Caswell shares new single “Animal.”
‘Animal’ is a brooding song that showcases Caswell’s pure, soulful voice and broad range. As with all of Caswell’s music, ‘Animal’ also delivers a strong message.
It follows on from ‘Fury’, which received a huge amount of support from online tastemakers, leading to immediate comparisons to the likes of Jorja Smith, Sasha Keable and JONES.
Such resemblances are not surprising when Caswell cites influences from Kate Bush, Jeff Buckley and Nina Simone to Björk and Erykah Badu, but Caswell’s music is less of an imitation and more of homage to these artists.
At just 22, Caswell has already developed her own distinct sound; rich, down-tempo, electronic soul and pop, with a tangible jazz influence; and a knack for sophisticated songwriting.
“I draw from my own personal experiences,” says Caswell. “I find that’s when I really need to write. It’s very much a form of catharsis for me and I like having created something positive like a song out of something negative that has happened in my life. Sometimes it helps me find closure and listening back to songs is like seeing the little milestones of my life.”
Originally from Tulse Hill in South London, Caswell grew up surrounded by music with her former punk rocker mother (now a vinyl dealer) and godfather who worked as a buyer for HMV. Armed with her first stereo at five years old, she subsequently taught herself the piano and ended up attending the prestigious BRIT School in her teens.
Live, Caswell is a captivating performer, and it’s during these moments that she takes the opportunity to really connect with her audience.
“When you listen to a record, especially these days, everything’s been tweaked, second guessed and overthought to a point where sometimes the soul is lost. Although live will never sound as perfect, it’s an opportunity to properly connect to the rawness of the song and the artist.”
Caswell’s symbolic and literal voice is clear and convincing, with an emotional maturity beyond her years. This, paired with her grit and determination, mean that Caswell is an artist to watch in 2017.
