English folk songstress Marika Hackman has already released three stunning EPs, and now she’s readying the release of her debut album, We Slept At Last. Today, we’re proud to be presenting the world premiere of a new track, Skin, the fourth to be unveiled from the album.
The gentle folk tune is a haunting peek into We Slept At Last. The intimacy of Hackman’s words are matched by equally intimate instrumentation, delicate guitar and brooding textures. It’s the most gentle song to come from the album so far and follows the profound Animal Fear, which has been picking up spins on triple j.
“Skin is, in essence, a love song, although I’m loathe to describe anything I write in that way,” Hackman said of the song’s theme. “I knew it was going to be a duet before I wrote it and it’s the imagined conversation between myself and the object of my desires, then coming to the conclusion that I’m not capable of loving so freely any more, and feeling completely isolated. Chirpy stuff.”
She added that it will act as a kind of “interlude” on the forthcoming the album, which she describes as sonically diverse. “I was worried that it might stick out like a sore thumb but actually I think the record is so diverse anyway that it doesn’t come across like that,” said Hackman. “I love that fact that we lifted lots of the instrumental lines straight off the demo, which I recorded in my bedroom at my parents house, so it feels even more personal in that sense.”
The album was crafted with producer Charlie Andrew, who worked on Alt-J‘s An Awesome Wave and the follow-up This Is All Yours, and also produced Matt Corby‘s Resolution.
Alongside the album, Hackman has compiled a 28-page art book with photographer Glen Erler. She’ll be exhibiting those photos as well as debuting the album live in full at Camden’s Cob Gallery. We can only hope that, if she makes it to Australian shores, she’ll perform the album in similarly intimate settings.
The debut album by the 22-year-old Brit is due to be released on Friday, 13th February via Sony. Stream Skin below.
