aaamusic | On 06, Aug 2011

‘AND HER HEAD’/‘IMPECCABLE’

OUT SEPTEMBER 5 ON SOTONES RECORDS

“It’s so lovely when you discover something genuinely beautiful” – Q Music

”Beautiful stuff” – Wears the Trousers Magazine | “I’m utterly blown away by her” – The405

On September 5^th, Southampton-based singer and multi-instrumentalist (and former Irrepressibles member) Anja McCloskey releases her new single, ‘And Her Head’/ ‘Impeccable,’ through Sotones Records.

Featuring David Miatt (Thomas Tantrum) on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Oliver Austin (label mates, The Moulettes) on drums, both songs were recorded in the Victorian Quaker Hall in Southampton and mixed and produced by Anja’s husband Andy Harris (Haunted Stereo). “The recording has a very natural sound,” says Anja. “We tried to capture the feel of the location and did very little in terms of effects. We wa nted them to be organic, but still grandiose in their sound.”

With a multitude of instruments including drums, violin, acoustic and electric guitar, ‘And Her Head’ slowly builds around Anja’s striking vocals and accordion, before its dramatic conclusion with the enigmatic final line “And she’s swirling through the air, to the ground.”

Inspired by a tragic event in her grandfather’s life, ‘And Her Head’ clearly captures the humanity of a folk song, but Anja is hesitant to label it as traditional folk. “I didn’t grow up or learn in a folk environment at all,” says Anja. “The accordion is obviously a folk instrument and I have been exposed to a lot of folk-inspired music since living in the UK, but my music owes just as much to classical.”

Don’t miss the stunning B-side ‘Impeccable,’ a wistful love song that Anja says plays on innate fears, “I felt it needed a different instrumentation to take us out of our comfort zone,” explains Anja. “I wanted to move away from the natural sound I usually work with, so experimented with an electronic keyboard/organ. It’s an unusual composition for me.”

The Potted History:

Half-American, half-German and raised in Northern Germany, Anja grew up listening to her grandfather playing the accordion, picking up the instrument herself at the age of 5. By 11, she had joined an accordion orchestra in Elmshorn, Germany, where she remained until 19. “I’ve always loved the accordion,” says Anja. “It has great texture and is very dynamic. Plus, when I moved to the UK, I realised there aren’t that many accordion players around, so it feels kind of special.”

With influences including Abigail Washburn, Rufus Wainwright and Sharon Van Etten, Anja McCloskey is already a relative veteran of the music scene for her tender years. She has gained a raft of experience playing with avant-garde performance orchestra The Irrepressibles and folk-rock trailblazers Haunted Stereo, with whom she composed ‘Cross the Sea,’ a Q Magazine Track of the Day. Anja released her first solo EP ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ late last year, winning over the likes of God Is in TV, Wears The Trousers and Drunken Werewolf Magazine – and is currently putting the finishing touches to her debut album, expected early 2012.

As a solo singer, Anja has played alongside the likes of US singer Allie Moss, Thomas Truax, Skinny Lister and The Phantom Band. With Haunted Stereo, she supported Badly Drawn Boy, Field Music, Thomas Tantrum, Micachu and The Shapes whilst with The Irrepressibles, she performed alongside The Guillemots, The Puppini Sisters and Paloma Faith. Anja has also recently returned from a 9-date US tour, travelling across 10 States. Her tour diary will be available free, with hard copies of the single, along with a compilation of music she discovered on tour. Anja is also playing solo shows across the UK this summer. Catch her live at:

Aug 14        Abney Cemetery, Stoke Newington – 2pm

Aug 17        The Arthouse Southampton,

Aug 19         The Bargate Gallery Southampton

Aug 20        Yorkshire  House   Lancaster

Sep 10         Salisbury Arts Centre Salisbury

Sep 11         The Old Queen’s Head Islington, London

Sep 14          Latest Music Bar  Brighton

Sep 17         The Soul Cellar Southampton

Sep 18         SXSC Festival @ The Railway Winchester

Sep 24         Weekender Festival Southampton

‘And Her Head’/ ‘Impeccable,’ is out September 5, on Sotones Records – www.anjamccloskey.co.uk