It’s been 12 years since her remarkable debut album Wild And Undaunted marked Lisa Knapp as one of the brightest and most innovative stars of a newly invigorated British folk movement. A child of the 90s rave scene, Lisa found herself drawn to the honesty of the ballads she heard at South London folk clubs and the dexterous Irish fiddle tunes she began joining in with at pub sessions. From there she immersed herself in library manuscripts, pored over second-hand records from the 70s and sought out the masters of traditional music to learn from. Working with partner and producer Gerry Diver, she forged a new path through these old songs that is uniquely and spellbindingly hers.
“A unique voice” – Uncut
Over the years, she’s worked with some of the finest musicians in folk music and beyond: Robert Plant, Eliza Carthy, Graham Coxon, Sam Lee, Olivia Chaney, Leafcutter John, Stick In The Wheel – the list goes on.
“Knapp isn’t just a great folk artist, she’s a great artist full stop.” – Morning Star
While it’s true that Lisa Knapp’s music is steeped in old weird England and its mysterious customs, it’s not a nostalgia for idyllic yesteryears. These are records made amidst the reality of a Britain which is anything but merry. You can hear it in her use of sampled street sounds; the cut-up vocals; the very modern manipulation of sound – a tension between then and now where Lisa’s music sparks. These reminders of where we came from also ask us who we are now.
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