Introducing : Eaves Wilder

If the names Lush, Slowdive, Ride or Chapterhouse mean anything to you then this new artist might just make you raise an eyebrow. 

She’s only sixteen years old, hasn’t played a live show yet and has released just one song; but it’s a good one. Won’t You Be Happy is a blissed-out swoosh of indie guitar pop. It’s already picked up plenty of online press coverage plus national UK radio play via BBC 6 Music (Lauren Laverne) and Radio 1 (Jack Saunders). It's an impressive start. 

Let’s remember Eaves Wilder is just sixteen. When I was that age the most noteworthy thing I’d done was probably get a couple of detentions at school for not giving in homework. Come to think of it, I'm way older now and still have never had a song played on the radio.

The chances of Eaves being drawn to music were probably always somewhat higher than your average kid; after all she’s the daughter of journalist parents (Caitlin Moran and Peter Paphides), both of whom have written for music publications. I wonder how mum and dad would have reviewed her single back in the day? Caitlin once in the early 90’s called Curve’s song Unreadable Communication ‘the most intense piece of music to be recorded this year.’ There’s a very subtle hint of Curve in what her daughter is doing here as well – albeit the intensity on a scale of 10 is more around a 2 to 3 than 10.

Won’t You Be Happy dips its foot into both colourful psychedelia and swirling shoegaze yet also maintains a dreamy but punchy indie-head sound. If you’ve ever heard a Shine compilation you’ll probably feel this fits. The song was recorded during lockdown in her bedroom, but has been given some extra zing by producer Stephen Street, probably best known for his work with Blur and The Smiths. 

What’s surprising about this fuzzy head music of a tune is that Eaves first came to some attention online via a video of her jamming piano to Uncertain Smile by The The for National Piano Day in January. It subsequently gained the approval of Matt Johnson from The The who sent her a signed copy of the band’s album Soul Mining with a note saying ‘To Eavie – Practice makes perfect, keep up the hard work!’ So, whilst this first release frames Eaves in the way of stoned guitar sonics, there could well be some very different dimensions to her music to come in the future. Very early days, but perhaps one to watch?

Eaves Wilder - Won't You Be Happy