist, but an accomplished musician too. Alex has grown as a musician over the years and is continually adding new instruments to her armoury."
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