The Crookes - Sal Paradise

Heaven or Hell

Korine - Twist The Knife

say a prayer

Isaac Howlett, front person of acclaimed synth-pop outfit Empathy Test, unveils his latest solo single Spiralling - a raw, dance-floor-ready track addressing depression and anxiety from his own lived experience. Collaborating with the enigmatic European music collective A State of Flux, Howlett delivers a compelling blend of accessible hooks and emotional nuance, transcending genre boundaries.

Drawing from diverse electronic influences, Spiralling creates a soundscape that’s both immediate and immersive, pairing dance-floor rhythms with rich, emotionally layered textures. It’s a musical journey into the depths of inner turmoil.

“I’m in the privileged position of being asked to collaborate a lot, but rarely find time. However, when a deliciously dark demo entitled Spiralling landed in my inbox, I was immediately inspired. The lyrics come from something my late grandfather said which stuck with me; “depression runs in the men, on your mother's side”. I felt like a time-bomb waiting to explode.”
– Isaac Howlett

Behind the production, A State of Flux, known for its creative anonymity and fluid collective ethos, crafted a backdrop that marries both clarity and complexity...

“We wanted to create a musical backdrop that, on the surface, seemed immediately accessible, but also delivered on complexity that mirrored Isaac’s personal expression. It was a highly collaborative and fluid process where the track developed over a series of months with everyone contributing musical ideas.”
– Peter 7, A State of Flux 
credits
released July 3, 2025

Written by Isaac Howlett and Peter Sutherland Burns. Performed by Isaac Howlett and A State of Flux. Mixed and mastered by Pete Burns.

Spiralling

PRESS RELEASE
++++++++++++

‘Dreams About’ is the third single from London / Leeds based Cloud Studies, and the first release with new member Kirstin Isolde Lavender on vocals.

For Fans of: Dummy, Deerhunter, Alvvays, Beachwood Sparks, The Cure, Pulp, shoegaze and dreampop.

With an instrumental introduction lasting over a minute, Cloud Studies are not a band to be rushed, nor are they willing to pander to streaming algorithms on their latest single ‘Dreams About.’ 

Although until now the band have described themselves as ‘gothgaze’, this new track leans towards the brightest, breeziest end of the genre. ‘Dreams About’ is Cloud Studies at their most uplifting; shimmering guitars with melodic arpeggios that throw-back to classic periods of indiepop, layers of lush reverb and bright harmonies, propelled by an insistent driving beat.

The band’s darker aspects are found in Adam Cresswell’s lyrics.  ‘Dreams About’ is a song about escaping the drudgery and loneliness of the daily grind by dreaming of unrequited lovers, while dropping prescription drugs to numb the pain.

Cloud Studies formed in 2024, as a means for Adam Cresswell and Martin J Langthorne to explore the sonic possibilities offered by the large arsenal of effects pedals that they had acquired.  Their debut ‘Ghosts’ was released to acclaim for Halloween 2024. It immediately won the band devoted fans and received rave reviews. ‘Ghosts’ also resonated on social media, not least on TikTok and Instagram where it quickly hit a million views on release. Their follow-up single ‘Cloud Cartography’ won them new fans, with a Spotlight feature from leading industry service The Unsigned Guide who described the track as a “deliciously dark shoegaze affair”. 


Cloud Studies are: Adam Cresswell, Vocals, Bass; Martin J Langthorne, Guitars; Kirstin Isolde Lavender, Vocals; Adrian Taylor, Guitars.

Recorded at Old Chapel (Leeds), Nan’s House Studio (Liverpool), Bellasonic Sounds (London). Drums by Nat Guest. Written and produced by Adam Cresswell. Mastered by Toby Campen Mastering. Design by Martin J Langthorne

CLOUD STUDIES: Dreams About

I Hear Your Voice

Yuck - Georgia

Magic Wands Cyan Blue 
Recorded at Voltiv Sound
Mixed by James Gordon


New LP coming soon

Heaven or Hell

Irish Basement

Related tracks