Since the release of Blonde on the Tracks, her album of Bob Dylan covers, Emma Swift has been to hell and back. At this turning point in her career, she talked to State of Sound about her breakdown and the stunning new album which came out of it.

THE WEEKLY MIX

Editor’s picks

O

NEWS

Bruce Springsteen announces release of new box set

Listen to a ‘punk rockabilly’ outtake of one of Springsteen's most famous songs here.

O

PLAYLIST

The best of Leonard Cohen’s deep cuts

We take a deep dive into Laughing Len’s back catalogue and come up with some barnacled treasures.

O

STANDOUT NEW ALBUM

The Resurrection Game

Emma Swift

Emma Swift’s stunning first album of original material is the kind of record which, after a casual listen, is consigned to late night or Sunday morning listening. But listen again; it has beguiling emotional complexity.

O

PLAYLIST

Secret Friends: the September collection

Your portal to the best new music. This month: Shapes Like People, Sarah McQuaid & Paul Garside

O

INTERVIEW

Paul Garside: ‘A whole new world opened up.’

The London singer-songwriter on taking classical music to the school disco and how giving up set him free.

O

LIVE REVIEW REWIND

Robyn Hitchcock: Transcendence in London

One year on, revisit our review of Hitchcock’s transcendent live show.

THE ‘ONE TO WATCH’ INTERVIEW

Shapes Like People: ‘I almost decapitated Kylie Minogue with a scissor kick’

When Kat Mann challenged husband Carl to write songs to pitch to Kylie Minogue, neither of them knew it would lead to the formation of Shapes Like People — nor a glistening debut album. David Rea spoke to them to find out more.

6 September, 2025

S

Something for the weekend?

Wake up every Saturday morning to a new issue of State of Sound!

ESSAYS

Cultural connections, historical perspectives

COMING SOON

Tom Waits, Jack Kerouac and the heart of Saturday night

ESSAY

Neither Tom Waits nor Jack Kerouac could find the heart of Saturday night. David Rea looks at how the novelist and poet influenced the songwriter, discovering a semi-mythological America where it is always nighttime.

ESSAY

How the Beatles regenerated after the split

Around the time of the break up, Lennon, McCartney and Harrison moved closer to the countryside. We look at how their new homes impacted their album artwork and wonder how far they influenced their solo music.

COMING SOON

ESSAY

The great myths about the Kinks’ masterpiece

It has long been seen as an album out of time, but it says far more about the late 1960s than we think.

COMING SOON

ESSAY

How the Jam invented Britpop

On the release of their debut album in 1977, many dismissed the Jam as a gimmick. But their ethos was already in place and its echo could be heard two decades later.

COMING SOON

ESSAY

When Johnny Rotten blew up punk’s enclave

After being repeatedly beaten up on the streets of London in 1977, Johnny Rotten gave a controversial interview. We look at why his words still speaks to us today.

THE BIG IDEA

Born to Run: Could Bruce Springsteen run for president in 2028?

In the age of celebrity politicians, is Bruce Springsteen better placed than Reagan, Schwarzenegger or Trump to run for office?

6 September, 2025

ESSAY

MOTHER NATURE’S SONS

How the Beatles regenerated after the split

It's a long journey home from the end of the 1960s. Around the time of the break up, Lennon, McCartney and Harrison moved closer to the countryside. David Rea looks at how their new homes impacted their album artwork and wonders how far they influenced their solo music.

REVIEWS

Independent opinion, informed criticism

Robyn Hitchcock: Blissful transcendence in East London

LIVE SHOW REWIND

Suffused with its inter-war ghosts from its days as a Savoy cinema, the EartH theatre turned out to be the perfect setting for Hitchcock’s music. One year on, revisit our review of his transcendent live show.

STANDOUT NEW ALBUM

The Resurrection Game

Emma Swift

Emma Swift’s stunning first album of original material is as immersive as an IMAX movie, and full of beguiling emotional complexity.

STANDOUT NEW ALBUM

Ticking Haze

Shapes Like People

Carl Mann has a rare gift for a harmony-sweetened pop hook and his partner, Kat, a warm, ethereal voice. This is us, the album says, this is a document of our journey through the middle of our lives.

ALBUM REVIEW REWIND

Liam Gallagher John Squire, one year on

One year after the Britpop progenitor and Britpop giant collaborated, their album has largely been forgotten. So was it any good? Revisit our original review.

ALBUM REVIEW REWIND

Definitely Maybe, 30th anniversary review

As the Oasis reunion tour continues, revisit our 30th anniversary review of Definitely Maybe.

PLAYLIST

‘That don't make it junk’: The best of Leonard Cohen’s deep cuts

We take a deep dive into Laughing Len’s back catalogue and come up with some barnacled treasures.

13 September, 2025

LEAVING SOON

ANNIVERSARY ALBUM REVIEW

Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A-Changin' at 60

EXTRACT: The day of John F. Kennedy's assassination, Bob Dylan likely watched the news reports come in on television — the grainy images from Dallas, Texas flickering across the 22-year-old’s crestfallen face. CONTINUE READING >>

30th ANNIVERARY REVIEW

Definitely Maybe

Oasis

As the Oasis reunion tour continues, revisit our 30th anniversary review of Definitely Maybe.

8½

By David Rea

1 September, 2025

First published: 30 August, 2024

NEWS

All the latest from the world of music and beyond

Bruce Springsteen announces release of new box set, Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition

NEWS

Listen to a ‘punk rockabilly’ outtake of one of Springsteen's most famous songs here.

NEWS

David Byrne shares wedding playlist

Talking Heads founding member, David Byrne has shared his wedding playlist. Listen to it here.

NEWS

Will Spotify finally be forced into fairer artist payouts?

Living Wage for Musicians Act to be re-introduced to House of Representatives

FEATURES

Interviews, opinions, rankings, playlists

COMING SOON

As our planet sparks and flames with conflict, threatening to change the geopolitical world order, songs about war have gained a fresh relevance. It felt like the right time for State of Sound to compile our list of the greatest.

The greatest anti-war songs

RANKING

INTERVIEW

Paul Garside: ‘A whole new world opened up’

The London singer-songwriter on taking classical music to the school disco and how giving up set him free.

How Bridgers, Baker & Dacus became the new Crosby, Stills & Nash

COMING SOON

BOYGENIUS

They reconstructed Crosby, Stills & Nash’s album cover and then reimagined what a super group could be. More than a year after the start of their indefinite hiatus, what is the group’s legacy?

Born to Run: Could Springsteen run for president in 2028?