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Englishwoman Steph Sweet would have fit right in on the recent Sing Out! podcast focusing on British psych-folk. Like the classic artists Tom featured, Steph walks the line between trad-influenced singer-songwriter material and psychedelia, though in a clearly contemporary vein. Her song “The Grail,” from March, is quite simply a winner. While she describes it as ‘a little lo-fi noodling,’ don’t be fooled; she layers ethereal, reverb-laden vocals with a deceptively sparse arrangement dominated by a pair of guitars and a staccato brushed snare. Flute accents with plenty of echo exaggerate the timeless psychedelic effect. The melody is captivating but flitting; if you’re not careful it’ll slide on by, leaving you looking for the replay button. Steph is several self-released albums and EPs deep, so if you like this be sure to look her up on Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Facebook for plenty more.

Q & A

What is your goal in recording and sharing music?

I strive to lay down the essence or feeling behind a song, sometimes using original or guide vocals which are out of time or tune, but have the nuance that I’m trying to encapsulate. If I can create a small and mystical world for someone for a few minutes, then I’m a happy critter.
Sharing music on Soundcloud is the most fun I’ve had since I was last in a band. The support and camaraderie between musicians is genuinely inspirational.

Come up with a descriptive, original genre name for your music.

Freakfolk or Angelpunk are tags I use.

Who do you view as a likely audience for your music?

Freaks like me and sad people who see ghosts.

If trapped on a desert island with only 3 songs, which would they be?

1. “The Crystal Ship” by The Doors
2. “Christian Brothers” by Elliott Smith
3. “No-One Knows” by Queens of the Stone Age

Who is your musical hero(es), if any?

Kate Bush
Syd Barrett
Jimi Hendrix
Janis Joplin
Debbie Harry
Patti Smith
Jim Morrison
Elliott Smith
Joanna Newsom
Sharon van Etten
Kurt Cobain
Mark Lanegan
Nick Cave
Sandy Denny
Tim Buckley
Ray Davies
Nick Drake
John Lennon
Bill Callahan
Lalo Schrifrin
Lemmy
Mark E Smith
Dr John
Kristin Hersh
Julian Cope
Roky Erickson
Kim Gordon
Sonja Kristina
John Lee Hooker
Ann Magnuson
…phew!

You can follow Steph on Facebook: Click Here