Bottlemoth release music video for single 'Where Oceans Swallow Your Skies' taken from debut album
Indie-folk five-piece Bottlemoth unveil debut album 'Even us ghosts' released to limited edition vinyl
Music video for single 'Where Oceans Swallow Your Skies' out now
Indie-folk five-piece Bottlemoth are excited to reveal their debut album ‘Even us ghosts’ released on October 17th 2024 to limited edition vinyl.
Bottlemoth formed in January 2024 and have already performed alongside The Dangerous Summer, Cold Years, Jim Lockey & The Solemn Sun and Adult Leisure. The band cut their teeth touring the UK under a previous moniker, playing tour supports with Slow Readers Club and festivals such as 2000 Trees, Isle of Wight and Glastonbury. Their releases so far have amassed over 180,000 streams and have been celebrated by the likes of Far Out Magazine, Clash and God Is In The TV.
Influenced by artists such as Manchester Orchestra, The Gaslight Anthem, The Wonder Years and Frightened Rabbit, their sound is honest and heartfelt, emotive and dynamic.
The album’s previous singles ‘Tattoo’, ‘You’ll Always Have Us // Everything Works Out In the End’ and ‘Landslides (people change)’ have seen Bottlemoth championed by the likes of Fame Magazine, RTE, The Most Radicalist and Spotify editorial’s Hot New Bands and Apple’s New In Rock.
Their debut full-length was written and produced by the band themselves, with additional recording with Joe Marsh at Orchard Studios and mixing by Adrian Hall (Tori Amos, Bess Atwell, Nova Twins, Cassia).
Commenting on the writing process, vocalist and lyricist Ethan Proctor says: “‘Even us ghosts’ is a step in an unexpected direction for the band. Initially I wanted to make a heavier sounding album, and what we created was something quite different to that initial vision. I was listening to lots of bands like The Wonder Years, the first Four Year Strong records and my favourite record by Manchester Orchestra ‘Cope’. In all of them there is something special in the lyrics and guitar work. It’s crunchy, the voices are real and melancholic, and I wanted that in our sound. Rather than chase a sound I thought we wanted, we followed the ideas flowing, and leaning into the unknown took us somewhere we are really proud of. The songs feel honest, but with an energy that is less angsty - remaining hopeful and uplifting.
The arrangements came together around laptops whilst producing and recording, rather than in a loud practice room which was a first for us. This new approach helped to be creative with different instrument pallets, additional layering and gave us time to properly share our ideas.”
Lyrically the album explores contemporary themes, digging deep into the complexities of living in your twenties; Coming into your own independence, heartbreak, returning home, navigating mental health and celebrating love, friendships and those who matter most.
“Like many of our friends, we’d become twenty somethings living with our families again, and there are a lot of complexities to that; Feeling fortunate to have those people, but the contrasting feeling of becoming a burden. It progressed the themes and images in the writing process, with oceans and ‘the deep’, a direct comparison to sinking emotionally, and tall skylines being the opposite hopes and joy. The album title ‘Even us ghosts’ summarises the record well for just three words. Without speaking for the whole band, across my life I have felt like a ghost in a very loud world. I wouldn’t say I’m spiritual, but the comparison I find inspires a lot of topics for writing. In change and challenge, loneliness in the most crowded places, hoping to always be there for those you care for, the feeling you’re not enough. That last theme manifests a lot. I don’t think we get an answer to the questions of what is enough across our album, but we are talking and that’s something,” adds Ethan.
Alongside the album came its final single ‘Where Oceans Swallow Your Skies’, a melancholic yet uplifting number that serves as a reminder that even on your worst, most lonely days, connection with the people around you can pull you through.
"Living in London was a strange and wonderful experience personally. I felt connected to a place that felt incredibly important and fast, but also surprisingly alone sometimes in massive swells of crowds. This song opens with a sample of the London underground, reversed and processed behind the drums - just as it made me feel then. The title of the track cements the album theme, skies being our hopes and dreams against oceans and the deep being the things we pull ourselves down into; with the things in our head we can't control.
It's a song about finding hope when you feel like you're drowning. That those you need will always be there if you look for them."
A music video for the single was released on November 8th 2024, filmed at Exmoor's Kilve Beach.
"The video was shot very DIY, just Matt and I over in Kilve - it’s a beautiful little beach that I love visiting; A place that always brings me calm, I've always wanted to shoot something here."
ONLINE:
Website: https://www.bottlemoth.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bottlemoth
X: https://x.com/bottlemoth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/bottlemoth
TRACK LISTING:
1. Landslides (People Change)
2. Everything Works Out In The End
3. Bowling, Beers & Most of Our Friends
4. Settle In
5. Where Oceans Swallow Your Skies
6. Tattoo
7. You'll Always Have Us
8. Deleted Scenes
9. Numb
10. Hold Me Like You Know Me
BOTTLEMOTH ARE:
Ethan Proctor Williams - Vocals / Guitar
Chessa Proctor Williams - Vocals / Keys
Matt Bond - Vocals / Lead Guitar
Henry Matthews - Bass
Tom Farkas - Drums
FOR FANS OF:
Manchester Orchestra
The Gaslight Anthem
Frightened Rabbit
The National
The Wonder Years
"Born in the same house as Frightened Rabbit and The Gaslight Anthem the quintet clearly have their eyes set on filling the stadium-sized hole their songs demand." - Far Out Magazine
"Masters at beautifully crafted indie-folk music that tugs on the heartstrings with tender vocals, sparkling compositions, and captivating lyrics. A showstopping talent waiting to be discovered." - God is in the TV
"Soft, supple songwriting with a dark edge." - Clash Magazine
