Naima Bock shares video for new single ‘Gentle’
NAIMA BOCK SHARES VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE ‘GENTLE’
NEW ALBUM BELOW A MASSIVE DARK LAND OUT 27 SEPTEMBER VIA SUB POP/MEMORIALS OF DISTINCTION
FULL UK TOUR IN NOVEMBER AS WELL AS EUROPEAN DATES
“Giant Palm is at once a statement of Naima Bock’s enormous ambition as a solo artist […] and at the same time a celebration of the communal”
The Quietus ‘Music Of The Month’
“Giant Palm is a stellar debut and one of 2022’s more distinct releases”
8/10 The Line of Best Fit ‘Album of the Week’
“A record as unique as Bock’s history”
8/10 Loud and Quiet ‘Album of the Week’
Watch the video for ‘Gentle’ here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpV3ljoIyw8
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Last month Naima Bock announced that she will release her new album Below a Massive Dark Land on 27 September via Sub Pop/Memorials Of Distinction. The follow up to Giant Palm – one of 2022’s most critically acclaimed debuts – Naima also shared the first two singles from the album ‘Kaley‘ and ‘Further Away‘ (“Each containing their own unique sense of beauty” – Clash). Today she has followed up with the video for new single ‘Gentle’, directed by Ellie Wintour and Sophie Lincoln.
Naima says of the song and video:
“I’ve lived with this song for a couple of years. It’s a kind of copy and paste of different sections of my life, each verse is a different version of myself or situation I was in. None of them link in reality, but they fit together in this song, which leaves me with a sense of union and satisfaction. I would like to allow for the listener to take the lyrics in whatever way is relevant to them. I can say it’s my favourite song to play and one of my favourite songs that I’ve written. It means a lot to me.”
Directors Ellie Wintour and Sophie Lincoln offer this:
“Our jumping off point for the video began with the lyrics ‘You want me to be gentle, fragile, you want me to stay young. I pray that I stay gentle, fragile, I pray that I stay.’ We developed Naima a character playing on femininity as facade, but also her sense of easygoing style. In using two-dimensional substitutes for three-dimensional objects – mixing worlds of the real and make-believe – we tried to play on the song’s themes of expectation, assigned roles, and conformity.”
Naima also recently announced a full UK tour in November which includes two shows in London at St Pancras Old Church and The Ivy House as well as a number of dates around the UK and European dates throughout December. Full dates and tickets below.Below a Massive Dark Land was predominantly produced by Jack Ogborne (Bingo Fury) and Joe Jones, and recorded at The Crypt in north London, with additional production and arrangement by Oliver Hamilton (caroline, Shovel Dance Collective) and Naima herself. Six of the tracks were mixed by Jason Agel, with the remainder done by Ogborne and Jones. The album was mastered by Kevin Tuffy.
Most of Below…’s songs started life very simply; Naima alone, living in her grandmother’s shed in South London, writing just with her voice, guitar and violin. She’s no violin virtuoso but had taken it up as a songwriting exercise for its ability to draw melodies from her – a trick that undoubtedly worked, these are songs that drift into the back of your mind and settle there like fallen leaves, songs you wake up singing. The remainder was written on the road after those moments of audience connection, in the quiet that follows. The songs were then fleshed out into strong, lovingly rendered arrangements with a huge host of musicians; filled with cradling space and warm light.
Below a Massive Dark Land will be available on CD/LP/DSPs and is available now for preorder from Sub Pop/Memorials of Distinction. LP preorders through Mega Mart 2 and select independent retailers worldwide will receive the Blue Jay coloured vinyl, while stocks last.
Pre-order Below a Massive Dark Land here:
https://music.subpop.com/naimabock_belowamassivedarkland
Photo credit: El Hardwick
High-res images can be found here
Below a Massive Dark Land tracklist:
1. Gentle
2. Kaley
3. Feed My Release
4. My Sweet Body
5. Lines
6. Further Away
7. Takes One
8. Age
9. Moving
10. Star
Tour dates:
15 Aug – St. Malo, FR @ La Route Du Rock +
22 Aug – Los Angeles, CA @ Barnsdall Gallery Theatre w/ Angel De Augustine *
23 Aug – Los Angeles, CA @ TBA *
24 Aug – Ojai, CA @ Greater Goods *
8 Sep – Portland, OR @ Music Millennium (instore) *
13 Sep – Walla Walla, WA @ Billsville West *
15 Sep – Seattle, WA @ The Rabbit Box *
21 Oct – Boston, MA @ Warehouse XI *
23 Oct – Philadelphia, PA @ The Parish Room (First Unitarian Church) *
25 Oct – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool *
6 Nov – London @ St. Pancras Old Church +
7 Nov – Bristol @ Jam Jar
8 Nov – Liverpool @ Leaf
9 Nov – Newcastle @ Cumberland Arms
10 Nov – Glasgow @ Mc Chuills
12 Nov – Leeds @ Hyde Park Book Club
13 Nov – Manchester @ Deaf Institute
14 Nov – Cambridge @ Storey’s Field Centre
16 Nov – Falmouth @ The Cornish Bank
17 Nov – Frome @ The Tree House
18 Nov – Exeter @ Cavern Club
20 Nov – Ipswich @ St Stephens Church
21 Nov – London @ The Ivy House
3 Dec – Lille, FR @ L ‘Aéronef
4 Dec – Brugge, BE @ Cactus Café
6 Dec – Haldern, DE @ Pop Bar
7 Dec – Hamburg, DE @ Nachstasyl
8 Dec – Berlin, DE @ Neu Zunkunft
10 Dec – Cologne, DE @ Subway
11 Dec – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
12 Dec – Brussels, BE @ Botanique
13 Dec – Paris, FR @ La Boule Noire
+ Duo with Oliver Hamilton
* Solo
All other shows full band
Tickets are available here:
https://naimabock.com
Praise for Giant Palm:
“Giant Palm is at once a statement of Naima Bock’s enormous ambition as a solo artist […] and at the same time a celebration of the communal”
The Quietus ‘Music Of The Month’
“Giant Palm is a stellar debut and one of 2022’s more distinct releases”
8/10 The Line of Best Fit ‘Album of the Week’
“A record as unique as Bock’s history”
8/10 Loud and Quiet ‘Album of the Week’
“A real gem”
Stereogum ‘Album of the Week’
“This album has an unforced charm, making it an ideal accompaniment to long summer nights”
4/5 The Times
“Exquisite solo debut”
4/5 Mojo
“Ten tracks that occupy their own lifeforce, almost set in motion by the elements”
4/5 DIY
“Sharply observed, sumptuously arranged”
7.8 Pitchfork
“Quiet, melancholy and occasionally divinely uplifting”
Uncut
“Exquisite […] a truly special listen”
Clash
“A ray of optimism”
The Guardian
“The fusion of her disparate cultural influences makes for an enchanting sound entirely Bock’s own”
New York Times
“A compelling first step into the spotlight that suggests great things to come”
The Forty Five
“Bock’s music is like discovering you have a false wall when renovating your house. That, once knocked down, reveals a chamber of trinkets to unearth”
Secret Meeting ‘Single of the Week’
“A strong contender to be one of 2022’s breakout stars”
For The Rabbits
“A mightily impressive introduction”
God Is In The TV