#emissive

Find A Song about being stuck in a bad place

Oliver Spalding - Emissive

With ‘Emissive’, Spalding’s style flows into more dystopian realms. Snappy, almost trip-hop beats and glitches underpin swathes of darkly toned cinematic synths and Spalding’s staggeringly beautiful falsetto yearning. With indulgent space and emotion it’s one of the more experimental and free flowing moments on his debut.

“‘Emissive’ is about being stuck in a bad place and pleading for relief or a warmth to save you from the impending cold. Depression is a serious issue in modern society and you aren’t alone so please never suffer in silence - reach out for help!”

“Novemberism” is the debut album of 23-year-old UK artist Oliver Spalding. As with his debut EP “Unfurl” (2017), the album was written and recorded with producer Ed Tullett (Novo Amor). Built around Spalding’s staggeringly beautiful voice, the record is full of melodic, immediate songwriting and arresting electronic production.

Asked about his choice of title, Spalding explains, “To be melancholy all year round is to suffer from Novemberism.”  And indeed, these 11 tracks are woven together with a common thread of heavyheartedness. Even the more upbeat songs, like title track “Novemberism” and “Bow Creek”, which drive and glisten with intoxicating pop hooks and 80s era synths, recall the darker undercurrents of classic New Order. Says Spalding, “The album focuses on a certain period of time in my life and the things that happened around me. My honesty in songwriting is key. The aim of this album was to be raw and emotional. Emotions are scary and no one wants to face them, and that’s what I wanted the album to feel like - something that is uncomfortable but also beautifully revealing.

Synthesizers feature heavily across the record, including single “Bow Creek”, where iridescent synth stabs and lush strings wash over a hazy, late-night London.  “I’m a huge Roxy Music fan”, says Spalding, “I love Brian Ferry’s work and take inspiration from the Prophet synth sounds on the 80s Bruce Springsteen records.