Wasuremono Released New Album ‘Me and the Noise’

Wasuremono is a vehicle for Southward’s songs, for which he’s now spent the last decade crafting infectious, hook-laden, indie-pop music from his garden shed in Bradford-On-Avon. An independent and autonomous artist to the core, on past albums he has had his hands involved at every stage of the production, from songwriting to mixing and mastering via making videos and releasing the records.

“It’s a real labour of love,” says Southward. “It’s always been a total DIY thing where I did everything. I’m proud of what has been achieved from just putting it out myself.”

His unique compositions have seen him draw praise from the likes of The Guardian, The Observer and The Line of Best Fit, while gaining fans in the way of people like Lauren Laverne and Steve Lamacq. 2019 single “Are You OK?’” has racked up over 16 millions streams and his music has also recently featured in the trailer for the film Goodrich, starring Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis, and the soundtrack to the latest series of Netflix hit Heartstopper. Not bad going for the work of one man in his shed.

However, for Wasuremono’s latest, Southward decided to open things up and enlisted Tony Draper (Emilíana Torrini, Peter Perrett, Ibibio Sound Machine) to mix the album, and Dick Beetham (Pet Shop Boys, Alt-J, Loyle Carner) to master it. The result is a collection of shimmering pop songs that embellishes Southward’s songwriting, allowing it to positively glow. “To have that process taken out of my hands has been eye opening,” he says. “I’m so pleased with how it sounds.”

After 2021’s double album, Let’s Talk, Southward slowed down a little as family life took hold but when he began to write again, things soon began to ooze out. “There’s both an ease and intensity to the writing process,” he explains. “When I’m bunkered down in the studio and it’s just me and the music, it’s a pretty immersive and secluded process, but I love it.”

More a collection of songs than an album with a narrative theme or concept, Southward found Wasuremono focusing on the songs purely from a melody perspective and then piecing it together with words after. “I don’t write about particular things,” Wasuremono explains. 

“Sometimes I will plaster a load of nonsensical words over it, while I’m looking for a melody. I love it when choruses and words pop out by complete chance and it’s always a win when you can connect the words to those sorts of melodies and it flows” He cites early REM and Smashing Pumpkins as being a reference point for the kind of melody-first approach he’s shooting for.

From the opening tracks “Me and the Noise” and “See You in the Gold”, it’s clear that Wasuremono has a skilled and intrinsic knack for writing music that suits a bigger sound palette. “I’m a sucker for a pop song,” he says. “For those first two opening tracks, I was listening to a lot of A-ha and 80s bands. I’ve always been a fan of that style of production and that big kind of vocal. And there’s a little Spandau Ballet reference on ‘See You in the Gold’ too.”

However, 1980s throwback music that mimics the past this is not. The songs on Wasuremono’s latest sound fresh and contemporary, running the gamut of pop music that stretches from art to indie via the kind of stuff you might expect to be filling arenas. There is a rousing, almost euphoric, and triumphant tone to some of these songs. “No More Dancing” has a chorus so catchy it’s almost impossible to shake off once you hear it. 

“I like the fun and childlike abandonment this song conjures,” says Southward. “It feels like a rebellion and it reminds me of the hidden speakeasies and private house parties that emerged during prohibition. The chorus of ‘no more dancing’ is juxtaposed by the rest of the song that celebrates freedom, movement, and not caring about what others think.”

Similarly, “Is It Weird or Is It Me?” has a hook that manages to almost bury itself inside you, almost recalling prime era The The in its breezy skip. And there’s also plenty of pleasing curveballs on the album too. The playful nature of “Laugh So Much” complete with a spoken word breakdown has a nod to the Beastie Boys, while a beautifully slowed down and woozy “Sleeping Out” is “a dreamy and magical look back at my carefree childhood and teenage years” says Wasuremono. The closing “Ultrasound” is a deeply personal, poignant and quietly devastating song to wind up an album that is full of surprises.  

Ultimately, Me and the Noise is a multi-faceted and ambitious record. It is bursting with big, shiny, surging pop tunes, as well as more subtle, low-key and wonky indie-pop moments, along with tender moments of introspection and reflection. It’s a bold step up for Wasuremono as a songwriter and unquestionably a milestone album. “I think this is the best thing I’ve ever written,” he says. “I’m really proud of these songs and the album as a whole body of work.”

Wasuremono UK shows:
Saturday 3rd October – Manchester, YES (basement)
Wednesday 7th October – Bristol, Exchange
Thursday 8th October – London, George Tavern
Friday 9th October – Brighton, The Hope and Ruin