WILDES‘ new single is described by the London singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist as “a song of anger.” But the aggression here is notably hidden; bubbling up just above the smoky surface of “Woman In Love”, out today (April 5), is a feeling of exasperated vulnerability that casually glides along its enchanting brand of stomp-along folk-pop. It’s a slow-building release of tension that serves as a tone-setter for WILDES’ forthcoming debut album, set for release sometime later this year. It acts as a portal into not just WILDES’ soul, but that of all women taught to conceal their emotions.
“It’s all about the facade presented by someone who isn’t all that happy, and the rage that lies under the glassy exterior,” says WILDES, the solo project of Ella Walker. “I had put on a brave face for so long when I was in fact feeling underestimated, scared, manipulated, and cornered. I wanted to release that fury and fear in to a song and be honest for the first time about how I was feeling.”
She adds: “The music was part inspired by artists who occupied my head at the time — PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, SASAMI. Unapologetically honest women and musicians. They gave me permission to come out of the box I’d been cowering in.”
“Woman In Love,” which feels like the type of release we’ll be coming back to more and more as the year progresses, was produced by St Francis Hotel (Michael Kiwanuka, Little Simz). Take it with you below.
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