Lavinia Blackwall, the celebrated voice behind Trembling Bells, is set to release her highly anticipated new album The Making on May 30th via The Barne Society. A rich tapestry of folk, rock, and psych-power pop, the album showcases Blackwall’s unparalleled vocal prowess and evocative songwriting, further cementing her reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music. A classically trained soprano, Blackwall first gained recognition as the lead singer of Trembling Bells, a Glasgow-based psych-folk outfit known for their ambitious blending of folk traditions with rock and baroque influences. Over the course of seven albums with the band, she honed her signature vocal style - often compared to Fairport Convention’s Sandy Denny - and collaborated with legends such as Bonnie Prince Billy and Mike Heron of The Incredible String Band. Stepping out as a solo artist, Blackwall released her debut album Muggington Lane End in 2020, which was met with widespread acclaim for its lush arrangements and intricate songwriting.

Following the success of Muggington Lane End, The Making is a deeply personal collection of songs that have evolved over time, shaped by both hardship and joy. Written over a four-year period and recorded at The Barne Studio, the album reflects Blackwall’s journey through personal loss, artistic exploration, and renewed creative energy.

The whole process took much longer than intended, says Blackwall. Life seemed to happen around it. There was a lot of darkness - my partner and collaborator Marco lost his mum in 2021 and very nearly his dad shortly after. I lost my dad in October 2023. But there was a lot of light too, a lot of time spent in Italy and up at our cabin at Carbeth, all of which leaked into the songs on the album, she continues.

A key factor in The Making’s distinctive sound is the intricate production work by Marco Rea, who has been instrumental in bringing Blackwall’s vision to life. Marco’s production really shaped this album, says Blackwall. His attention to detail, combined with contributions from incredible musicians like Laura J Martin on flute and recorder, and Ross McRae and Richard Merchant on brass, has made this a truly collaborative effort.

The pair worked on the album in their studio between other artists’ projects, chipping away at it little by little before enlisting the help of producer friend Thomas McKay, who helped spur them on. It had almost become a bit of a refrain, jokes Blackwall. We must get back in the studio and finish the album, and over these last couple of months, we finally did.

The songs on The Making are varied in feel because they were written across such a long period, Blackwall explains. Some tracks, like Morning to Remember, have a distinct Kinks influence, while others like The Art of Leaving bring in elements of Northern Soul and Stealers Wheel. There are also folk-inspired moments, dreamy soundscapes, and classic songwriting influences throughout.

This diversity in sound is reflected in the album’s overarching themes, which explore self-discovery, mental resilience, and the power of shaping one’s own destiny. The title track, The Making, encapsulates this ethos, celebrating the limitless possibilities that lie ahead. Meanwhile, songs like We All Get Lost and Keep Me Away From the Dark tackle emotional struggles with both introspection and hope.

One of the album’s most poignant moments comes in My Hopes Are Mine, featuring stunning backing vocals from Maggie Reilly best known for Moonlight Shadow, her duet with Mike Oldfield. The track serves as Blackwall’s reflection on the dissolution of Trembling Bells. Rather than dwelling in regret, the song is an affirmation of personal agency and creative independence, marking a turning point in Blackwall’s artistic journey.

Similarly introspective, The Art of Leaving is a powerful meditation on addiction and escape. Exploring the cyclical nature of dependency and the difficult process of breaking free, the song is one of the album’s rawest moments, laying bare the struggles of letting go and seeking a new path.

Elsewhere on the album, Scarlett Fever, a striking piano and recorder ballad, stands apart as a unique collaboration with Blackwall’s former history teacher, John Plowright, who wrote the lyrics and tasked Blackwall with setting it to music.

With influences spanning from Jefferson Airplane to Weyes Blood, The Making is a testament to Blackwall’s ability to weave together diverse musical inspirations into a cohesive and compelling body of work with songwriting at its centre.

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