A lyrical seduction into the talented world of Mika Sellens, Back Home offers four consistently lovely tracks.
Mika lists Nick Drake and Beth Orton among her (many) influences and both are audible here. There's a real sense of poignant romance throughout, maybe due to the light wash of strings* applied to the back of the songs.
There is an articulate intelligence to her songwriting which is deeply satisfying. Drawn in by the tantalisingly light-touch of her guitar playing, her lilting voice winds a path through what could loosely be labelled love songs. But that doesn't do them justice; there's story-telling, all four seasons evoked, optimism, regret - all rising and falling across deceptively simple orchestration.
When asked to describe her style she mentions terms like 'acoustic' and folk' and is happy with the description of 'singer songwriter' - but she's more than this. A brief glance at her CV shows that she's out there making plans with some of the most
cutting-edge artists around. When the Finnish duo Pepe Deluxe - fresh from soundtracking 'Twisted' Levis' TV ad - were looking for a vocalist for their new album and following single, they picked Mika. The resulting track, Lying Peacefully, became an underground favourite and ended up on not one but two of the season's coolest, must-have chill-out compilations, Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto Chills and Hed Kandi's Winter Chill (2003).
In March she launched her Back Home EP (available on Little Doll Records, the label she's just started) to a packed Spitz, in London's Spitalfields - rapidly becoming the venue of choice for artists on the edge of great things. She's busy promoting the EP, although her real job for the coming year is, she says, to record her debut album.
She may have been raised a city girl (Camden in her early days), but there's an inescapable feeling that this girl's heart is born of green hills and wildflower-strewn meadowland. Her folk roots are showing and Back Home is a beautiful, compelling journey to meet her there.
Sam Taylor on cello and acoustic guitar, Anssi Vaxby on double bass and Amelia Grenfell on violin.
Our Ed caught up with Mika to get more insight
Where does your musical and lyrical style come from and where is it going?
I guess it comes from me and a mix of everyone else who's inspired me. I've been inspired by a lot of folk artists. Where is it going? - somewhere nice I hope! I think I've found my sound or style. I'm sure it will continue to develop, but I don't see it deviating wildly
from where it is now.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who'd it be?
Joni Mitchell without doubt, but I think I'd be too much in awe of her to be able to play. Shawn Colvin would come a
close second.
With the renaissance in the live music scene in London is it harder to make
an impact?
Acoustic music, particularly, is everywhere now, so it can be hard to make an impression. However, there are loads more places to play, and lots of people wanting to listen to acoustic music too, so it has it's advantages.
Who do you rate on the current scene?
Shawn Colvin, Karine Polwart, Jen Gloeckner, William Fitzsimmons, Findlay Brown, Jose Gonzales, Pauline Taylor, Bodixa, Gary Stewart Band... I could go on! There's loads of fantastic music about at the moment in my opinion.
What's next?
I'm playing a big gig at Norwich Arts Centre, where I played my first gig, way back when. It's a perfect showcase for my Back Home EP as I'll be returning home to Norwich, where I went to school. I'll also be doing some gigs in London too, and all over, promoting the EP.
