Back in 2021, the simmering ambient-pop of Irish songwriter Maria Somerville captured the ear of 4AD, who put out her first singles following the release of her self-released 2019’s debut album. With another new single landing this past October, Somerville returns today to announce her 4AD label debut, Luster, with another cut from the forthcoming project: “Garden” feels familiar both to the artist’s own burgeoning discography as well as to the legacy of her label’s, with the pleasantly droning atmospherics of the new tune bringing the heyday of bands like Cocteau Twins to mind.
“I began this song with guitar textures and synths, starting an initial idea with the voice and allowing space to follow that idea,” Somerville shares, introducing the texturally heavy second single from Luster. “Collaborating with [producer] Diego Herrera remote was so fun, and there was a lot of intuition and trust in that collaboration. I enjoyed this process; it was new for me, and the song came together quickly. I recorded my friend Henry Earnest playing more guitar layers later on through a stereo amp setup, and Finn Carraher Mcdonald and Henry helped arrange the music. It was late spring/early summer when I wrote the song, which inspired the warmer water line. A slow-moving time.”
The song’s brooding, Anna Heisterkamp–directed music video doubles down on the song’s atmospheric approach, capturing the ambiance of Western Ireland’s coastline. “We filmed it at home in Connemara, and I think it perfectly captures the essence of the place,” she notes. “The late-night drives, dusky and still evenings. Anna’s mind works in such an inspiring way, it was a very fun process.”
Check out the video below, and pre-order the LP here ahead of its April 25 release via 4AD.
