Poppy Ackroyd has been a favourite of ours for a long time, first conquering our ears with her 2012 wonderful debut album Escapement and the beguiling Feathers which was one of our 15 Album Picks of 2014. Earlier this summer, the marvellous multi-instrumentalist and composer announced a brand new album. Preceding the record, and serving as an enticing introduction to her music, Poppy released Sketches, a stunning mini-album featuring solo piano arrangements of some of her favourite tracks from previous records as well as from four new tracks off the upcoming album. Entitled Resolve, and marking her first full-length album release on One Little Indian, the album will see the light of day in early 2018. “Resolve is about the determination to embrace the good things in life whilst dealing with unexpected and challenging difficulties”, explained Poppy. “Finding the light in the dark, facing sadness and loss head on, and developing a growing inner strength.”

Ahead of the album’s release, we can already hear the magnificent first single ‘The Calm Before’. Speaking about the track, Poppy said this:

“The Calm Before is almost entirely made up of clarinet sounds. The percussion was created using layers of clicking clarinet and bass clarinet keys, starting with a looped and chopped rhythm taken from an improvisation that appears throughout.”

Press play and let yourself get lost in the beauty and serenity of ‘The Calm Before’.

With two magnificent albums under her belt, the incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist and composer Poppy Ackroyd is ready to dazzle us again with a third full-length album arriving this Autumn. Preceding the album, Poppy has just released Sketches, a stunning mini-album featuring solo piano arrangements of some of her favourite tracks from previous records as well as from four new tracks off the upcoming album. Here’s what Poppy said about the recording of Sketches:

“I have loved creating this solo piano album. There are normally all these layers that I use to create a world of sound, that I love to build and sculpt, but there is something really special about communicating simply through the instrument alone. With other layers there is always something to hide behind, with only the piano you can just focus on your technique and expression, everything feels very audible and exposed and that is very exciting, especially in a live context.”

The beautiful and compelling ‘Time’ is one of the new tracks reworked into acoustic solo piano arrangements. Wrap your ears around it now.

Sketches is out now via One Little Indian.

We fell for Poppy Ackroyd when she first released her utterly wonderful debut album Escapement in 2012 and we have never let go of our love for her music. The incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist and composer is now set to release a new mini-album, entitled Sketches. Poppy picked a few of her favourite tracks from previous records and reworked them into acoustic solo piano arrangements. Slated for a July 14th release through One Little Indian, the record also features four unreleased tracks.

‘Feathers’, the title track from her outstanding 2014 album which was one of our 15 Picks of the Year, is one of the tracks she reworked and it’s immensely beautiful. Take a listen now.

Poppy Ackroyd‘s beguiling new album, Feathers, grabbed me on first listen and continues to draw me in every single time. This is why we recently picked Feathers as one of our 15 Favourite Albums of the Year.
‘Roads’ was the first sublime single to be unveiled from the album back in October. Now Poppy is sharing another tremendous track off the album, ‘Salt’. Listen to it below and grab the album from Denovali.

We’re excitingly close to the release of Poppy Ackroyd‘s new album. Entitled Feathers, the effort follows her magnificent 2012 debut Escapement and it drops on November 14th via Denovali. In support of the new album, Poppy has announced a string of live dates in the UK and Europe kicking off on November 19th in Opwijk, Belgium and closing gloriously on December 20th at Cafe Oto in London as part of a tremendous bill also featuring Carlos Cipa and Piano Interrupted. Head over here to check all the dates and more info.
Ahead of the album release, the imaginative and talented composer and musician is enticing us with a sublime track off it, ‘Roads’. Enjoy.