A fresh voice is beginning to be heard in the Welsh independent music scene. The Cardiff-based group Plant are set to make their debut with the launching of their first single, “Ursula”, on August 15 and then with their self-titled debut album on September 5. The album will be released independently and will be available in digital form, on CD and as a limited-run vinyl edition.
Even though Plant is a new name, the project has actually taken many years to come about. The band originated during the pandemic as a result of a remote collaboration between songwriter Spencer Segelov and producer and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Tudor Edwards. While they were working from home during the lockdown period, Segelov would send over bare-bones song ideas and Edwards would then turn them into complete recordings, playing all the instruments himself. The creative process was almost entirely based on trust and instinct, which enabled each song to take on unexpected developments.
Instead of sticking to a strict plan, the two decided to go with spontaneity. Edwards was given full liberty to rework the original material, which led to music that combines folk, indie rock and experimental elements to produce something that is both close-hearted and unpredictable. What started out as simple song ideas soon evolved into atmospheric pieces filled with hazy synths, meandering melodies and earthy, organic instruments.
The band’s first single, “Ursula”, gives listeners a glimpse of Plant’s unique musical style. Rather than settling comfortably within a single genre, the song involves subtle experimentation alongside a emotional honesty which seems very personal. It shows the cooperative spirit that is characteristic of the project, with the songwriting and production always altering each other.
The album to come looks at a wide variety of deep aspects of human experience, with the lyrics dealing with the end of a long-term relationship, the letdown of dreams that never came true, reflections on the end of the world and the idea of being able to find hope in new beginnings. Several of the songs arose as a result of a nearly unconscious writing process in which the music came before the words and thus the thoughts and feelings came out naturally, things which would have stayed unsaid otherwise.
The two musicians each contribute a wide variety of musical influences to the project; Spencer Segelov is inspired by artists including Lump, Dirty Projectors, Mercury Rev, Bill Callahan and Rufus Wainwright, whereas Daniel Tudor Edwards based his work on Neil Young’s Ditch Trilogy when developing the album’s textured and free-flowing production. The result is a sound which seems familiar but at the same time wonderfully original.
By the time ‘Ursula’ has come out in August and the complete album follows a short while after, Plant will be presenting themselves as one of Wales’ most interesting new independent groups. The fact that their first album shows a preference for genuine songwriting and creative exploration rather than keeping up with trends means that they should be watched in the alternative music scene.
One of the most impressive kinds of music that has appeared in recent years has been the result of people working together from a distance, which shows that being physically separated need not stop creativity. Plant’s first album is yet another instance of how artists can turn isolation into something imaginative, the opportunity afforded by collaborating from a distance helping to produce a sound that seems both natural and surprising.
You can connect on Instagram @Plant_music_wales
Stream ‘Ursula’ Single here: on.soundcloud.com/NQaK5k3QeJGNy57Bcr
