Prepare to be blown away by beautiful female harmonies, acoustic gentleness and a sound that is nothing less than flawless. For this is the sound of The Staves, three sisters named Jessica, Camilla and Emily from Watford, UK and we’ve fallen utterly in love with their music.
“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable, originality is non-existent. And don't bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Goddard said: ‘It's not where you take things from - it's where you take them to’” the bands Facebook page states, quoting Jim Jarmusch, acknowledging the fact that their music is born very much out of tradition. The Staves have no need to defend this though – it’s so adorable that concepts such as originality and authenticity become irrelevant.
Whilst we’re featuring The Staves under the heading New Waves, it being the first time the group have appeared on Breaking More Waves, they’re not a particularly new band – their Myspace page giving a birth date of 2006, however their debut EP was not until last year – the self-released Facing West. Other highlights for the group so far have included playing the Croissant Neuf stage at Glastonbury festival in 2009 and supporting Mumford & Sons in America.
Below you’ll find the blissfully evocative Mexico together with the title track from the EP and a live performance of another song Winter Trees – all enchanting stuff. The Staves will be playing a variety of UK festivals this summer including Camden Crawl, Great Escape, Cambridge Folk Festival, Secret Garden Party and End of the Road Festival before supporting Willy Mason on his September tour. A must see if you’re going to any of these festivals.
Mexico by The StavesFacing West by The Staves
The Staves - 'Winter Trees' (Live at The Magpies Nest) from James McDonald on Vimeo.
2 comments:
Beautiful. On a Camden Crawl bill that's the strongest in ages, here's yet another for the must-see list ...
Just saw them warm up The Civil Wars on their US Tour. St. Louis, MO 1/16/12
How many times does the warm-up act get a standing ovation?
They were simply amazing.
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