ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM EPK 08/21 by Mark Cunningham (groovehype)

eleased in July 2019 to immediate widespread acclaim, former Purson singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM’s eponymous début album – her first with the Esoteric Antenna label, part of the Cherry Red group – was the result of an extended period of reflection. Containing some of her most compelling and daring songwriting to date, the album justifiably earned a Top 10 placing in the UK’s official independent chart.

As pre-orders of the Mercury Music Prize-nominated album were exhausted in just 48 hours, critics were united in their reactions to the solo artist’s reinvention. While major publications including Classic Rock, Mojo and Kerrang gave stellar ratings in their uniformly positive reviews, Cunningham also featured in a number of ‘Best of the Year’ polls. In Europe, popular German music magazine Eclipse voted her album the year’s ninth best release, however, back home in the UK, Prog listed it as 2019’s third best album, behind Opeth and Big Big Train. Further accolades from Prog came when the magazine named Cunningham the “eighth greatest female musician of all time”. Fronting a brand new five-piece outfit, Cunningham came storming out of the starting gate that summer with a live session on BBC 6 Music and an extraordinarily well-received tour of the UK, offering what reviewer Mike Ainscoe described as a “wholly immersive experience”. All the signs pointed towards a golden 2020 for the Southend-born artist, who was in preparation for appearances at a raft of leading European festivals and a tour of North America when the COVID-19 pandemic put everything on indefinite hold. “The year had started so well with a very successful tour that was sold out at almost every venue,” said Cunningham. “The first vinyl pressing of the album flew off the shelves ridiculously quickly and we were just about to have a repress when COVID hit like a wrecking ball. I’m just one of hundreds of thousands of musicians whose careers were halted in such an unprecedented way by the cancellation or postponement of tours and festivals. “Despite the crushing disappointment, we tried out best to remain positive, especially as many of the festival slots we were due to play were re-booked for 2021, such as Northern Kin and the Manchester Psych Festival.” Sadly, the ever-popular Fairport’s Cropredy Convention was forced to postpone for a second year, meaning that Cunningham’s idyllic afternoon slot between the legendary Matthews Southern Comfort and Richard Thompson will have to wait until 2022. In place of last year’s festival, however, the event’s pioneering founders Fairport Convention invited Cunningham, 31, to take part as a featured singer on a ‘lockdown’ recording of their classic song ‘Meet On The Ledge’. Starring all five current members of Fairport, as well as Thompson, Dave Mattacks, Ralph McTell and Clannad original Moya Brennan, the track was released last August to raise funds for Help Musicians UK.

Fairport & Cunningham – together for the fund-raising remake of ‘Meet On The Ledge’.

“If Kate Bush and The Beatles had a baby...

...it would have been Rosalie Cunningham” CLASSIC ROCK

THE BACK STORY Rosalie Cunningham’s intriguing career story began at the age of just 12 when she first picked up a guitar with serious intent. “Even before then,” she says, “I was picking out melodies on the piano and writing little songs, but developing a real interest in the guitar was the catalyst to forming my first band at school, Suzie’s Lip, when I reached 13.” The eldest child of a musician/journalist father and yoga teacher mother, Rosalie grew up with her three siblings in an environment where music was constantly in the air. Fascinated by The Beatles, Slade, Syd-era Pink Floyd, Bowie, Small Faces, Genesis and Black Sabbath, her creativity first reached the wider public in 2007 when she founded her first professional band, the all-female, Gothic-psychedelic outfit Ipso Facto, releasing three singles and a mini album, supporting Magazine and The Last Shadow Puppets on tour, and becoming the new darlings of the UK and European festival circuit. After Ipso Facto’s split, Cunningham immersed herself in the session world, guesting with numerous bands and artists, and appearing on TV programmes including ‘Later... With Jools Holland’, ‘BBC Electric Proms’ and NBC’s ‘Jay Leno Show’ in the USA, however, the burning urge to cultivate her own music was never far away. In 2011, wearing her psychedelic influences even more proudly, her next move was to launch the internationally acclaimed band Purson. Initially signed to Rise Above, Purson released their first album, The Circle & The Blue Door (2013), which included the singles ‘Rocking Horse’ and ‘Leaning On A Bear’, as well as live favourites ‘Tragic Catastrophe’ and ‘Spiderwood Farm’. Dealing with “the struggle between light and dark”, the album was followed by an EP, In The Meantime..., and then, in April 2016, by the Spinefarm/Universal release, Desire’s Magic Theatre. Cunningham’s more adventurous, widescreen vision of “vaudeville carny psych”, this beautifully executed album bore tracks including the heavily playlisted ‘Electric Landlady’ and ‘The Sky Parade’. Purson frequently toured the UK, Europe and North America – with the likes of KISS, Ghost and Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – and featured regularly on BBC 6 Music. The band also had the honour of winning several major accolades. Hailed as Best New Band and being awarded Best Début Album in Terrorizer magazine’s 2013 readers poll, Purson was shortlisted at Classic Rock’s 2014 Rock Roll Of Honour event in Los Angeles. In 2015, the band won the Vanguard award at the Progressive Music Awards in London.

OUT OF HIBERNATION After writing what became Purson’s posthumous single, ‘Chocolate Money’, Cunningham recorded and issued a 50th anniversary cover of The Beatles’ ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ as a YouTube exclusive, with her father, Mark, and then entered a self-imposed “musical hibernation” before re-emerging with her eponymous album like the visionary solo artist she always was. “I continued to write songs after Purson split up, purely for cathartic reasons,” she noted. “Being subconsciously released from the shackles of writing music for a band to perform live let me express myself more honestly. There were no boundaries. The pressure had gone. I could take plenty of time over arrangements and that benefitted the musical landscape compared with previous work. Everything was in its right place without feeling contrived.” Songs like ‘Fuck Love’ and the epic closer ‘A Yarn From A Wheel’ presented a theatrical element, and while the focus was still firmly informed by ’60s and ’70s rock giants like Cream, Deep Purple and Jethro Tull, there was a psychedelic haze, awash with fuzzy guitars and Wurlitzer organs, that rippled through opening track ‘Ride On My Bike’ and ‘Riddles And Games’. Meanwhile, the graceful,

“My first solo album was a significant step in my maturing as a musician and songwriter”

bucolic ambience of ‘Butterflies’ is a Blackbird-esque nod to the artist’s ultimate creative hero, Sir Paul McCartney. Recorded in three different studios, the album’s organic feel was a testament to Cunningham’s ability to work with almost exclusively analogue equipment, lending a nostalgic warmth to songs like ‘House Of The Glass Red’ and ‘Nobody Hears’, but with a clarity and maturity that marked its contemporary take on the classic. “After a long period spent demoing in my home studio, the approach I started with was very modern, at a high-end digital studio,” Cunningham explained. “I soon realised it wasn’t for me and went right back to basics. I took it home, stripped it right down, experimenting with tape machine tricks, running mics down corridors and using broadcast mics to get the guitar sound. After that I went to Gizzard, a very comfortable east London analogue studio in which I’ve worked before. The final mix, which was all done live at the desk, was a performance in its own right.” Cunningham added: “My five-year journey with Purson taught me a lot about the music business but, mostly, a lot about being true to myself. After Desire’s Magic Theatre, I became more confident of my music and how I wanted to be perceived. My first solo album was a huge career milestone; a significant step in my maturing as a musician and songwriter. I have since become much closer, creatively, to my partner Rosco Levee, and this has definitely informed my next phase with the follow-up.”

COMING SOON... TWO PIECE PUZZLE Like so many of her contemporaries, moving forward for Cunningham will be all about adapting to the post-pandemic landscape. She said: “I started writing material for my second solo album well before the first one came out, but we had to push back the sessions by several months until the studios opened up again. We booked Soup Studios in London’s Docklands to lay down the drum tracks

Cunningham and her guitarist partner Rosco Levee.

when we could and, since then, Rosco and I have been back and forth, often locked away in our studio at home to progress these new tracks. Creatively, we did a lot of bouncing off each other during the writing period, and that was a very interesting and rewarding way of working for me, because that has usually been quite a lonely process.” The creative couple also embraced video during lockdown when they made their own charming promo clip for the single ‘Number 149’. Backed with ‘Fossil Song’ for its March 12th 2021 release, the 45 was the first product from these sessions to reach the public. In closing, Cunningham brought her story up to date: “It’s been a long journey but as I speak [in late August 2021], we are very close to the finish line with this second album. It will be titled Two Piece Puzzle and its release is planned for February 2022.” What can fans expect from this forthcoming long player? “Being so close to its creation, it’s really difficult for me to explain, other than say that I’m constantly refining my approaches to songs and the way they are voiced on record. Those who know my work may spot some familiar themes but I think the production sounds more focused, intimate and confident this time.“

Ahead of the album, Cunningham is looking forward to returning to the road with a September and October ’21 UK tour featuring Levee on guitars and bassist Alpha Michelle, along with new band members Bo Walsh on drums, and Fi & Dave Dulake from Tuppenny Bunters on keyboards. Post-release, the line-up is scheduled to tour Europe in February-March 2022, followed by a more extensive British tour and a raft of exciting festival appearances such as Cropredy and Sweden Rock.

“If Kate Bush had a baby with The Beatles it would have been Rosalie Cunningham” - Classic Rock Magazine “There is something wonderfully dramatic and theatrical about Rosalie Cunningham’s debut solo album.” DAILY EXPRESS “The songs display a new sense of freedom as they skitterbetween psychedelia, prog and playful avant-pop.” UNCUT “Her voice is always extraordinary.” PLANET ROCK MAGAZINE “Rosalie’s solo début transports you to a luscious (but pleasingly dark) fairgrground-come-cabaret world, with tasty Beatles vibes a-plenty.” POLLY GLASS, CLASSIC ROCK “A heady brew of psychedelia, harddriving riffs and glam rock, all in thrall to Cunningham’s bewitching vocal presence.” GUITARIST “Rosalie has that indefinable magnetic quality that rock stars are made of.” SHAWN DUDLEY, PROGRADAR “Rosalie is a rock star… she exudes an effortless charisma and quiet confidence. The music she makes is meticulously but lovingly designed to blow minds.” DOM LAWSON, METAL HAMMER “Cunningham’s vision is a golden ticket through the canyons of imagination, a peephole through the doors of perception, a celebration of surrender.” MOJO “An unforgettable introduction to one of our most delirious talents.” PROG “Enthralling... Rosalie has touched genius in this dramatic, pulse-driven recording.” LIVERPOOL SOUND & VISION “Cunningham’s self titled debut is a cohesive masterpiece that’s not to be missed.” BUZZ “Fabulous stuff that by rights should earn Cunningham the stardom she deserves.” SHINDIG!

LIVE REVIEWS “The confidence of Rosalie’s vocals riding effortlessly over the top of this swelling

ACCOLADES “A debut solo outing that is a heady brew of psychedelia, hard-driving riffs and glam rock, all in thrall to Cunningham’s bewitching vocal presence.” 8/10 GUITARIST “There is something wonderfully dramatic and theatrical about Rosalie Cunningham’s debut solo album.” **** DAILY EXPRESS “The songs display a new sense of freedom as they skitter between psychedelia, prog and playful avant-pop.” 8/10 UNCUT “Her voice is always extraordinary.” **** PLANET ROCK MAGAZINE “She’s a great talent and this album is the proof.” 9/10 POWERPLAY “An enthralling album, Rosalie Cunningham has touched genius in this dramatic, pulse-driven recording.” ***** LIVERPOOL SOUND & VISION “Cunningham’s self titled debut is a cohesive masterpiece that’s not to be missed.” ***** BUZZ “Fabulous stuff that by rights should earn Cunningham the stardom she deserves.” **** SHINDIG! “Hardly on trend and yet ideal for the strange times in which we live, ‘Number 149’ is a refreshing example of bold ambition writ large. Best enjoyed in glorious technicolour (check out the psych-tastic video) this is Cunningham back to her endearing and enigmatic best. ‘Number 149’ should be number ONE.” RUSH ON ROCK (Red Hot Track of the Week)

LIVE REVIEWS “Manchester loves Rosalie Cunningham and the feeling is mutual. Swirls and swathes from the keyboard and two-guitar frontline, songs about cardboard flowers crying with raindrop tears and if you care to close your eyes, you’d be wallowing in strawberry fields.” Mike Ainscoe, LOUDER THAN WAR “Modern psychedelic rock of the highest, brightest and most colourful order. With a great new album in the bag and a touring band who can help her do it justice, Rosalie Cunningham’s star is once again rising.” Michael Anthony, ROCKTOPIA “On this evidence, Rosalie Cunningham is just one well-deserved break away from playing to the bigger audiences commanded by lesser talents. Let’s hope fate finally gives her career a nudge in the right direction.” Robin Askew, BRISTOL 24/7 “The confidence of Rosalie’s vocals riding effortlessly over the top of this swelling maelstrom is completely captivating. She commands centre stage, looking like Joan Jett in the darkness but sounding like Grace Slick at her absolute best.” NIGEL CARR, LOUDER THAN WAR

Rosalie Cunningham

discography Rosalie Cunningham

V I D E O C L I P S E M B E D D E D W H E R E AVA I L A B L E

with

IPSO FACTO

SINGLES Harmonise / Balderdash (2007, DiscError Recordings DER001) Six And Three Quarters / Circle Of Fifths (2008, Mute Irregulars IRRG19) Ears & Eyes (2008, Germs Of Youth GERMS005 s/sided)

with

PURSON

SINGLES Rocking Horse / Twos And Ones (2012, Rise Above Records RISE7/143) The Contract / Blueprints Of The Dream (2013, Rise Above RISE7/173) Leaning On A Bear / Let Bloom (2013, Rise Above RISE7/166) EXTENDED PLAY In The Meantime... Tracks: Death’s Kiss / Dance Macabre / Wanted Man / I Will Be Good (2014, Machine Elf Records MELFV 1) ALBUMS The Circle & The Blue Door Tracks: Wake Up Sleepy Head / The Contract / Spiderwood Farm / Sailor’s Wife’s Lament / Leaning On A Bear / Tempest And The Tide / Mavericks And Mystics / Well Spoiled

MINI ALBUM / EXTENDED PLAY IF... Tracks: Six And Three Quarters / Circle Of Fifths / Ears & Eyes / Introducing / Five Golden Stars / Balderdash [demo] (2009, Japan CD, Vinyl Junkie DDCJ-3062)

Machine / Sapphire Ward / Rocking Horse / Tragic Catastrophe (2013, Rise Above RISELP152) Desire’s Magic Theatre Tracks: Desire’s Magic Theatre / Electric Landlady / Dead Dodo Down / Pedigree Chums / The Sky Parade / The Window Cleaner / The Way It Is / Mr. Howard / I Know / The Bitter Suite | CD Bonus Tracks: Unsure Overture / I Know (Acoustic) / The Sky Parade (Acoustic) (2016, Spinefarm SPINE771153) PROMO / DIGITAL RELEASES Mavericks And Mystics – Abbey Road Remaster (2013, Rise Above RISE CDR176) Blueprints Of The Dream (2013, Rise Above) Death’s Kiss (2014, Machine Elf) Electric Landlady (2015, Spinefarm) Desire’s Magic Theatre (2016, Spinefarm) The Window Cleaner (2016, Spinefarm) Chocolate Money (2017, Spinefarm)

with

FOGIE

SINGLE Gimme Mustard / Trout Vapour (2014, Machine Elf MELFV 2)

ROSALIE CUNNINGHAM

VIDEO-ONLY SINGLES Strawberry Fields Forever (2017, YouTube) Ride On My Bike (2019, YouTube)

SELECTED GUEST APPEARANCES Steve McLean: All This Love And Hate – BVs on Don’t Take Our Smiles Away (2001, Bigbash SMCD1 / 2020 Bigbash SM20) Magazine: No Thyself – BVs (2011, Wire-Sound WIRED 19) Janey & The Ravemen: Stay Away From Boys – BVs on Somebody Help Me (2011, Soundflat Records SFR-037)

SINGLE Number 149 / Fossil Song (2020, Machine Elf Records)

Simon Heartfelt: Secret Self – vocals on Six Point Seven Five (2012, Wolf Trap WTE001)

ALBUMS Rosalie Cunningham Tracks: Ride On My Bike / Fuck Love / House Of The Glass Red / Dethroning Of The Party Queen / Nobody Hears / Riddles And Games / Butterflies / A Yarn From The Wheel (2019, Esoteric Antenna EANTLP1075)

Cathedral: The Last Spire – BVs (2013, Rise Above RISECD150)

Two Piece Puzzle Tracks TBC (2022, Esoteric Antenna)

Hexvessel: Iron Marsh – vocals on Woman Of Salem (2013, Svart Records SVR205CD) Magazine: Old World Charm Live at BBC Electric Proms 2009 – BVs (2017, Wire-Sound WIRED 42) Fairport Convention & Friends: Meet On The Ledge 2020 – lead vocals & BVs (2020, YouTube)

Rosalie Cunningham

Number 149 / Fossil Song

Rosalie Cunningham IMAGES Principal photography • Rob Blackham Additional images • Rosco Levee, James Sharrock, Howard Rankin, Ester Segarra, Tina Korhonen, Stefan Raduta, Shona Cutt, Henry Gorse WORDS + DESIGN groovehype.uk