RECENT PROJECTS
SAMANA
Samana
At The Road Records we are so excited to announce that Samana will be releasing their self-titled album on the 24th May. “An expansive project formed of unbridled love and an unwavering appreciation of the divinity of nature, Samana - the duo consisting of Rebecca Rose Harris and Franklin Mockett - centre their work around a Zarathustran philosophy of removing oneself from the confines of contemporary, societal life in the quest of the awakening of the deep spirit. Relocating to the deep Welsh countryside over the past few years, such time and artistic maturity is giving rise to a new domain in the work that they create, with an ever-expanding audience citing their live performances through a lens of more of a spiritual, shamanic experience and service of healing than that of just a musical performance. In an increasingly online society, and a frequently fractured world, Samana’s unyielding openness suddenly seems to matter more than ever before.”
“Harnessing the profundity of the spirit and carrying it into the studio, Rebecca and Franklin devoted themselves to making an album that takes listeners to the origin of the philosophy and sentiment that lies at the hearts of two such trailblazers, in a truthful, honest and unflinchingly sincere body of work. Inviting kindred artists into the fold for the first time, they pushed themselves to burrow into the very roots of their life experience and love – to sink into the divine. The result is their third full-length album, a self-titled collection which reflects the truly personal nature of the work found within. Formed of nine songs, where the pair previously pulled inspiration from the world around them, here they dig deep into their souls to thread the new pieces together.”
“Samana also acts as a deep dive into the notions of freedom, as well as the magnitude of expansive nature and what it means to live inside of it. Having moved to the deep Welsh countryside a few years ago, Rebecca and Franklin began working on a creative enterprise, turning what was a residential smallholding into an artistic homestead and production house, through the means of traditional building techniques. From replacing the old dairy with an analogue recording studio, and gifting previously grazed land to a nature recovery program, their vision is simple; to create a centre for artistic self-sustainability with the natural world at its core. Immersed in this new lifestyle, bound to a place after years of nomadic transition, Samana began to dig deeper inside themselves than they’d previously allowed themselves to go.” - Tom Johnson
The Knife
Samana
The new single off of Samana’s approaching self-titled album, to be released on May 24th. “It feels to be a deliverance, a freeing of stored weight and emotion; the confrontation of somatic memory, an invitation for the physical self to shed these feelings stored,” Samana say of the track. “The last section of the song is a complete amalgamation of all these components - it feels to be a sonic representation of a vast mass of water bursting from the containment of a damn, a huge transformative release, like something breaking apart and away from something else, a confrontation, a shedding of a snakes skin.”
Dharma
Samana
Dharma emphasises an exploration into various facets of the meandering nature of the subconscious. Through philosophical, thematic narratives encompassing notions such as the innate search for freedom, the deep intricacies of love and the mysticism of the neolithic age, Dharma evokes an ethereal landscape to lose oneself to, venturing forth into what it is to feel; what it is to be.
Two Wrongs
Samana
Seven Years
Samana
All One Breath - Samana
The Road Records recorded, produced and mixed the musicians ‘Samana’ for their second album ‘All One Breath’. Championed by Guy Garvey as his favourite artist of the year, by Clash Magazine as incredible songwriters and selected by Mojo Magazine as the No.1 psychedelic folk album of 2022, with an exclusive vinyl edition released as part of the Dinked Editions collection.
Autumn - Pillow
The Road Records recorded and mixed ‘Autumn’ - the first movement from a new series of songs 'The Golden Hour', inspired by the scenes, colours and sounds in both natural and urban landscapes, of the transitional season of Autumn. Take it with you through the streets during the golden hour, or to your secret haven, do what you do.
Beyond Here - KPM Shorts (EMI)
The Road Records recorded, produced and mixed the film musicians ‘Ascension’ for a commission by the label KPM a subsidiary to EMI
Deviant Pop - Sisyphes
The Road Records recorded, mixed and produced the debut album ‘Deviant Pop’ by Sisyphes, released on ‘A Certain Kind Records’.
My Eye On You - Toydrum
The Road Records recorded, produced and mixed Samana’s song ‘Another Man Lost’ for their collaboration on the album ‘My Eye On You’ with Toydrum alongside musicians including Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, (Released on Skint Records). The song ‘Another Man Lost’ was then synced with NBC
Codi - NDC Wales
The Road Records worked alongside composer Lara Agar, recording and producing the musical piece as well as providing the drumming instrumentation for the dance performance ‘Codi’ by choreographer Anthony Matsena, about Welsh people who come together to tackle isolation and depression during troubled times. It’s an energetic and uplifting dance about the strength of communities. Commissioned by NDC Wales
The Golden Hour - Pillow
The Road Records underwent the recording, mixing and producing of the debut album by Pillow - one of the most exciting contemporary UK composers on the scene. The music captures the richness of a classical tone, whilst retaining the freedom of improvisation and the storytelling of folk like melodies. Sighting influences from artists such as Nick Drake, Claude Debussy, Erik Satie, Max Richter and Bill Frisell. ‘The Golden Hour’ evokes the feeling of immersion, as if floating in a moonlit lake, watching the trees turn golden and the body dance with the rippling of introspection and change.