Isobel Anderson Cold Water Songs

Just been listening to an amazing singer songwriter. Isobel Anderson.

She's from Brighton but is living and studying in Belfast now. She's just released her debut album Cold Water Songs, in between finishing an MA in Sonic Arts at Queens University and about to start a Phd on Northern Ireland folklore which she is going to map using digital media.

I've been playing "Cold Water Songs" over and over since I got it this morning. Her voice reminds me of Beth Orton, that easy, effortless beauty combined with gorgeous songs. My favourite is called Seaside Suicide. She tells me it's not an actual death, but about the break up of a relationship. She had just moved over here, her boyfriend was still in London, and she was sitting on the beach at Newcastle (County Down) struggling with her life back in England and how much she was beginning to care about this new place. Shedding that life and love was like walking into the sea and letting it wrap its arms around her she told me. I think I'm just going to have to listen to it again with that insight from her.

Isobel is singing live on Arts Extra tomorrow by the way.