Release Date: Sep 24, 2021
Discs: 1
100 TREES IN 1 WEEK, STARTING FROM MAY 17th...
Trees have been the cornerstone to my latest 2 albums- 'In This Place' (Sept '21) and 'LAYERS', an instrumental reimaging of those songs, released just 2 weeks ago in celebration of Earth Day. With that in mind, I'm launching a massive pledge... For the next 7 days every Vinyl or CD of 'In This Place' will include a digital download of Layers and will go towards planting 1 tree. Yes, every CD or Vinyl will include a bonus digital album of Layers AND will enable 1 tree to be planted. I am SO excited to be doing this. I've chosen to act very local and plant the trees with Stroud Valley Project, a charity in the town where I live. Although I toyed with using a cheaper international company, I know SVP use biodegradable tree guards and mulch mats, and have spent a great deal of time investigating the most effective methods to ensure the trees, and the wildlife around them, thrive. The work SVP will always be especially close to my heart - it was planting thousands of trees with them earlier this year, that helped in the journey to bring my husband back to health after suffering a debilitating vestibular disorder. This just felt right.
So, here goes! I would also love it so much if you can send or post any pictures on Instagram once your LPs or CDs arrive!
Please note, vinyl colour will vary as this record is being pressed on recycled vinyl
A heady blend of alt-folk, analogue synth and classical composition, In This Place is a tale of quiet rebellion, and taking back control. Fittingly, the new album marks the start of another new journey for Mara. In This Place will be the first record to be released on Downfield Records, a non-profit imprint set up by Simpson, placing artists at it’s centre. “I want to try and promote transparency and equality, assist other artists to get public funding and to ‘pay’ forward the time and resources I’ve benefited from,” she says. The label’s mission is to see musicians paid fairly and release records through a creative and joyous process.
Whilst the struggles of 2020 will go down in history, for Mara it was 2019 that was the tough one. A year spent consumed by worry, whilst in and out of hospital with her one year old daughter, had left Mara feeling like she was playing a constant game of catch up with a world that wouldn’t slow down. With songs ready to be recorded for her new album, she headed into the studio to record with her producer.
“I stepped into the studio not needing my hand held, just my voice heard” explains Mara, who quickly came to the realisation that she was working in a toxic environment with a producer whose moods everyone had started to dread. “Ironically, at the end of a year spent managing my daughter’s breathing issues, I had an asthma attack induced by the studio’s hypoallergenic cat,” she laughs. “Enough was enough.”
TRACKLISTING:
SIDE A
1 Serena
2 Fault Lines
3 Coda
4 Nowhere
5 Christchurch
SIDE B
6 Reason
7 In This Place
8 Traquair
9 Grace
10 Coda
