Babeheaven - Slower Than Sound (EP) + 10 Questions
Picture Credit: Stuart Nimmo
Babeheaven Return With Intimate New EP Slower Than Sound.
London duo Babeheaven, made up of vocalist Nancy Andersen and producer Jamie Travis, make a welcome return after four years with their new five-track EP Slower Than Sound, out now via Scenic Route.
Following the tender Beloved and the BBC 6 Music premiered Picture This, the EP marks a more personal and stripped back chapter for the band. Written largely in Nancy’s home studio, Slower Than Sound trades lush production for space and simplicity, what the pair describe as “Post Rave”: music for the quiet journey home.
“It feels like a rebirth,” says Nancy. “Writing at home gave me space to experiment and rebuild confidence. Once I brought the songs to Jamie, we shaped them into what you hear now.”
Across five tracks, Babeheaven explore love, burnout and self reflection. Beloved radiates comfort and devotion, Lost For Words wrestles with disconnection, while Loud Thoughts featuring Samba Jean-Baptiste captures creative exhaustion with haunting honesty. The EP closes with a tender cover of Todd Rundgren’s Tiny Demons, perfectly echoing its introspective tone.
Since emerging with Friday Sky in 2016, Babeheaven have quietly built a loyal following through their acclaimed albums Home For Now and Sink Into Me, and have graced stages with Loyle Carner, Nilüfer Yanya and Cigarettes After Sex.
After a pause marked by uncertainty and renewal, Slower Than Sound sees Babeheaven returning to their core: intimate, honest and beautifully self produced.
“Not putting out music for so long was hard,” Jamie reflects. “We hope this marks a new, more prolific chapter for us, reconnecting with the London community and beyond.”
Babeheaven sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
Jamie: I started playing music around 6 years old, first on the cello in my school orchestra and then moved onto the guitar at around 11. I think my love for music first came from hearing the films I used to watch when I was young and then trying to play the melodies I heard on the piano or guitar.
Nancy: I have been singing all of my life and my dad worked in making music for film and TV so I was always helping him out singing little bits and bobs whenever he needed. The whole of my life has been spent with music in the foreground, whether cooking or relaxing its always on in the background!
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
J: Portishead have always been a big influence, I'd say especially in the way they made the records sound and I have tried to find out as much as I can about how they did it. Durrutti column has always been a big influence and also Air. I would love to work with someone in the classical world on creating some pieces for strings.
N: I second all the artist Jamie said, I think we have pretty broad taste its so hard to say what is an influence, because I can find influence in nearly everything. The way a song is phrased, lyrics etc. One of my favourite albums ever is Zero 7, Simple Things I think i am always influenced by that album.
3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?
J & N: We have just released our new EP “Slower than Sound”, you should definitely check it out.
4. How would you describe your sound?
J: We always say that its post rave music, for the drive home.
5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?
N: So many proud moments, every show we play feels really special, especially after taking time away, seeing fans who have been there since day one and meeting people who have been touched by our music, it always feel really good.
Picture Credit: Stuart Nimmo
6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?
J: try not to get involved in any trends and just stick to what you like, try to copy some elements of people that you love and slowly evolve a sound for yourself out of these different parts. And also not to give up, as things don't always come quickly, many artists have succeeded later on in life.
7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?
N: Samba Jean Baptiste who we have featured on Loud Thoughts is so amazing, honestly everything he releases is worth listening to. I have been obsessed with the James K album, I think she is so cool. Also Yde Girl and Alba Akvama who opened for us recently are both incredible and deffo ones to watch.
8. What albums are on heavy rotation for you currently?
J: I've been listening to a lot of jazz and classical right now, like John Coltrane and Art Tatum as well as Bruckner. Also been revisiting the Floating points album with Pharoah Saunders which I think is incredible.
N: Snuggle’s album Goodbyehouse is so good i’ve been listening to it a lot at the moment, but I kind of just listen to loads of everything. I am more of a playlist girl than album, or I go through albums and find my favs and then go back again and listen more.
9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?
J: Mainly watch films and play football, I have been learning a bit of art history lately which is nice and playing university challenge with my friend Harry.
N: I spend a lot of time cooking, I work as a chef and I love it. Lots of reading, listening to audio books and in winter I am a sucker for a puzzle (so lame but so fun).
10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?
J: My Wurlitzer piano, my Fender Stratocaster guitar and my universal audio plug ins.