ART BLOCK
THIS IS ME
"A top notch singer-songwriter"
- Tim Whale, Emerging Indie Bands
"crafting tracks that elicit the rolodex of human emotion" "quarantined folk to comfort your soul" - Ear to the ground Music blog
“Stirring and powerful song-writing in a classic acoustic-alt-rock vein, recalling the passion and grit of Tom Petty”
- Sound Event Solutions
Art Block is a multi-instrumentalist alt-folk singer-songwriter from East London, England. His debut album Stones and Fire is now available to order via Rough Trade or Bandcamp. He is now on O2 music mapper along with established artists such as Dua Lipa, Adele and David Bowie! https://www.o2.co.uk/music-mapper 2024 also sees the release of "Monte Carlo" and "Poorer Than Ever" featuring Marcus Hamblett on vintage synths and produced by William Robertson. Earlier in the year saw the release of "Borderline Rock Remix" with the restored original electric guitar arrangements by esteemed folk musician, Ben Walker, rated as 'one of the ten best acoustic guitarists in the world' by Total Guitar magazine. "Burning" and the alt version were also released - an indie rock song following on the heels of "Arcadia" inspired by Art's local football team West Ham United and one player in particular! Earlier he released "Dandelion EP" featuring string arrangements by Joseph Lawrenson recorded at the Royal College of Music in London. Art's sophomore album "Borderline" is available on all streaming platforms. 2023 saw "England's Dying" EP featuring brass by Marcus Hamblett, string arrangements by Harriet Mackenzie and cello, violin, viola and double bass performed by Midori Jaeger. "Ghosts" featured on John Kennedy's Radio X and Frankie's Amazing Radio show. "Shine" was also a commended entry in the UK Songwriting Competition. Art also released a debut album "Stones and Fire" featuring 10 unique songs. Tiger EP recorded in Mile End and produced by William Robertson aka Wheeliemix with drums by Raphael Bouchara is out now, including the unique homage to "Vilnius". Last year saw the release of his unique transparent violet vinyl of The Basement EP stocked in Rough Trade East, London and further afield in Wax and Beans, Bury, Market Deeping, Loafers, Halifax, Strummers, Record Corner and Ebbw Vale independent record stores. It also received airplay on Gary Crowley's show on BBC Radio London. A collection of live recordings at St John's Hoxton mastered by Pete Maher has also been released, as well as "Seagulls EP" produced by modern classical composer Jay Chakravorty (Bryde) and mixed by Shuta Shinoda who has worked with artists nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. In 2021 Art teamed up again with Ian Barter (Paloma Faith, Amy Winehouse) to release his self-titled "Art Block Extended Play" which was well received enjoying extensive airplay and reviews. The previous The Basement EP was curated by the sound archives of the British Library and featured on Amazing Radio, international podcasts and music blogs. Various remastered songs were also released with the aid of Dolby. In 2019 Art released a debut acoustic album, a collection of songs recorded in a day at The Premises studio in Hackney and mastered by the legendary Pete Maher (U2 Pixies Jack White Newton Faulkner) The eminent folk guitarist Ben Walker produced his 'Borderline EP' which was released to critical acclaim. Eliza EP was released in 2018. The music video of the title track "Eliza" has been played on Sky TV Keep it Country on the Folk Show.
Photo Credit: Michael Robert Williams