Growing up on a ‘Funny Farm’ is going to have repercussions. That’s just the way it goes. Being ‘hand-reared’ from within the midst of an animal sanctuary certainly shaped Lou’s childhood in a multitude of unconventional ways. A now published songwriter and author (of ‘Wildlife SOS’- a book depicting some of the more memorable Dolittle-style escapades of her formative years), Lou is on the cusp of releasing her debut album entitled ‘I…um…’.
It is a brave record, to be sure. Having worked with some of the music industry’s finest, most world renowned producers (including Massive Attack’s Neil Davidge and Joni Mitchell’s Phill Brown) this non-conformist, pretty, petite blonde boxer(!) has courageously decided to make her album in the company of the one who knows her best: her piano. A collection of back-bracingly candid songs, this achingly melodic expression of sincerity, spritzed daringly with the ghost of an oboe here, the echo of a gospel tenor there, is a rare glimpse into not only her own soul, but shockingly/comfortingly/cleverly; yours too.
Even amid the chaos of her ‘round-the-clock, orphaned badger cub bottle-feeding’ existence, Lou’s mother was a musician. Few would’ve recognised this woman covered in pigeon poo, with hair reminiscent of a confused dandelion clock, as the young virtuoso who graduated from London’s prestigious Royal College of Music some years formerly. It seems, though, that Lou was fortunate enough to have been nurtured by her intrinsic hereditary harmony.
Following a succession of unsuccessful tutors- none of which, seemingly, could impart any musical wisdom that a truculent teenage Lou was remotely willing to hear- she, instead, favoured her own self-teaching methods (which also, as luck would have it, permitted the smoking of many a sneaky fag in overgrown, secluded and abandoned Practice Room 15).
Lou threw herself, with a measured degree of reckless abandon, into various gigs, recording and song-writing sessions, accompanied by an assortment of line-ups, before signing to Chrysalis Music Publishing in April 2007, following acclaimed success with her song ‘AGood Day’, released by French ‘Pop Idol’ sensation Emmanuel Moire.
Time, laughter so overwhelming it could’ve been dangerous, turmoil, heartbreak, heartbreaking, opportunity, apologies, utter irrationality, hope, fear, offensive profundities (entirely unbefitting of a supposed ‘young lady’), peace of mind, denial, sleeplessness and hearty breakfasts; came and went, come and go. And Lou notes it all down on a £5.99 shitbox cassette-recorder from Argos, in the hope that one day someone who feels exactly the same way (but wouldn’t dare admit to it) hears it and smiles quietly to themselves. (And she can collect her Grammy.)
'Having worked in radio for longer than I care to remember, it's not very often I get surprised musically… The track was 'Just Like Me' and the first thing that hit me was the clarinet. Immediately that sets it aside from anything else around at the moment. Then came the voice, a voice that could melt steel! Lou has a unique gift, not just to be able to sing divinely, but she can whisper the lyrics in a way I've never heard before. By the end of the track I felt like I'd been seduced in the studio.
I now have the full album and the story just gets better, 'I... um...' is a must listen.'
~Smooth FM's Paul Wappat (Award winning veteran DJ)
‘…Lou can win you over with her voice and her simple and bare melodies that accompany her boldly honest stories.’
~Valerie Haberman of In the News
‘There’s no cheese, no pop - just a soulful singer, a piano and an atmosphere that you can cut with a knife…Her music plays it safe enough to catch the mainstream yet her voice and choice in instrumentation at times shows you that she is an individual that can definitely hold her own space in a crowded genre.
~Higher Plain Music
‘Lou Cowell is clearly emerging onto the scene and will draw significant international attention with the release of her debut album.’
~Musical Discoveries
'From the humble notions of having the URL to her website pasted onto her keyboard, to the simple jeans and tee-shirt attire, we see a girl who is not consumed by the superficial...
...within a second, it became clear that this young woman is riding on the waves of her dreams with vein popping passion. Lou's energy far surpassed the stage, as many in the crowd couldn't help but notice the life and soul in her voice, as she gave herself so mercilessly to crowd...She delivered story after story through her songs to the crowd with pristine musical notes and bone chilling vocals.'
~review of live performance by In The News
'Her sound ranges from barely-there-breathy to full-bodied, and she uses her instrument to its full dynamic potential, pulling the listener in many directions. It’s cool and jazzy, confident enough that you can buy her lyrics, but still raw enough to convey the more vulnerable parts of the album.'
'The emotional rollercoaster she takes us through in I…Um... is certainly worth a listen. She is a bold and burgeoning new talent.'
~Hayden Wright @ In Review Online
''...we think she is an artist with a great voice and a great future ahead of her as does the newly formed label Akashic. She has the X factor in every possible sense.''
-Hitsheet
'Every so often you hear a voice with a sense of intimacy and presence so tangible that it leaves you feeling as though the music is being sung just for you. Add to that a sense of disarmingly honest, personal, and soulful lyrics and you have a rare experience indeed...In short, I…Um… is a remarkable achievement from a very special talent indeed.''
-Jeff Perkins Blog Critics Magazine
