New York City-based ambient artist Emma Houton has arrived just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Don’t get the wrong idea, her work is far removed from the holiday’s, shall we say, debauchery, but there’s no denying that it’s deeply rooted with her Irish heritage.
Raised Methodist by an Irish father, her approaching debut album, The Bath, sees her mix her religious experiences with her passion for Irish folklore, resulting in a truly bewitching, gorgeous sonic tapestry. Entirely composed of her vocals, the album was born, originally, with intentions for eight voices, designed to be a choir piece.
When the pandemic put a halt to those plans, Houton decided to supply all eight voices herself, intertwining them using a loop pedal, readily bringing earlier Julianna Barwick to mind. On the record, she says:
“The Bath’ is an exploration of the voice: I play with how voices can blend and separate, and dive into the unique ways in which the human voice interacts with audio effects.
“The lyrical themes of drowning, baptism and purification are reflected in the album’s sonics through enveloping delays, cavernous reverb, and a general sense of being completely immersed in sound.”
Check out the project’s lead single, “Watershed” below or on streaming platforms.
The Bath is out on May 21 via Trapped Animal Records. You can find Emma on Twitter and Instagram.
