U.K. singer-songwriter James Leesley bka Studio Electrophonique will deliver their debut self-titled album this summer.
Announced yesterday, the record will be released on September 26 via Valley of Eyes Records. The 11-track release was produced by Simon Tong, who is best known for their work with The Verve, The Good, The Bad and The Queen and The Magnetic North. The first single (and opening track) from the album titled “David and Jayne” arrives with a music video directed by the artist, which can be seen here.
Leesley said this about the song:
“David and Jayne” was the first song I wrote for the record. It felt like the opening scene to a film; the words came to me more as dialogue, or script, than lyrics…and that opened up a new and very appealing writing perspective – I was almost tempted to pretend to be Alain Resnais directing an imaginary film at the British seaside.
“David and Jayne” inspired a collection of scenes that eventually became the rest of the album. The two central characters drift between being real and make-believe, and feature in other songs on the record; sometimes explicitly, sometimes like extras, in the background, and occasionally as the voice. I enjoyed having multiple perspectives to switch between.
This particular scene attempts to document a difficult weekend away set in a coastal resort of the listener’s choosing. I always try to give the listener the choice of whether to sob or smile —ideally both!”
When it comes to the accompanying music video, Leesley stated:
This is one in a series of short films made to accompany the record, a collection of mini-cinemas.
Introducing: Richard ‘Dickie’ Baker.
Richard is one of those rare actors qualified to do anything with nothing, that can perform unscripted, pull off one-take jobs, and most importantly, is willing to suffer for the art…(more on that another time).
The majority of scenes were shot in either a single, or just a handful of takes — usually with me behind the iPhone shouting ‘‘just think Ken Loach!’’ whilst sweet-talking the British public and trying to keep a steady hand — Richard knew what to do.
Following the album’s release, Studio Electrophonique will tour across the U.K. alongside The Divine Comedy. Tour dates can be seen below. Tickets are on sale to the general public right now here.
Studio Electrophonique tour dates
6th October – LIVERPOOL – Philharmonic Hall (SOLD OUT)
7th October – NOTTINGHAM – Royal Concert Hall
8th October – BATH – The Forum
10th October – GATESHEAD – The Glasshouse
11th October – LONDON – Barbican (SOLD OUT)
12th October – LONDON – Barbican (SOLD OUT)
13th October – BRIGHTON – Brighton Dome
15th October – CAMBRIDGE – Cambridge Corn Exchange (SOLD OUT)
16th October – SHEFFIELD – Sheffield City Hall
17th October – WOLVERHAMPTON – University Of Wolverhampton At The Civic Hall
18th October – SWANSEA – Swansea Building Society Arena
20th October – GLASGOW – Royal Concert Hall (SOLD OUT)
21st October – YORK – York Barbican
23rd October – OXFORD – New Theatre Oxford
24th October – MANCHESTER – The Bridgewater Hall (SOLD OUT)
25th October – BRISTOL – Bristol Beacon (SOLD OUT)
