"A vivid portrait of teenage deep-thinking: intricate, ambiguous psychodramas"Guardian
“Soak’s sound has snippets of Cat Power and the delicacy of Lykke Li...well-crafted and uplifting psalms” Noisey
“Understated and beautiful” Stereogum
“Her music is spellbinding” The 405

17-year-old Derry songwriter SOAK has premiered a CHVRCHES remix for new single ‘Blud’ on Nylon, as well as confirming details of a new London show. The first signing to Chvrches’ Goodbye Records will headline St Pancras Old Church onApril 10, as well as supporting the band on tour (including two dates at The Forum). Due out on March 17, ‘Blud’ has already gone Top 10 on Hype Machine, been made Zane Lowe’s Next Hype and picked up repeated Radio 1 play across the likes of Huw Stephens and Phil & Alice.

Born in Belfast but raised in Derry, SOAK offers vivid proof that age does not define artistic maturity. Bridie Monds-Watson has spent the last two years splitting time between her studies, the local skate-park, and her songwriting. There was significant acclaim for 2012’s ‘Sea Creatures’, which saw her offered slots at Glastonbury and Other Voices, support Tegan & Sara on tour, and complete a Biology GCSE moments after playing the City of Culture launch for Derry. A&Rs would fly over to Belfast for the day and sit patiently in her kitchen, whilst Bridie’s parents learnt on-the-job about artist management. Yet SOAK rushed into nothing, partly “because I never really expected any of this to go anywhere.”  

On ‘Blud’, however, SOAK accelerates her ascent from raw talent into a unique artistic voice. More atmospheric and textured than her earlier work, ‘Blud’ was written after overhearing an argument and explores the possibilities of change thereafter. The effect is curiously uplifting, seemingly as inspired by a childhood of Joni Mitchell albums as the brooding productions of Cat Power. A counterpart to her burgeoning songwriting, Bridie also played every instrument on ‘Blud’ herself (bar the bass), which was produced in Donegal by Mercury-nominated Villagers’ guitarist Tommy McLaughlin.

Tickets for SOAK’s St Pancras Old Church show go on sale this Thursday (13.02.2014) and will be available from: http://www.gigsandtours.com/tour/soak

17 February      NME Awards Show @ London, Scala w/ SOAK
19 February      Dublin, Sugar Club w/ George Ezra
20 February      Belfast, McHughes w/ George Ezra
2 March            Birmingham, Hare & Hounds w/ George Ezra
3 March            Bristol, Fleece w/ George Ezra
4 March            London, Dingwalls w/ George Ezra
05 March          Dublin, Academy w/ CHVRCHES
07 March          Newcastle, Academy w/ CHVRCHES
08 March          Glasgow, Barrowland w/ CHVRCHES
09 March          Leeds, Metropolitan University w/ CHVRCHES
10 March          Birmingham, Institute w/ CHVRCHES
12 March          Cambridge, Junction w/ CHVRCHES
13 March          Cardiff, University Great Hall w/ CHVRCHES
14 March          London, Forum w/ CHVRCHES
15 March          London, Forum w/ CHVRCHES
10 April            London, St Pancras Old Churs **HEADLINE SHOW**