On Bended Knee (Sample)

From Stillman's forthcoming EP 'We Are The Trouble' due for release in March 2014.

If you're listening before then well halleluja you are one of the chosen few!

We Are The Trouble (Stream)

The new EP from Stillman due for release 5/11/2012.

It will be available for download from all the usual suspects - iTunes, Amazon Digital and Bandcamp.

Swollen Air (stream)

Small Deaths (stream)

The Debt (stream)

Stillman has been the musical alter-ego of Chaz Craik since his first release in 2004, The Weightless EP. Recorded in his bedroom studio on a creaky old PC and a shoestring budget it nevertheless had a great vibe and aroused a good deal of interest. We'll add the EP here as a set soon, so check back for updates.

The EP got great reviews and Channel 4 said 'It's as if Elliot Smith and Tom McRae got together to make the music they can't quite do on their own. Think that's hyperbole? Track down a copy and prove us wrong." Which was pretty nice really.

That EP caught the attention of independent label TRL Music who signed him and his debut album People Like a Happy Ending was released in 2007 debuting on the front page of no less than ten iTunes territories. The album went on to win 'Best' Album' at the Glasswerk New Music Awards later that year.

A familiar story with indepent labels, a lack of resource and financial means meant the album did not  sell as much as the label had hoped and the album deserved. In 2009 Craik parted amicably from TRL and self-released his second album 'Blood Dark Sea' which is available to stream here on SoundCloud. It marked a change in sound with more organic and evolved song structures and a stronger emphasis on his guitar playing. The album got good reviews online and in several print guitar magazines which praised the melodic and layered arrangements.

In 2010 Craik released several songs individually. Regular writing sessions with a drummer meant Stillman took on a funkier and jazzier edge in the rhythms. 'Gold Days' in particular became a live favourite with its funky filtered guitar and dark moog sounds over some driving funk drumming.

These songs and both albums are all available on Stillman's Bandcamp page.

Recording is underway for a new EP to be released in May this year - as soon as it is ready to release you will be able to hear it here on SoundCloud!


stillman