Animal is Track 1 from the new EP Dawn/Dusk.  the songs were recorded live over two days in Stödvarfjördur, East Iceland, following a month-long residency at The Fish Factory Creative Arts Centre with Chris Richardson (harmonies/drums) and Pascal Colman (electric guitar/field recording).

This song is a daydream exploring the cerebral experience of primal chemistry and the opposing thoughts that can arise therein. The recording features wolf howls from band members, artists and facilitators on the residency.

Animal

Holy Holding is a meditation on connection within isolation and the moment loneliness becomes solitude. It touches on finding intimacy beyond human relationships and being held by something greater than ourselves.

This song is track 2 from the new EP Dawn/Dusk.  The songs were recorded live over two days in Stödvarfjördur, East Iceland, following a month-long residency at The Fish Factory Creative Arts Centre with Chris Richardson (harmonies/drums) and Pascal Colman (electric guitar/field recording).

Holy Holding

A collaborative exploration of the classic and rooted in the 3-piece's experimental improv background. This rework seeks to brings to life darker elements within the song itself and within the context of an Icelandic winter.

Summertime is the final and bonus track from the new EP Dawn/Dusk.  A limited edition download is available exclusively on Bandcamp.  It was recorded live over two days in Stödvarfjördur, East Iceland, following a month-long residency at The Fish Factory Creative Arts Centre with Chris Richardson (harmonies/drums) and Pascal Colman (electric guitar/field recording).

Summertime

Written for a friend during lockdown, A Dream on The 17th Floor is a song for those who are far away, and those closest to them.

The title is inspired by an except from 'Sitting by the Well', the lecture series by Marion Woodman, Jungian analyst and author.

A Dream On The 17th Floor

Ben’s Birds is a vivid and intimate recollection of long-lost friendship in an attempt to bring fading memories back into colour. A prayerful portrayal of impermanence, grief and what endures beyond it, Ben’s Birds brings to life the power and beauty of friendship and human connection, a recurring theme in Astra’s work. 

The song was recorded over two days at Moss studios with Callum Mcguinness and is the artist’s largest recorded arrangement to date. The track features Joe Taylor (Anna B. Savage/Jasmine Jethwa) on drums/percussion, Callum Mcguinness on production, bass and nylon strung guitar, and Laura Hussey on violin.

“With writing Ben’s Birds, I hoped to bring into colour ageing memories that felt like they were fading,” says Astra. “The song seeks to reflect something of this gentle soul’s beauty and our connection, while expressing broader themes of memory, endurance and grief.  I look forward to it being in the world and connecting with people outside of just my own thoughts, as well as bringing it to life live with a band."

A new song for an old friend, Ben’s Birds is an ethereal space-folk ballad delivering poignant lyrics which highlight the stark contrast between images of memory and the reality of loss.
 
This latest release is a follow-up to ‘A Dream on The 17th Floor’ which features on Oscar Lowe’s film ‘Wormford’, and her EP ‘Dawn/Dusk’, recorded in Stöðvarfjörður, East Iceland, with a band (Chris Richardson, Pascal Colman), following a month-long creative residency there, supported by Help Musicians

Astra Forward is a SE London based alt-folk/experimental singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer. She writes ethereal and intimate songs about the power of nature and human connection, exploring themes of grief, mysticism and impermanence. 

Astra Forward has written with Erland Cooper on the title track of his album ‘Sule Skerry’ Her vocals feature on Cooper’s score for ‘Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story’ and his albums ‘Hether Blether' and 'Sule Skerry'. She has performed extensively throughout Europe and the UK as a solo artist, and as keyboardist/singer with Diagrams 8-piece band (Sam Genders/Tunng), The Robot Heart and Welfare, supporting St. Vincent, Gomez, Athlete and Steve Mason among others.



Reviews:

"Astra Forward boasts a voice we can believe in" MP3 Hugger

"Bewitching, magically hypnotic" Other Side Reviews

“A timeless ethereal atmosphere channeling a bond between human emotion and the natural world that feels somehow ancient…at once delicate and powerful” John Doyle for Various Small Flames

“The calming energy of meditation and prayer” Leela Iyer for Sinusoidal Music

“…Remarkably soft, subtle and yet deeply moving…Astra Forward’s bewitching vocal performance sounds like a lullaby amidst a deep and almost unrepentant darkness.” Karnic Sundar for Find No Enemy

"Watching Astra Forward {at Iklectik, London} felt like seeing an old friend who you haven't seen in a long time, and realising that they've changed completely forever.  And you can't help but falling in love with them all over" Mark Nelson (Pan American)

Ben's Birds

There’s no denying that The Light I Hold is about grief. The theme of personal loss is central throughout this song. Though from an immediate intensity shines the feeling of honouring that which remains, specifically in relation to emergence and regeneration within the natural world.  Whilst being very personal, The Light I Hold itself holds a universal relevance, one which those who have lost someone might resonate with.

Each line reads as its own epitaph, ushering the listener towards a euphoric chorus waltz of ‘stay stay stay, nothing of this can be burned away’ and ‘…all that is left it will always remain.’

This isn’t bypassing or even from the perspective of someone who has reached acceptance in their own journey, rather an acknowledgement of a very human experience and the practises of attempted remembrance that can surround grief.

Human connection is a concurrent theme in Astra Forward’s work, which channels grief and mysticism in the context of the natural world, seeking to provide both comfort and immersion for the listener.  MP3 hugger notes ‘Astra Forward boasts a voice we can believe in’. While OS reviews describe her as ‘Bewitching, magically hypnotic.’

Astra Forward writes: ‘Much of what’s behind these songs I can’t yet put into words, though I hope and I feel that the songs have their own stories to tell, one that is open-ended and in collaboration with the listener…Music and creating have always been my way of expressing what I can’t speak out loud.  I’m excited for the new song to be in the world.’

The Light I Hold will be released on Friday 27th June and is the first single from Astra Forward’s forthcoming EP ‘Songs For The Living’. It was recorded, mixed and produced by Chris Torry from Office of Aurora who also features on clarinet, electric guitar, piano and backing vocals. It is mastered by Rupert Clervaux who mixed & mastered Astra Forward’s 2024 EP Dawn/Dusk, recorded in East Iceland following a month-long residency supported by Help Musicians.  The Light I Hold features long term band mate Chris Richardson on vocals and drums and Emi Mundy-Ross on vocals.  

The full 5-piece band (including Jules Ramsay on bass) will headline Servant Jazz Quarters on Wednesday 2nd July. Astra Forward plays a stripped back duo acoustic set of new work (on guitar and shruti box) at The Harrison on Wednesday July 9th

Astra Forward is an experimental singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer, writing ethereal and intimate songs about the power of nature and human connection. Her vocals feature on award winning documentary film ‘Billy and Molly’, whose score (Erland Cooper) has recently been nominated for an Emmy.  She has written and composed with Erland Cooper on the title track of his album Sule Skerry.  Astra Forward has toured extensively throughout Europe and the UK as singer/keyboardist in Diagrams (Sam Genders/Tunng) and The Robot Heart supporting St Vincent, Gomez, Steve Mason (Beta Band), Athlete and Ben Ottewell (Gomez) to name a few.

The Light I Hold

Astra Forward Releases New Single ‘Mother’, a haunting glimpse into grief and mysticism.

Release date: Friday August 29th, London, UK.

Ethereal folk artist Astra Forward unveils her newest single, ‘Mother’, a cinematic and intimate piece that fuses dirge-like textures and haunting vocals with shifting time signatures and dreamlike natural imagery.

Mother features transcendent violas from Abi Fry (Sea Power), funeral-march drums/backing vocals from Chris Richardson, electric guitar/textures from Chris Torry (Office of Aurora) and backing vocals from Emi Mundy-Ross.

Following the atmospheric resonance of her previous release ‘The Light I Hold’, ‘Mother’ continues to explore grief and transformation though Astra Forward’s signature blend of cinematic folk, experimental arrangements and emotive lyricism. It is the second single from the forthcoming EP ‘Songs For The Living’, which will be released in the autumn.

Astra says: “Written during a period of isolation, this song evolved into something greater than the sum of its parts through collaboration. It feels to me now like a ritual descent into the underworld, an acknowledgement of grief and the human condition while also hopefully expressing something beautiful and precious, a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel...”

Mother was mastered by Rupert Clervaux, who also mixed the Iceland recorded 2024 EP ‘Dawn/Dusk’, supported by Help Musicians. Produced by Chris Torry (Office of Aurora) and recorded at his home studio in South London, Astra Forward’s ‘Mother’ blends intimate vocals with dark-folk/cinematic textures, evoking comparison to Marissa Nadler, Kate Bush and Tim Buckley, while carving out a sound uniquely her own.

Astra Forward is an alt-folk/experimental musical artist based in South East London. She is described as having ‘a sweet voice that will tear your heart out’ by Roadie Music and as ‘bewitching…magically hypnotic’ by Other Side Reviews. Astra has written and composed with Erland Cooper on the title track of his album ‘Sule Skerry’. Her vocals feature on Emmy nominated soundtrack to documentary film ‘Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story’. With roots in experimental free-improvisation, acoustic songwriting and with an ear for cinematic arrangements, Astra continues to build an otherworldly soundscape that resonates with fans of Marissa Nadler, Beth Gibbons and Tim Buckley.

Mother

Astra Forward is a SE London based alt-folk/experimental singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer. She writes ethereal and intimate songs about the power of nature and human connection, exploring themes of grief, mysticism and impermanence. 

Astra Forward has written with Erland Cooper on the title track of his album ‘Sule Skerry’ Her vocals feature on Cooper’s score for ‘Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story’ and his albums ‘Hether Blether' and 'Sule Skerry'. She has performed extensively throughout Europe and the UK as a solo artist, and as keyboardist/singer with Diagrams 8-piece band (Sam Genders/Tunng), The Robot Heart and Welfare, supporting St. Vincent, Gomez, Athlete and Steve Mason among others.

Reviews:

“Astra Forward boasts a voice we can believe in” Kevin at mp3 Hugger 

“A timeless ethereal atmosphere channeling a bond between human emotion and the natural world that feels somehow ancient…at once delicate and powerful” John Doyle for Various Small Flames

“The calming energy of meditation and prayer” Leela Iyer for Sinusoidal Music

“…Remarkably soft, subtle and yet deeply moving…Astra Forward’s bewitching vocal performance sounds like a lullaby amidst a deep and almost unrepentant darkness.” Karnic Sundar for Find No Enemy

"Watching Astra Forward {at Iklectik, London} felt like seeing an old friend who you haven't seen in a long time, and realising that they've changed completely forever.  And you can't help but falling in love with them all over" Mark Nelson (Pan American)

Astra Forward

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