Lake South releases new album with a little help from his friends

Lake South tried to write a song a day during last year's lockdown. Photo / Supplied

Wellington electro-folk musician Lake South has a shiny new album and he's coming to show it off in Whanganui.

He'll be bringing a full band with him as well, although making The Light You Throw began as a solitary endeavour.

"All the songs were written during last year's lockdown," he said.

"I was about to go off to play at South By Southwest festival [in Austin, Texas], but that obviously got cancelled.

"The weather was nice, so I just sat in my carport and my kitchen and tried to write a song a day."

Lake South then spent the rest of 2020 fine-tuning the bones of the tunes, before seeking out musician friends "who can play a lot better" than him to help record all the parts.

Drum tracks were laid down at Avalon Film and Television Studios in Lower Hutt.

"Then me and a bunch of friends went up the coast to Waikawa Beach with instruments and recorded a lot of the rest of the album there," he said.

"The finishing touches were done back home in my flat."

The result is 40 minutes of ethereal pop, folk, and electronic music, spread over 12 tracks.

South's vocals are undeniably Kiwi, and everything from horns to banjo has been added into the mix.

Additional vocals were provided by Penelope Esplin (French for Rabbits, Grawlixes)

While the album was written in the midst of a global pandemic, Lake South said only one of the songs - Ode To The Lovers Of Castlepoint - had any mention of Covid-19.

He was able to free up "some mind space" during his time at home to touch on events from his past instead.

"There's not a lot of inspiration to be found when you go for a walk once a day, or thinking about what you're going to make dinner.

"Normally, I'll write an album 10 years later about experiences I've had. There'll probably be an album about this [time period] in 2030 or something."

The Light You Throw is Lake South's third album, and prior to this project he released five full lengths and two EPs under the name urbantramper.

He is also a part of the Wellington Sea Shanty Society.

Despite having a day job that helped pay the bills, music remained his "ultimate concern", South said.

"I try and write as many songs as I can and put them out. That's my life."

As for Whanganui, he said a lot of his artist friends from Wellington had made the shift north to live "a more affordable life".

"I'd love to as well, but I'll have to convince my partner first."

Lake South will be joined on stage in Whanganui by bassist Theo Sekeris (Ras Judah, Rubita) and drummer Eddie Crawshaw (Sheep Dog & Wolf, Bonaparte).

He plays at Porridge Watson on November 13.