Ryan's Gig Guide - October 2019

“Every move, every song, everything I was doing on this record was new territory,” she says. “I really didn’t know what was gonna happen.” Never one to dwell overtly, the album was the result of a jam-packed nine- day session. Despite its prowess, it doesn’t sound settled. “It was a big jump but a very eye-opening experience. I didn’t want to play off the same tricks I’d used before,” explains Stina. The artwork was a similarly kismet experience as seeking out Congleton. Delving into the theme that appeared before her, Stina had researched optical illusionists online and found Peruvian visual artist Cecilia Parades. Reaching out to her with zero expectations, Parades, who is based in Philadelphia, was game. “That was massive,” says Stina. “I was blown away by her art. It’s fully painted, there’s no Photoshop. It’s just what you see. She’s a complete badass.” Uncannily Parades’ only opening that year coincided with the same weekend Stina wrapped in the studio. She popped on an interstate flight. For eight hours a day for two days, Stina sat while Parades painted her into ornate fabrics and listened to classical music. “She explained to me how it works. It’s calledVisual Empathy; the way that your eye wants to believe that this is real, but when you look at it the pattern doesn’t truly fit with the painting.Your eye makes it fit. It’s a trick.” Previously signed to FatCat, the re-haul of Honeyblood has also seen Stina enter a brand new relationship with Marathon Artists (home to Courtney Barnett, POND and Jagwar Ma), a natural fit and the right home for this evolution. On In Plain Sight, Honeyblood has faced fears and abandoned status quo. The piano anti-ballad ‘Harmless’ is an intentional end. It’s about owning up to your own faults and hiding behind a tough exterior to mask your vulnerabilities. In Honeyblood, Stina has boldly tackled the next chapter of her journey alone, and in the shifting sands she’s found new textures and possibilities. “I was petrified before going to record the album because what if I’d made a terrible record?” she asks. “I know I’ve done myself justice. I’ve made something I’m really happy with and I’m just itching to get going now. From now on this is how it’s gonna be.” mouse-pointer www.honeyblood.co.uk camera Marieke-Macklon Check her out in our Spotify playlist www.ryansgigguide.com/audio  www.ryansgigguide.com rgg Oct 2019 21