Hayden Thorpe has shared his new single ‘He’, and booked a London show with writer Robert Macfarlane

Hayden Thorpe has released a new single ‘He’.

It’s the latest cut from his upcoming album ‘Ness’, set for release on 27th September. The album, inspired by Orford Ness, a former military site on the Suffolk coast, features lyrics by author Robert Macfarlane.

Hayden says of the new single: “I loved the swagger and strut of Rob’s lines in the He chapter, they immediately brought to mind the cock-sure attitude of a Rolling Stones track. I went about creating a jaunty let-it-all-hang-out sort of song. It’s a maximalist approach – the more I gave it, the greedier it got.

“Production wise this was probably the biggest undertaking. You know things have gotten broad when you’re miking up a sackbut (a 15th century early trombone) and a spinet (a small 17th century harpsichord). It was a lot of fun working with Propellor’s brass section and the recording became a crash course in studio engineering. The power and drama of orchestral waveforms rubbing up against modern sounds are a haunted house for the ear. 

“The track begins with a sample of Rob reading. I became really interested in that netherworld between word and song. Under Milk Wood and Ulysses both operate similarly – the lines are almost melodic. I wanted to reveal the innerworkings of that process.”

Alongside the upcoming National Trust Ness Speaks Weekender happening at Orford Ness itself, Hayden has announced a show at London’s King Place with Robert Macfarlane for February. He will also play the inaugural Equinox festival by Earth / Percent at Wasing.

SEPTEMBER
20 Earth / Percent presents Equinox, Wasing, West Berkshire
28 Ness Speaks: Words and Music, Orford Ness, Suffolk
29 Ness Speaks: Words and Music, Orford Ness, Suffolk

FEBRUARY
7 Kings Place, London