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Christian Wethered Delivers Masterful Tune ‘Into The Garden’

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Christian Wethered, a rising star from Dublin’s underground music scene, has made a triumphant return with his new single, “Into The Garden.” After a two-year hiatus, Wethered reintroduces himself with a track that not only showcases his growth as an artist but also cements his place as a master of creating rich, atmospheric soundscapes.

“Into The Garden” is a vibrant and lush piece that immediately captivates with its shimmering soundscape. Wethered’s signature style—marked by emotive and introspective compositions—is on full display here, but with a fresh, evolved twist. The track opens with intricate melodies that intertwine seamlessly, drawing listeners into a sonic world that feels both expansive and intimate. As the song progresses, layers of rich instrumentation build, creating a sound that is as textured as it is inviting.

The production on “Into The Garden” is superb, with each element carefully placed to enhance the track’s overall atmosphere. Wethered’s ability to blend intricate melodies with lush instrumentation results in a sound that is both refreshing and timeless. The track’s ethereal quality is underpinned by a subtle, driving rhythm that keeps it grounded, creating a balance that is both compelling and satisfying.

Accompanying the release of the single is a visually stunning live video, filmed at Christchurch in Rathgar by Nestor Romero Clemente. The choice of location—a serene and ethereal setting—perfectly complements the reflective tone of the track. The video captures Wethered performing “Into The Garden” in this tranquil environment, enhancing the immersive experience of the song. The visuals are serene and understated, allowing the music to take center stage while still providing a complementary aesthetic that enhances the overall impact.

What stands out most in “Into The Garden” is Wethered’s ability to create deeply atmospheric music that resonates on multiple levels. The track is not just a song but an experience, inviting listeners to lose themselves in its lush soundscape. Wethered’s emotive delivery and introspective lyrics add depth to the music, creating a connection that lingers long after the song has ended.

With “Into The Garden,” Christian Wethered has made a striking return to the music scene, showcasing his growth as an artist and his ability to craft music that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. The single is a testament to his talent and a promising indication of what’s to come. As he continues to evolve and refine his sound, Wethered is undoubtedly an artist to watch, and “Into The Garden” leaves listeners eagerly anticipating his next move.

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Acclaimed US singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd to tour the UK for the first time this summer.

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Shortly after releasing her sophomore album in 2007, US-based singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd walked away from music completely for more than 10 years, feeling burned out and unhappy with her career progression like so many other independent artists. After going through a divorce in 2019 and in the midst of a global pandemic, she found herself pulled back toward the siren call of songwriting and again making the leap to pursue it full time. Her latest album ‘Carnival’, released in 2024, is in many ways the culmination of those decisions, and the reintroduction of an artist who now has the wisdom of experience.

There’s an unmistakable urgency you can feel when a song is written and performed from a place of complete honesty. That feeling permeates ‘Carnival’. “I’ve always been envious of writers who say they write songs because they have to, because they had these things they just had to get out of themselves,” Juliet says. “I had never really felt that way until this album. I’ve become someone who writes because they have to.”

Stylistically, ‘Carnival’ draws on a range of influences from Laurel Canyon-era singer/songwriters, to Lilith Fair rockers, to confessional country/folk balladeers, to indie pop. The central theme of the record and that of its title track is not being too precious about any one experience or decision. Take them for what they are, live in the moment, and move on when they’re done. It acknowledges also that memory can be subjective, and ambiguous—was an experience ultimately a good thing or a bad thing? And whose memory can you rely on to determine the answer to that question?

‘Carnival’ doesn’t just deal with the complexities of ending relationships, it also deals with all the feelings that come with moving on. The album’snine songs feature evocative storytelling that reveals a simple truth: when the carnival inevitably leaves town, you’re left with an empty parking lot. And how you remember, it is a choice. As Juliet sings in the title track, “If only there was a way you could bottle up that feeling / and you’d drink it in / when the days are short and you long.”

Across her 20+ year career, Juliet has been admittedly stylistically non-monogamous. Her first full-length album, ‘All Dressed Up’, was released in 2005 and was heavily jazz-influenced- a label that she rejected at the time. “I am a piano player and a woman, so I was immediately compared to Norah Jones—and I bristled at that,” Juliet says. “Listening back now, I can totally see that it was true, and it of course wasn’t a bad thing.” Her follow-up release ‘Leave the Light On,’ came out two years later and featured a slick piano-pop production that led to five of its songs being placed on reality TV shows on MTV and VH1. Coming back after her 10-year break from writing and recording, Juliet released ‘High Road’, a collection of five Americana/soul-tinged songs produced by Jim Ebert (Meredith Brooks, Shai) that earned her widespread recognition and songwriting awards both in her home region of DC as well as nationally.

Now with her first ever UK tour scheduled for July 2025, Juliet has also dropped a completely brand-new single ‘Wild Again’, which like ‘Carnival’, was written with and produced by Todd Wright (Lucy Woodward, Butch Walker, Toby Lightman). ‘Wild Again’, however, charts yet another new step in Juliet’s journey.

Carnival’, is full of deeply personal songs that are drawn from my real-life experiences and relationships. Coming out of that album cycle, I was feeling a little exhausted by my own navel-gazing and I was craving inspiration elsewhere. So, a lot of the songs I’m writing now are an evolution of sorts – focused more on external stimuli and finding the personal stories and humanity in that. Wild Again is a perfect example of this,” she explains.

The idea for ‘Wild Again’ was born out of a NY Times podcast Juliet listened to about the real-life efforts to return the whale that played Willy in the iconic movie ‘Free Willy’ back into the wild.

“It’s an insane, heartbreaking story that asks all kinds of thorny questions about human responsibility and humility and what’s the “right” thing to do and is that the same as the “kind” thing to do. There was a line that one of the trainers said in the podcast, explaining that they were trying to “train him to be wild again.” The complete absurdity of that statement hit me in the moment, and I immediately started jotting down lyrical ideas”, Juliet says.

Catch Juliet Lloyd on her UK tour this July:

1st July: The Folklore Rooms / Brighton
2nd July: The Hyde Tavern / Winchester
3rd July: Hen and Chicken / Bristol (CRH Music promotions)
4th July: Artisan Tap Hartshill / Stoke-on-Trent

5th July: Waggon & Horses, Nottingham

6th July: Cafe#9 / Sheffield
7th July: Hyde Park Book Club / Leeds
10th July: FortyFive Vinyl Café / York
11th July: The Muddy Puddle / London
13th July: The Wrotham Arms / Broadstairs

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