Formerly one third of the much-loved trio Black Box Recorder, alongside The Auteurs’ Luke Haines and Jesus and Mary Chain guitarist John Moore, the British singer-songwriter Sarah Nixey has steadily gained acclaim as a solo artist who makes savvy, sophisticated and poised pop.

Delivering vocals with a detached elegance over opulent tracks, any perceived nonchalance in Nixey’s luxe, cut glass voice belies her empathy, where social commentary serves as protest, both explicit and implied. Like Billy Bragg deepfaked as prime Julie Andrews, this strange but effective juxtaposition radiates soft power.

‘Lies of the Land’ depicts a corrupt post-Brexit and Covid-19 world where inequality and division flourish. ‘England's On Fire’ delves into the nuanced concepts of patriotism and nationalism, and ‘Pleasure Bay’ narrates the story of a love affair with a deprived yet beautiful English seaside town, written after Nixey left London, drawn back to the Dorset coast.

More than just a political record though, Nixey was drawn to the poetic elements of living too, telling stories of life and death, love and loss, conflicts and symmetry, in an intimate and close-up way, as if whispering secrets to her listeners.

“Sea Fever explores the bittersweet beauty of human life amid a volatile world of changing seasons and brutal elements,” says Nixey. “These are songs of deep sorrow, remembrance, birth, and change, set against a backdrop of the sensuous natural world.”

‘Rolling Waves’ explores profound grief following her beloved grandmother's death, while ‘Spring Equinox’ celebrates the joy and awe of life after welcoming her first grandchild. ‘At the Edge of the Forest’ is a poignant story of someone losing their memory, and ‘On This Wide Night’ recounts the early hours return home of a teenage runaway.

Previous praise:

“A triumph of avant pop. Nixey’s songwriting shows new depth and maturity” The Quietus.

"The one-time member of Black Box Recorder has blossomed as a solo artist, approaching pop from daring new vantage points" Clash.

“A tour de force, full of melody and élan” Record Collector.

" A thing of subtle gorgeousness" The Independent.

"Her songs are delivered in such an accessible, radio-friendly style that she could easily find a wider audience" Sunday Times.

“Has a classic 60s Dusty-gone-electro sheen to it. Fully loaded with rich, warm synths. Nice job” Electronic Sound.

“Nixey’s breathy vocals lure you in” Scottish Sunday Express.

“Britain’s most elegant chanteuse” Allmusic.

“An understated triumph” Uncut.

"A sophisticated pop palette garnished by Nixey’s elegant balance of bittersweet spoken word narratives and evocative chorus lines" God Is In The TV.

“Sarah Nixey happens to be the owner of one of the very, very best British female voices of all time. There is no one in pop — not one singer I can think of — who has her precise and exacting command over her instrument” Dangerous Minds.

Tracklisting
1. ‘Witness Tree’
2. ‘The Sound Of Falling Snow’
3. ‘Rolling Waves’
4. ‘Sea Fever'
5. ‘Winter Solstice’
6. ‘At The Edge Of The Forest’
7. ‘Lies Of The Land’
8. ‘England's On Fire’
9. ‘On This Wide Night’
10. ‘Pleasure Bay’
11. ‘Mudlarks’
12. ‘Spring Equinox’

Black Lead

Sarah Nixey 'Sea Fever'