1st track from Chasing Tales EP released Sept. 2013 with Searching For Dandelions.
feat.  Andy Jones on Electric  Guitar and Backing Vocals.
© 2013.  Jo Bywater.

Video by Andrew Ab - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQGKGsnakEE

Chasing Tales is Acoustic Blues slide guitar meets finger-picking brain food. Raw and finely-crafted beauty with a dark twist, soothed with harmonies, melodies and textures. A worthy follow-up to 2010 album Cycle Grace Pulse Break in creative growth. The EP features guest performances from Andy Jones (Just by Chance) and Blythe Cooper and was mastered by Russell Cottier (Parr St. Studios). It is released in collaboration with Searching For Dandelions Label/Collective. Cover Artwork by Jo Bywater.

Available to buy on-

Bandcamp: http://www.jobywater.bandcamp.com/
CDBaby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/jobywater3
Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Tales-Jo…er/dp/B00EP3YT0K
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/album/chasing…s-ep/id691069252

Reviews:

'delicious, laid-back piece of blues inspired, folk-tinged Americana that slides effortlessly from soft expectation to hard-edged understanding. There’s a great deal to Jo and her music. This EP, although really only a taster, serves to showcase an exceptional talent. This lady can craft a tune, no doubt about it. ' - Folkwords

'Unorthodox, uncompromising, simply brilliant..purely on the evidence of this latest EP, Jo is an absolutely extraordinary talent - as singer, a darned accomplished stylist with an unusual voice, and as a guitarist pretty phenomenal too' - FATEA

‘..an excellent musician and most engaging performer...this EP showcases Jo’s emergence as a fine finger-picker and slide player who is capable of building a great deal of drama and soulful expression into her arrangements. It is a fine recording which most certainly leaves you wanting more’ - Liverpool Acoustic

'an ear for the rhythmic and an ability to place words in such a way that the guitar is more than an instrument to her, it is more like a confidant, a co-conspirator in her music and Chasing Tales once exemplifies this confident and genuinely very cool woman’s ability.' - Liverpool Sound & Vision

'Jo Bywater seems to flit very comfortably between Nick Drake-esque pastoral, Polly Harvey’s gritty blues and the odd shade of Nirvana Unplugged – Americana UK

Keep upto date with gigs near you on www.jobywater.com

credits
released 27 September 2013 
All songs written, performed and mixed by J. Bywater.

Electric Guitar and Bvox on Chopping Wood by Andy Jones. 
Flute on This Garden by Blythe Cooper. 
Cajon on Sun Shines Under Water and Woollen Hearts by Blythe Cooper.

Mastered by Russell Cottier. 
Woollen Hearts mixed by Lauren Tierney.

JO BYWATER - Chopping Wood (Chasing Tales EP 2013)

Track 3 from Chasing Tales EP released Sept. 2013 with Searching For Dandelions.
feat. Blythe Cooper on Flute
Mastered by Russell Cottier
© 2013. Jo Bywater.

Chasing Tales EP voted - Winner of FATEA AWARDS Best EP/Mini Album/Single 2013.

This Garden also selected for Tom Robinson's Mixtape - BBC 6Music.

Chasing Tales is Acoustic Blues slide guitar meets finger-picking brain food. Raw and finely-crafted beauty with a dark twist, soothed with harmonies, melodies and textures. A worthy follow-up to 2010 album Cycle Grace Pulse Break in creative growth. The EP features guest performances from Andy Jones (Just by Chance) and Blythe Cooper and was mastered by Russell Cottier (Parr St. Studios). It is released in collaboration with Searching For Dandelions Label/Collective. Cover Artwork by Jo Bywater.

Available to buy on-

Bandcamp: jobywater.bandcamp.com/
CDBaby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/jobywater3
Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Tales-Jo…er/dp/B00EP3YT0K
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/album/chasing…s-ep/id691069252

Reviews:

‘Respect to Jo for bringing that something new and different to the Listening Post and for her original quirky song format bringing a twist on the genre. Well done’. – Fresh on The Net.


'Jo Bywater's four track disc serves as a noble entry to highlight her potential as an upcoming folk-blues mistress'.  - Blues Matters
 

'delicious, laid-back piece of blues inspired, folk-tinged Americana that slides effortlessly from soft expectation to hard-edged understanding.  There’s a great deal to Jo and her music. This EP, although really only a taster, serves to showcase an exceptional talent. This lady can craft a tune, no doubt about it. ' - Folkwords

 
'Unorthodox, uncompromising, simply brilliant..purely on the evidence of this latest EP, Jo is an absolutely extraordinary talent - as singer, a darned accomplished stylist with an unusual voice, and as a guitarist pretty phenomenal too' - FATEA 

 
‘..an excellent musician and most engaging performer..’


‘..showcases Jo’s emergence as a fine finger-picker and slide player who is capable of building a great deal of drama and soulful expression into her arrangements. It is a fine recording which most certainly leaves you wanting more’ - Liverpool Acoustic

 
'an ear for the rhythmic and an ability to place words in such a way that the guitar is more than an instrument to her, it is more like a confidant, a co-conspirator in her music and Chasing Tales once exemplifies this confident and genuinely very cool woman’s ability.' - Liverpool Sound & Vision

 
'Jo Bywater seems to flit very comfortably between Nick Drake-esque pastoral, Polly Harvey’s gritty blues and the odd shade of Nirvana Unplugged – Americana UK

 
'Bywater plays a funky, acoustic, alternative blues like no music you’ve heard before.  Her style is one of organic, creative exploration as she looks inside and outside herself equally deeply for inspiration' - R2 

'Lyrical witticism and emotional range of voice, combined with some slick strum ‘n’ bass guitar bashing – bristling blues and folk riffs that suddenly withdraw, weaving raw honesty with a flirtatious, dark twang' - Seven Streets 

 
’we develop, quite effortlessly it has to be said, a kinship with the music… it provides many pleasurable listening hours once you locate the repeat button’ - Northern Sky

 
'Honest, gritty, tell-it-all sound that evokes the spirit of any number of blues guitarists such as Kelly Joe Phelps or P.J. Harvey's now occasional musical roar and singer songwriters such as the innovative touches reminiscent of early Ani DiFranco..' - Nerve 

 
‘Jo's musicianship and song-writing ability is outstanding!! - Tiltshift Music


'The songs expose her empathy with bluesy folk-tunes and portray the singer as a mature artist who knows her flaws and virtues yet knows how to play to the gallery' - Folk Radio UK

 

'The sultry jo Bywater, replete with smoky voice and fine guitar accompaniment, has the look and feel of a certain Alanis Morrisette before money and fame cleaved her inspiration and spirit in two..Bywater is currently ensconced within the role she was always born to play' - Bido Lito

'An album of incredible maturity that deserves to be visited and enjoyed no matter how late or by what means you come to this very talented woman' - Liverpool Student Media

 

If you’re looking for something exciting, challenging and refreshingly honest I recommend you check out Cycle Grace Pulse Break and you will not be disappointed’ - The Girls Are

LYRICS

An apple fell
From a tree that I knew
In a garden I grew from
Where I blossomed and died
And came back alive

The dampened sound
Brings me round
Grass brushes my feet
As I lay down
Weightless heavy
Cushioned on solid ground

Chorus
The smell of the sun in this garden
Revives
Clears smoke from the inside
Restoring lives
The smell of the sun in this garden
Revives
I leave with my eyes wide

There’s a lawnmower in the distance
Buzzing back pictures 
Jigsaw recall, history flickers
The sun draws me out 
The breeze cools me down
Inhaling sounds
Star shaped on safe ground

Chorus

Tangled in roots here my anchor shines
It serves to remind, when I’m gone where I’ll find

There was one bad apple 
hanging over the well
Every shadow had a story to tell
One bad apple hanging over the well
In my story the bad apple fell

You don’t see it until it’s not in your face
You don’t taste it until your palette is grey
You don’t hear it until the quiet is deafening
And it comes from the blood in your veins

Chorus

This garden
This garden 
This garden 
This garden

© 2013.  Jo Bywater


JO BYWATER - This Garden (Chasing Tales EP 2013)

Track 4 from Chasing Tales EP released Sept. 2013 with Searching For Dandelions.
feat. Blythe Cooper on Cajon
© 2013. Jo Bywater.

Chasing Tales is Acoustic Blues slide guitar meets finger-picking brain food. Raw and finely-crafted beauty with a dark twist, soothed with harmonies, melodies and textures. A worthy follow-up to 2010 album Cycle Grace Pulse Break in creative growth. The EP features guest performances from Andy Jones (Just by Chance) and Blythe Cooper and was mastered by Russell Cottier (Parr St. Studios). It is released in collaboration with Searching For Dandelions Label/Collective. Cover Artwork by Jo Bywater.

Available to buy on-

Bandcamp: jobywater.bandcamp.com/
CDBaby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/jobywater3
Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Tales-Jo…er/dp/B00EP3YT0K
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/album/chasing…s-ep/id691069252

Reviews:

'delicious, laid-back piece of blues inspired, folk-tinged Americana that slides effortlessly from soft expectation to hard-edged understanding. There’s a great deal to Jo and her music. This EP, although really only a taster, serves to showcase an exceptional talent. This lady can craft a tune, no doubt about it. ' - Folkwords

'Unorthodox, uncompromising, simply brilliant..purely on the evidence of this latest EP, Jo is an absolutely extraordinary talent - as singer, a darned accomplished stylist with an unusual voice, and as a guitarist pretty phenomenal too' - FATEA

‘..an excellent musician and most engaging performer...this EP showcases Jo’s emergence as a fine finger-picker and slide player who is capable of building a great deal of drama and soulful expression into her arrangements. It is a fine recording which most certainly leaves you wanting more’ - Liverpool Acoustic

'an ear for the rhythmic and an ability to place words in such a way that the guitar is more than an instrument to her, it is more like a confidant, a co-conspirator in her music and Chasing Tales once exemplifies this confident and genuinely very cool woman’s ability.' - Liverpool Sound & Vision

'Jo Bywater seems to flit very comfortably between Nick Drake-esque pastoral, Polly Harvey’s gritty blues and the odd shade of Nirvana Unplugged – Americana UK

Keep upto date with gigs near you on www.jobywater.com

credits
released 27 September 2013 
All songs written, performed and mixed by J. Bywater.

Electric Guitar and Bvox on Chopping Wood by Andy Jones. 
Flute on This Garden by Blythe Cooper. 
Cajon on Sun Shines Under Water and Woollen Hearts by Blythe Cooper.

Mastered by Russell Cottier. 
Woollen Hearts mixed by Lauren Tierney.

Jo Bywater - Woollen Hearts (Chasing Tales EP 2013)

Very lucky to get my debut live session on Dave Monks show in  Feb.   I played 'This Garden' & 'Chopping Wood' and had a nice chat about music and guitar! 

BBC Introducing Radio Merseyside with Dave Monks.  Live session & interview.  Feb 2014.

When I was asked to contribute a song to Searching for Dandelions for this year I admittedly struggled with what angle to approach from., Ultimately I wanted to have fun writing it but the one thing that reins over the festive period is how much of a love/hate relationship people have with it, I love this time of year but often we forget where the root of Christmas comes from, there's also a lot of sadness for people around this time of year. In 'Christmas Come Home' Christmas is a loud/garish/lush of a friend, who eventually I remember why we became friends in the first place. I hope you enjoy it x

This is an original fingerpicking guitar, Glockenspiel - tinged Christmas song.  It is included on a compilation of original festive songs called A Searching For Dandelions Christmas vol 3.  Release 19th Dec 2014. 

Christmas Come Home

Christmas you come on so strong 
Like whisky for breakfast on a work day
Shaking up a winter storm
I see you let yourself in
With your bells and your elves and your reindeer and your relentless seasonal cheer
Well you’re here now come in, make yourself at home

Christmas when we were young
You could’ve stayed here all year
But now I’m not so
You’re a little bit overkill
With your red suits and your chocolate boots and you plastic trees and your festive cheese
 You bring a lot of baggage are you staying long?

Christmas you’re an old, old friend
And I’m a sucker for your lavish charm
But you’re somewhat an acquired taste
On repeat like a frozen alarm
With your trumpets and drums, your crackers and ‘Noels’
Raising Merry Hell, raising merry hell, raising merry hell

Christmas there’s just no room (x 3)
Every year you come too soon

Sometimes I forget
When we met
So long ago in the winter oh
Deep in that December
When the seasons change I remember
So long ago in the winter oh

You kept me warm in the cold
You gave me light in the dark oh
You kept me warm in the cold
You gave me light in the dark oh
Keep me warm in the cold
Give me light in the dark oh
Keep me warm in the cold
Give me light to behold

Come home, come home Christmas
Light the fire, Warm your bones
(x 3)
Come home, come home Christmas
Light the fire, light the fire, light the fire
Come home

©2014.  Jo Bywater.


JO BYWATER - Christmas Come Home

Riches to Rags was Judges Award winner for Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge Nov 2014.  
The challenge is to select a piece of artwork on display at View Two Gallery Liverpool and write a song to accompany/express the artwork.  

This song will be on free download for 3 months.  Enjoy. 
 
RICHES TO RAGS (Lyrics)
 Do you know I used to be a Queen?
I followed you here
Enticed and entranced by your need
But I know I’m never going to be your Queen
Though dress in golden seams
I’m left alone with my dreams

And I gave my colours for you
Gave my colours for you…

Honey, how I ache to be your queen
Oh invisible me
Now we’re strangers its clear that I 
Served a purpose it seems
Left to dote in the breeze
Carry all that I’ve seen

And It’s alright
I know how you feel
I can’t keep you here
You’re not meant for me

And we used to dance and you’d hold me so firmly
 I’d fly like a bird
And you’d touch me so softly I’d slip through your arms 
Like the breath that you drew
When you kissed me
Unhooked me from all that I knew

Now all I know is you
Now all I know is you…

Darling I could never never be your queen
The world worn weary
This Goddess has dignity
And darling I rage like the sea
You took all that I had
From riches to rags

Not sure I exist
Chameleons and twists
Laments of lives gone by
I float between two skies
I’ve been chasing ghosts 
Since you caressed my throat
Spinning mirrors and smoke 
I tenderly choke

And we used to dance and you’d spin me so firmly I’d fly like a bird
And you’d touch me so softly I’d slip through your arms 
Like the breath that you drew
When you kissed me
Unhooked me from all that I knew

Such a beauty, you told me I shone like a charm
These red lips you could kiss 
That remind you of sunsets so bold
So unspoiled, I unfold,  you took me from all that I knew

You unhooked me from all that I knew
Yeah you took me from all that I knew
Yeah you took me from all that I knew
And all that I wanted was you
Now all that I’m haunting is you

© 2014.  Jo Bywater.

JO BYWATER - Riches to Rags

Yorkshire-born, Liverpool-based singer-songwriter Jo Bywater assumes the from of an innovative and inspired musical force.  Rhythmic, tactile, rockin’, poetry.

Jo independently released her debut album ‘Cycle Grace Pulse Break’ in December 2010.  It captures both the whispering gentleness and dynamic power of Jo’s expression.  Bluesy and captivating.  As a result of positive feedback from magazines such as Americana, R2, Folk Radio UK and FATEA she has performed various sessions, a small selection of highlights being Songs from the Shed, Radio Merseyside, Bob’s Folk Show and Roots & Fusion.

Jo has played extensively across the UK and is a familiar face on the Liverpool music scene. Festivals include Beverley Folk Festival, Purbeck Folk Festival, Folkstock, London Folk and Roots Festival, Liverpool Music Week, Threshold Festival, International Pop Overthrow, Brighton, London, Liverpool and Manchester Prides, Hope Street Feast, Liverpool International Music Festival and London Vegan Festival.

Chasing Tales EP released Sept. 2013 is acoustic Blues slide guitar meets finger-picking brain food.   Raw and finely-crafted beauty with a dark twist, soothed with harmonies, melodies and textured.  A worth follow-up to its predecessor in creative growth.  Guest performers are Andy Jones (Just by Chance) and Blythe Cooper.  Mastered by Russell Cottier (Parr St. Studio).  Released in collaboration with Searching For Dandelions Label/Collective. 

Most recently picked for Fresh Faves for Fresh on the Net,  Tom Robinson's MIXTAPE and voted Winner of FATEA AWARDS Best EP/Mini Album/Single of 2013.

Reviews for Chasing Tales EP

'delicious, laid-back piece of blues inspired, folk-tinged Americana that slides effortlessly from soft expectation to hard-edged understanding.  There’s a great deal to Jo and her music. This EP, although really only a taster, serves to showcase an exceptional talent. This lady can craft a tune, no doubt about it. ' - Folkwords

'Unorthodox, uncompromising, simply brilliant..purely on the evidence of this latest EP, Jo is an absolutely extraordinary talent - as singer, a darned accomplished stylist with an unusual voice, and as a guitarist pretty phenomenal too' - FATEA 
 
‘..an excellent musician and most engaging performer...this EP showcases Jo’s emergence as a fine finger-picker and slide player who is capable of building a great deal of drama and soulful expression into her arrangements. It is a fine recording which most certainly leaves you wanting more’ - Liverpool Acoustic

'an ear for the rhythmic and an ability to place words in such a way that the guitar is more than an instrument to her, it is more like a confidant, a co-conspirator in her music and Chasing Tales once exemplifies this confident and genuinely very cool woman’s ability.' - Liverpool Sound & Vision
 
'Jo Bywater seems to flit very comfortably between Nick Drake-esque pastoral, Polly Harvey’s gritty blues and the odd shade of Nirvana Unplugged – Americana UK

Bandcamp: www.jobywater.bandcamp.com/
CDBaby: www.cdbaby.com/cd/jobywater3
Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/Chasing-Tales-Jo…er/dp/B00EP3YT0K
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/gb/album/chasing…s-ep/id691069252

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