Rob St. John
| Rob St John | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Lancashire |
| Genres | Indie folk |
| Instruments | Guitar, organ, vocals |
| Years active | Mid-2000s–present |
| Labels | Song, by Toad Records |
| Associated acts | Eagleowl, Meursault, Woodpigeon |
| Website |
www |
| Notable instruments | |
| Guitar, organ, bass | |
Rob St. John is an English writer and singer-songwriter, generally described as "alt-folk".
Biography
Originally from Pendle in Lancashire, St. John was part of the mid-2000s Edinburgh folk scene.[1] He performs with a live ensemble which includes Rob Waters on harmonium, Bartholomew Owl and Malcolm Benzie of eagleowl on bass and fiddle, Louise Martin on musical saw, Neil Pennycook of Meursault on harmonium, Ian Humberstone on clarinet and accordion, Tom Western on synthesiser and Owen Curtis Williams on the drums.[2]
His debut album, Weald, was released in November 2011, and received a positive reception from critics.[3][4][5][6] This Is Fake DIY described it as "special, surprising and utterly magnificent".[5] Andrew Collins of BBC 6 Music named it his album of the year.[7]
St. John has been described as "a new generation of folk troubadour".[8] The List likened his music to both Nick Drake and Nick Cave.[9] The Glasgow Herald described him as a "doom-pop troubadour", calling his music "bluesy, brooding alt-folk".[7]
St. John wrote the original music for the Jeremy Deller and Nick Abrahams film The Bruce Lacey Experience, and produced the Folklore Tapes "Pendle, 1612" compilation album with David Chatton-Barker, commemorating the anniversary of the Pendle Witch Trials.
St. John is a regular contributor to Eagleowl, Meursault, and Woodpigeon. He is also an environmental writer whose work has been published in National Geographic Online,[10] The Ecologist[11] and The Daily Telegraph.[12]
Discography
Albums
- Weald (2011), Song, by Toad
EPs
- Tipping In (2007), Fife Kills: records
- Like Alchemy (2008), Fife Kills: records
Singles
- "Your Phantom Limb" (2011), Song, by Toad – split 7-inch single with Ian Humberstone
- "The Acid Test" (2011), Song, by Toad – promotional CD single
- "The Charcoal Black and the Bonny Grey" (2013). Song, by Toad – 7-inch single
References
- ↑ Mitchell, Nick (2011) "Bands of 2011: Rob St John", RADAR, 30 December 2011, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ Drever, Ryan (2009) "Exposure: Rob St John", The List, 27 February 2009, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ Carle, Darren (2011) "Rob St. John – Weald", The Skinny, 1 November 2011, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ "Rob St John: Weald Track by track guide", Clash, 21 November 2011, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Skrebels, Joe (2011) "Rob St. John – Weald", This Is Fake DIY, 21 November 2011, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ Hamilton, Billy (2011) "Rob St. John Weald", Drowned in Sound, 22 November 2011, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Freaking out with a glitter ball and a masked drummer", Glasgow Herald, 4 January 2012, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ Bell, Jo (2012) "Rob St John, Banshee Labyrinth, Sat 18 Feb", The List, 8 March 2012, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ Cooper, Neil (2011) "Rob St John – Weald", The List, 10 November 2011, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ "“Water Lives…”, An Ethereal Haiku Animation About Freshwater Ecosystems", National Geographic, 19 March 2012, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ "Why the BBC is wrong to scrap its Wildlife Fund ", The Ecologist, 3 August 2011, retrieved 2012-04-09
- ↑ "Fairy Pools of Skye", The Daily Telegraph, 25 Nov 2011, retrieved 2012-04-09