Naomi Dawes: Interview

Birmingham-based singer-songwriter Naomi Dawes is inflicting a stir together with her unabashed tales of lust, love and the whole lot in between. She spoke to Sam Lambeth about her new single, BABE, and plans for the longer term.

Throughout the nation, individuals younger and outdated rush to the bed room, engulfed by lust. Monks passionately rip their canine collars from their necks, throw them on to the pontiff’s desk and go away the clergy for an evening of unbridled debauchery. The well-behaved son – the one which stayed at house for uni, volunteers at Sue Ryder Care and loves his nan, gold bless him – has simply been caught in an act of carnal pleasure so perverted that his dad and mom have cancelled the web, left for the countryside and have develop into Amish.

And all of the whereas, smiling to the digicam like Drew Barrymore earlier than a fiery home, is Naomi Dawes. 

After all, we don’t have any proof that any of this has occurred however upon listening to the Birmingham chanteuse’s new single, the merely however delectably titled BABE, you’d imagine the rumours. It’s beat-driven and sensual, Dawes’ knack for crafting particular person vignettes of sexually-charged pop reaching its dream climax. 

“I really like writing about longing, pining for a lover, unrequited and obsessive love, intercourse and lust,” Dawes drools. “The sensation of all these items curiosity me. They’ll fully overwhelm you as a human. Feelings drive us to do or not do issues. They make us act demented typically, and that’s one thing that everybody can relate to. My feelings can overwhelm me, so I write them into lyrics or craft them right into a beat. I’m a artistic, so the pull to put in writing and specific is simply ingrained in me. I feel I’d burst if I didn’t share what was in my head.”

It’s these uncooked, instinctive and primal urges which have helped Dawes carve out a distinct segment within the Midlands scene. Her music is commonly constructed round minimal beats and motifs, however this atmosphere provides approach to vivid, coquettish passages which are normally stored deep throughout the soul. “The verses aggressively embody the push and pull of eager to pursue a relationship, whereas the pre refrain and refrain propel the emotion of being frightened of getting harm,” Dawes explains of BABE, which is, fairly rightly, incomes the singer-songwriter a wealth of plaudits. 

Although she’s carried out with a wealthy mix of Birmingham musicians – and he or she’s open to extra collaborations sooner or later – Dawes has masterminded her ascent alone. Not solely a potent and highly effective songwriter, she additionally performs reside on her personal. On the stage, Dawes is charismatic and assured, pulling quite a lot of shapes and strikes that leaves audiences hypnotised. “I began performing solo with backing tracks a very long time in the past. It’s nearly been 10 years now. So I’m used to it. It took follow at the beginning and, in contrast to if you carry out with an instrument or a band, in case you mess up you may simply play one other 4 bars and drop again in,” she explains. “I do miss the sensation of performing with a band, and at some point when it’s proper I’ll defo do it once more. However I actually take pleasure in performing solo. I’m in cost, I can depend on myself. I can’t disguise anyplace, I really feel very bare on stage, however I simply should let the music take me away and as soon as I’m immersed within the music, the nerves fade away and I simply benefit from the second.”

On the subject of being bare, BABE has little question resulted in many individuals boycotting garments in a fashion much like George Michael’s Outdoors video. And with Dawes threatening extra releases all year long, this era of wicked brilliance is ready to linger round for some time but.

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Naomi Dawes is on Fb and Instagram.

All phrases by Sam Lambeth. Sam is a journalist and musician. Extra of his work for Louder Than Conflict is on the market on his archive. You’ll find his music on Spotify.