Further evidence Ireland possesses a treasure trove of talent and compelling new artists. Soak in session tonight – a live set recorded at the Sunflower in Belfast on November 25th for BBC Northern Ireland Introducing.
In case you didn’t already know; Bridie Monds-Watson, better known by the stage name Soak, is a singer-songwriter from Derry, Northern Ireland. Soak’s music has been described as ‘a vivid portrait of teenage deep-thinking’ by The Guardian. They released their debut studio album Before We Forgot How to Dream in May 2015. “Soak” is a phonetic portmanteau of “soul” and “folk”.
Irish Examiner from 2022 had a few words:
As a 16-year-old, Monds-Watson was hailed the future of Irish music, with everyone from the NME to the BBC lining up to laud the Derry artist’s 2015 debut LP Before We Forgot How to Dream. The project’s “wistful charm” was praised by Pitchfork; the Guardian heralded Monds-Watson’s “cocooning, husky voice”.
Seven years later, Soak is still here and with a career that continues to go from strength to strength. However, the stardom some had predicted has not yet arrived. And because Monds-Watson is a human being, there has been some struggle in this story.
“It was mainly about the pressure of time, the pressure of expectation. Trying to figure out where you stand in the world,” says the singer, delving into the inspirations for Purgatory. “And where you’d like to stand in the world. All while not wanting to waste any time.”
Preaching to the choir if you already know and enjoy diving into the music of Soak – if you aren’t and are looking around for some new voices who are saying things that are relevant, press play and dive in for a few minutes.
And when you’re finished, head over to Rough Trade’s Soak Website where you can avail yourself of much-much more.
