Written in Waters

The headliners for this sold-out show are Written In Waters, an impossible to pigeon-hole band merging gothic with gospel, via progressive 90s pop. The front-woman is immediately endearing, and her vocals are as hard to define as the overall music. Imagine Heather from M People raising the dead under a moonlit sky, and you’d be close. The orchestral, haunting music is lifted by a vocalist who put so much emotion into each track that she’d be forgiven for passing out afterwards. - Brighton SOURCE

What’s different about Written in Waters is that they are not reluctant to be put into a genre, but only once they have created their own.

Combine a couple of spoonfuls of prog rock and jazz, add a sprinkling of indie and just a pinch of metal. Mix thoroughly and serve with a generous measure of operatic vocals. The Brighton based five piece cite an eclectic range of genres and musicians as influences and after a year of practising are eager to show the world what they can do.

Tell us about Written in Waters.

George (Guitar): We aim to create emotive music that people can identify with whilst not attempting to go down the ‘commercial’ route. Instead of forcing a certain sound we try to make music the way it comes most natural to us, which is how our first track ‘Hymn’ was made. We work well because we have differing influences so a diverse range of musical elements are brought into the band and we’re also not afraid to challenge each other if we disagree. We don’t like to pigeon-hole ourselves into a genre as we’re influenced by so many different types of music. Essentially, genres are formed through musicians pushing boundaries to create new styles of music - which is what we’re hoping to do. As an artform music is about venturing into new territories.



Do you prefer performing on stage or recording?

Beth (Vocals): We prefer being on stage - for me singing on stage is a kind of meditation. It’s the one time that I’m not worried about anything - when I’m performing I never want to leave the stage!



Describe your song-making process.



G: It varies - the other week our bass player Lawrence jumped on the keyboard after creating a chord progression in his head. It was a beautiful line of piano music that we all played and embellished until it became an entire song. It’s never as simple as writing the music then adding lyrics on top - the vocals are just as much a part of the melody. However, as our main vocalist Beth does have the ability to take a step back from the music and give more of an objective opinion of the sound.



B: The boys have already suggested they’d like to make an album consisting of a non-stop, two hour track. I reigned them in on that one.



G: We sometimes squabble but we’re like a family.



What’s your song ‘Hymn’ about?

B: Hymn is the first song I’ve ever written. I decided to quit Sussex University to concentrate on music as I hadn’t done it in years, I was ill for a while and had completely given up on singing. It was a new chapter for me and it gave me hope. It all sounds quite cheesy but it was a euphoric moment for me. Hymn represents how you feel when you’re trying to work out why bad things have happened.



Tell us about your new album.

B: We formed about a year ago and it’s a journey through that time - we’ve included the first song we ever wrote and the most recent. The album symbolises the first chapter of Written in Waters as a band. Lyrically, there’s a lot of focus on the loss of faith or the concept of losing your way. For me it’s a religious thing but it can mean a variety of things for different people - it can be interpreted in numerous ways. The album is unintentionally fairly chronological. It goes through the emotions of the loss of faith but closing track ‘The Hour I Last Believed’ is more eye-opening. The end is intended to feel like a new beginning - it symbolises the resurgence of faith and the beginning of a new chapter.



We’ve also used this album to experiment - musicians are similar to artists in the sense that they are searching for new, undiscovered territory. As a musician you’re a scientist, a philosopher and a storyteller. When I listen to music I see stories and if the song touches me it takes me to a new place - that’s what we want to do with our music. Music has become a much more multi-sensory experience as well - there’s fashion and art - it’s an exciting time to be a musician.



Have you found anything about the music industry challenging so far?

G: One hurdle has been that our sound is difficult to place with other artists so working out who to play with has been tricky. Although, we’re starting to carve a path for ourselves.



Written in Waters debut album is out now. - HOUND Magazine

The Haunt conjures up a flood of messy, smoky student memories. A perfectly intimate venue, but big enough to relax and groove. The night wasn’t packed but busy enough, a mixture of styles and age groups. Supporting Written in Waters debut album launch were three bands. 000 were happy and comfortable on stage despite their youth, expressing an indie grungy 90’s style. Thrash indie band Demob Happy had their look perfected and their performance was impressive and finely tuned. Kill Moon’s post punk, grunge had attitude but tailed off slightly towards the end.

Written in Waters entrance was warmly welcomed. All eyes on lead singer Beth Cannon, who’s intensely shimmering gold attire, dazzled the eager crowd. The look was one of bohemian confidence. First impression, this quintet had style. Displaying stunning operatic vocals, Cannon’s voice projects biblical and choir like merits. In the aptly named song “Hymn” the drums, bass, guitar and keys build dramatically, showing the talent of these musicians. Not to be over shadowed each individual band member stand-alone. There is no core genre, rock and pop battle comfortably together. The jazz and metal fusion produces a progressive and new wave indie sound.

Lyrics delineating deep and yearning stories, depicting scenes dark with imagery. The almost ritual chanting extracts leave the crowd happily hypnotised, nodding heads on beat. The emotional strength in this band and their songs express a captivating poignant journey. This debut album is confident and unique, it’s hard to believe the band have only been together for a year. Originality and dedication sew this band together. Written in Waters’ brave talent explores the unknown, surely seeing them embarking forward into a positive experimental future. - Underground Reviews

The Haunt conjures up a flood of messy, smoky student memories. A perfectly intimate venue, but big enough to relax and groove. The night wasn’t packed but busy enough, a mixture of styles and age groups. Supporting Written in Waters debut album launch were three bands. 000 were happy and comfortable on stage despite their youth, expressing an indie grungy 90’s style. Thrash indie band Demob Happy had their look perfected and their performance was impressive and finely tuned. Kill Moon’s post punk, grunge had attitude but tailed off slightly towards the end.

Written in Waters entrance was warmly welcomed. All eyes on lead singer Beth Cannon, who’s intensely shimmering gold attire, dazzled the eager crowd. The look was one of bohemian confidence. First impression, this quintet had style. Displaying stunning operatic vocals, Cannon’s voice projects biblical and choir like merits. In the aptly named song “Hymn” the drums, bass, guitar and keys build dramatically, showing the talent of these musicians. Not to be over shadowed each individual band member stand-alone. There is no core genre, rock and pop battle comfortably together. The jazz and metal fusion produces a progressive and new wave indie sound.

Lyrics delineating deep and yearning stories, depicting scenes dark with imagery. The almost ritual chanting extracts leave the crowd happily hypnotised, nodding heads on beat. The emotional strength in this band and their songs express a captivating poignant journey. This debut album is confident and unique, it’s hard to believe the band have only been together for a year. Originality and dedication sew this band together. Written in Waters’ brave talent explores the unknown, surely seeing them embarking forward into a positive experimental future. - Underground Reviews

The Haunt conjures up a flood of messy, smoky student memories. A perfectly intimate venue, but big enough to relax and groove. The night wasn’t packed but busy enough, a mixture of styles and age groups. Supporting Written in Waters debut album launch were three bands. 000 were happy and comfortable on stage despite their youth, expressing an indie grungy 90’s style. Thrash indie band Demob Happy had their look perfected and their performance was impressive and finely tuned. Kill Moon’s post punk, grunge had attitude but tailed off slightly towards the end.

Written in Waters entrance was warmly welcomed. All eyes on lead singer Beth Cannon, who’s intensely shimmering gold attire, dazzled the eager crowd. The look was one of bohemian confidence. First impression, this quintet had style. Displaying stunning operatic vocals, Cannon’s voice projects biblical and choir like merits. In the aptly named song “Hymn” the drums, bass, guitar and keys build dramatically, showing the talent of these musicians. Not to be over shadowed each individual band member stand-alone. There is no core genre, rock and pop battle comfortably together. The jazz and metal fusion produces a progressive and new wave indie sound.

Lyrics delineating deep and yearning stories, depicting scenes dark with imagery. The almost ritual chanting extracts leave the crowd happily hypnotised, nodding heads on beat. The emotional strength in this band and their songs express a captivating poignant journey. This debut album is confident and unique, it’s hard to believe the band have only been together for a year. Originality and dedication sew this band together. Written in Waters’ brave talent explores the unknown, surely seeing them embarking forward into a positive experimental future. - Underground Reviews

The Haunt conjures up a flood of messy, smoky student memories. A perfectly intimate venue, but big enough to relax and groove. The night wasn’t packed but busy enough, a mixture of styles and age groups. Supporting Written in Waters debut album launch were three bands. 000 were happy and comfortable on stage despite their youth, expressing an indie grungy 90’s style. Thrash indie band Demob Happy had their look perfected and their performance was impressive and finely tuned. Kill Moon’s post punk, grunge had attitude but tailed off slightly towards the end.

Written in Waters entrance was warmly welcomed. All eyes on lead singer Beth Cannon, who’s intensely shimmering gold attire, dazzled the eager crowd. The look was one of bohemian confidence. First impression, this quintet had style. Displaying stunning operatic vocals, Cannon’s voice projects biblical and choir like merits. In the aptly named song “Hymn” the drums, bass, guitar and keys build dramatically, showing the talent of these musicians. Not to be over shadowed each individual band member stand-alone. There is no core genre, rock and pop battle comfortably together. The jazz and metal fusion produces a progressive and new wave indie sound.

Lyrics delineating deep and yearning stories, depicting scenes dark with imagery. The almost ritual chanting extracts leave the crowd happily hypnotised, nodding heads on beat. The emotional strength in this band and their songs express a captivating poignant journey. This debut album is confident and unique, it’s hard to believe the band have only been together for a year. Originality and dedication sew this band together. Written in Waters’ brave talent explores the unknown, surely seeing them embarking forward into a positive experimental future. - Underground Reviews

Tonight’s show is a sell out. I mean, it was free, but it was packed. Even with free gigs these days you need a buzz and a following to do that, so it says a lot for the experience to come.

I unfortunately missed openers Wolf Pack, as I was engaged in a burger at a pub, having forgotten to eat before leaving the house. Wolf Pack, apologies, I am sure you were great.

I walk in to see Kill Moon playing a decent power pop grunge set to an attentive crowd. Demob Happy follow with more of the same – energetic at times frantic and with some grimy riffs. Then come Azedia. Billed as a band, but really it was a DJ set that became the backdrop to chats, drinks and more chats. They have some massive beats though, good mix of styles, including everyone’s favourite heavy Dub-Step drops.

However, this is a Written in Waters album launch gig. As soon as the bands bass heavy intro track begins everything else is forgotten – not just the other bands or the rest of the night, but the rest of the world itself.

Think Kate Bush meets Devin Townsend. Think Team Sleep. Think of The Cinematic Orchestra meeting Animals As Leaders in an art class given by Jackson Pollock. Now forget all of that and think only of Written in Waters. Their sound is unique, but with massively evident influences from so many different places. A music lovers dream. A genre definers curse.

The Album itself features 6 beautifully crafted epics, with artwork and packaging to match (the lyrics are presented on separate and originally designed Tarot cards!). The progressive music is jazz influenced, graceful and really heavy when it needs to be. Sonically jaw dropping vocals fly over a backdrop of intense intricacies, musical lines weaved into a matrix of sound that lifts and soars around your cerebral cortex.

Put that in a gig, and it’s like witnessing the northern lights in audio form. The bands are in real command of the stage, the crowd and their music. In between songs, vocalist Beth Cannon is shy, almost nervous and surprised to be there, but when she sings you really believe in her and in her amazing, powerful and perfectly pitched vocals, 1000 times more intense and beautiful than on record. Thankfully, the atmosphere, lighting and amazing sound production that The Haunt has to offer is exactly right for the message the band want to convey. The set is literally amazing, reaching a crescendo with penultimate song ‘The Fall’ (which is definitely the albums stand out track), and ending serenely with the uplifting yet haunting ‘The Hour I Last Believed’.

The best thing about live music is the moments that you know you are going to remember when you are watching them – tonight Written in Waters set is one of those, for all the best reasons. - Brighton Noise

Written in Waters were a breath of fresh air, boldly trying to create something new and different around Brighton. This is dramatically noticeable upon their image, wearing hockey masks to accentuate the facelessness of the band members and reinforce front-woman Beth Cannon's role in the band.

Their Avant-Garde/Post Rock sound likened to Sigur Ros and Anthony And The Johnsons was closely watched by everybody in the venue. The opening track saw Beth singing in Italian(?) and an operatic like style that would be continued throughout the set. Her use of vocals was more of an instrumental addition than a lyric spurting bot.

Their line up of Keyboards, Guitar, Bass and Drums was utilised in a very interesting way controlling dynamics masterfully and creating delay drenched sound scapes that tickles the imagination. Guitarist George McKenzie was even seen using a bow in one of the tracks bringing some extra experimentation that works in their favour.

Written In Waters are exciting, original and not afraid to try something new and it will be interesting to see where this takes them as they carve out a name for themselves on the local scene. - David Tobin

ritten in Water stole the show as BIMM played to a packed out Komedia.....The Brighton based four piece stole the show with their full bodied and eerily beautiful ‘Hymn’. The anthemic, yet ethereal, song grew slowly with the classically trained Beth Cannon taking centre stage. She was ably flanked by her three supporting musicians glad in white hockey masks, think Jason from Halloween, who were integral to creating a unique atmosphere. The buzz that went around the crowd when they ended was truly special and the vocal performance of the night was even treated to half an attempt at a standing ovation, unfortunately gravity was too strong for some.
BIMM play another gig in March and I urge you to check them out and see some of the stars of the future. - Ben Scott

‘Written in Waters’ ended the night proving to me why it is so important that their music is listened to and their name is heard. Words cannot describe the intensity that was felt in that packed out venue last Wednesday. There was a point where I felt like I was at an O2 academy, sucked into the sound of the surrounding speakers – let’s hope I was having a psychic moment. Their music is dramatic – beginning with Italian opera sung over electronic sounds created by the keys, bass and the mass amount of pedals that the guitarist had a lot of fun with. The audience were in the palm of their hands throughout the entire set, which is hard to achieve – especially when it’s their first proper gig. I’ve been racking my brains for the past week on how they managed to achieve such an epic reaction, I’ve pinned it down to their passion for what they’re doing. Each band member was so caught up into the music that their concentration never strayed away – they were all ‘in the zone’ and didn’t snap out of it until they were off stage. To do this as tastefully as they did is difficult to achieve. - Pippa Moyle