Sleeve NOTES: LEAD heavy soul
“Lead Heavy Soul was born out of a collection of songs that we had been working on and playing in the months before the world suddenly came to a stop in March 2020. That was frustrating as a new rhythm section made up of Ant Wellman on bass and Nick Streeter on drums and backing vocals had joined since our last studio album in 2018. We were all really enjoying working together and looking forward to live shows and recording again.
After the initial lockdown in March 2020, things seemed to get back to some normality in the UK despite live music still being on hold, so plans were made to book some studio time in late 2020. We began recording at Soup Studios which is on a converted lightship moored on the Thames in London – just as a second lockdown was declared!
Thanks to strict studio protocols we were able to carry on (although London was like “tumbleweed” city). We recorded live “in the round” as traditionally as possible, with a lot of the live tracks being cut to 16 track tape and by April 2021 we had managed to put together the album and were able to add additional instrumentation by some great players who could record remotely from other studios in their own lockdown “bubbles”.
We really enjoyed making this album and we hope you enjoy listening to it. We will always remember those sessions for the weirdness of driving to the studio through the empty streets of London!”
Produced by Graham Loft & Berin Riley
Additional arrangements by Nick Streeter and Ant Wellman
Recorded at Soup Studios, Canary Wharf, London. Engineered by Simon Trought
Mixed by Wesley Graham at Marshman Galactic in Memphis, TN
Mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering, Nashville, TN
Band BIO
The short version :-)
Mashville is a UK based band which loosely falls under the umbrella of folk or Americana but with distinctly original and very European flavours to the band's music and sound. The band has released four albums so far, the last one being Lead Heavy Soul which was released 28th February 2022 and before that, Another Place which was released on vinyl in 2018.
A preview single, She's Only My Friend, was released on 23rd December 2021 and gained national and international radio play, including Another Country with Ricky Ross on BBC.
Band bio
The longer version
MASHVILLE is a Folk, Roots & Americana band based in Kent, UK originally founded in 2012 by Berin Riley and Graham Loft, who have been the band’s songwriters through three albums to date and with a fourth, Lead Heavy Soul, released on 28th February 2022.
A preview track, She's Only My Friend, was released as a single on 23rd December 2021.
Riley and Loft are strongly influenced by American alt-country and roots music, (although the band's name was actually inspired by an Alabama 3 track!) and their music is inspired by artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Ryan Adams, Nick Cave, Johnny Cash and Wilco. The band has a unique sound - described by reviewers as bringing to mind hints of Al Stewart, The Blue Nile, Steely Dan and Dire Straits yet managing to create a completely recognisable style and sound.
The full band is made up of Graham Loft on lead vocals & acoustic guitar, Berin Riley on guitar, Nick Streeter on drums, percussion & harmonies and Ant Wellman on bass.
"every song contains beautifully written and often quite riveting stories that range through the various aspects of love and life but in a variety of incredibly diverse circumstances and locations".
Americana Roots UK
“Why have I never heard of this band?” Chris Difford (Squeeze) Feb 2016
The band has been building a following with regular radio play and has appeared at gigs and festivals throughout the UK and Europe.
www.mashvilleband.com
The following is a downloadable preview of the new album 'Lead Heavy Soul' and includes a downloadable link to the single 'She's Only My Friend' (23/12/21)