With “Dead Sea,” her debut album, Austel emerges brilliantly out of the the darkest corners of contemplative electronica and alternative pop music. This 12-track masterpiece, which reflects seven years of artistic development, transports listeners on an intriguing musical adventure with emotional lyricism, vast atmospheric sinematic soundscapes, and her beautiful vocals.
Introspective and dreamy, “22.28” opens the album with peaceful sounds layered over Austel’s silky voice to create an enchanting dreamscape that draws listeners into its alluring world.
The fifth track on Austel’s album, “Beds of Stone”, draws in listeners with its calming ambient instrumental opening that includes strings, piano keys, and airy cohesive harmonies. Austel’s exceptional songwriting and storytelling skills are on full display here, as her poetic lyrics bring an intoxicating narrative.
Austel’s self-produced electro-pop single “Salt,” explores toxic relationships, martyrdom and anguish as she strives to overcome emotional torment.
After listening through the album, we arrive at “Dead Sea” which is the final and title track. Here, Austel’s raw and authentic voice takes centre stage against the piano keys. She moves between lower and higher notes with ease, crafting an expressive and sorrowful story that lingers in the minds of listeners long after the music ends. The track serves to illustrate its themes of loss, grief renewal pain healing, drawing influence from artists like This Mortal Coil and Bon Iver while offering peace and acceptance through music.
The album’s partnerships, mastering engineer Katie Tavini, and producers and mix engineers Guy Massey, Adam Stark, Zoe Mead, Ruby Smith, and Jess Camilleri are among its highlights; their combined skill gives each track on the record a new level of complexity and sonic dimension.
Born Annie Rew Shaw, Austel is a well-known artist, singer, songwriter, and producer. Her music, which draws inspiration from a wide range of genres and performers, combines meditative electronica, dramatic soundscapes, ambient textures, and classical foundations. It was honed at festivals like Glastonbury while opening for Fleet Foxes performances.
Austel’s album ‘Dead Sea’ takes listeners inside her contemplative and melancholic universe, offering a unique glimpse into how her personal stories transform into an intriguing, otherworldly encounter that leaves a lasting impression.
You can find more of Austel at:
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You can listen to ‘Dead Sea’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.