Available today, September 7th, Naima Bock has shared a cover of Leonard Cohen’s archetypal masterpiece, “So Long, Marianne,” available now on all DSPs from Sub Pop/Memorials of Distinction. This stand-alone track was engineered & produced by Ali Chant at The Playpen Studio in Bristol, UK.
Bock shares about the cover: “I first found out about Leonard Cohen’s ‘So Long Marianne’ when I was walking in Fordham Park in New Cross, London as a young teenager. I saw ‘To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again’ inscribed on a bench plate in memory of a woman called Marianne (this bench has now sadly gone). The lyrics touched me in a profound way, and I remember crying a little when I saw them. These words in the context of someone’s passing were so profound and (for me) encompassed all of life and its constant tides. Of course, I later went home and listened to the hell out of Mr. Cohen, which I would continue to do for many years after, always finding safety in his voice and words.”
We (myself and the band) had been playing this song as a cover during our tours in 2022, and when we went in with Ali Chant, we decided to record a live version of it. I always felt nervous about recording a cover of Leonard Cohen. it obviously never stands up to the original, but I wanted to do it justice and, if nothing else, try not to diminish it in any way. My feelings around this recording were somewhat complicated, and although I could recognize how good the band (Meitar Wegman on Saxophone, Cassidy Hansen on drums, Clem Appleby on bass/ electric guitar, and Oliver Hamilton on violin, everyone on backing vocals) sounded, I didn’t like my vocal delivery. That is until I heard the backing vocals come in on a later chorus, and something inside me clicked, and I fell in love with what we had done.
I have always felt hugely supported by the musicians I play with, and when I heard their voices in this recording, it reminded me to be accepting and LOVING of imperfections, imperfections in my voice, which I have always (like many singers) been painfully aware of, imperfections in art, in myself. I thought if I didn’t want to present something imperfect to the world, then where do I stand morally in regards to what people consume, perfection only? This is the reality for many people, not just in artistic expression but in appearance, career trajectory etc. perfection only pleases. This is not only unrealistic but also detrimental to our minds and souls, we never will be perfect and if all we consume feels like it is, then we must be less. This is not a game that I will support, so here it is, my lovingly given imperfect version of ‘So long, Marianne’. I also altered the lyrics from ‘Violet park’ to ‘Fordham park’ to honour the Marianne who introduced me (from the other side) to Leonard Cohen. “
Bock will embark on a 9-date EU tour, beginning in Leipzig, Germany, on September 15th, opening for Squid, with headline and festival performances in the UK & Vienna in November. See below for a full list of dates.
Fri. Sep. 15 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz # Sat. Sep. 16 - Zurich, CH - Mascotte # Tue. Sep. 19 - Milan, It - Santeria Social Club # Thu. Sep. 21 - Barcelona, ES - Sala Apolo # Fri. Sep. 22 - Valencia, ES - Teatro La Rambleta # Sat. Sep. 23 - Madrid, ES - Sala Copernico # Sun. Sep. 24 - Bordeaux, FR - Rock School Barbey # Mon. Sep. 25 - Paris, FR - Elysee Montmartre # Wed. Sep. 27 - Rouen, FR - Le 106 # Mon. Oct. 25 - Totnes, UK - The Albatross Tue. Oct. 26 - Falmouth, UK - The Cornish Bank Fri. Nov. 03 - Hebden Bridge, UK - The Trades Club Sun. Nov. 05 - Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute Thu. Nov. 9 - Bristol, UK - Dareshack Fri. Nov. 10 - London, UK - EartH (AKA Hackney Arts Centre) Thur. Nov. 23 - Vienna, AT - Blue Bird Festival (Porgy & Bess)
# w/ Squid
What People Are Saying About Naima Bock: “There’s a bit of ’70s Brian Eno in her vocal delivery and an echo of John Cale in her arrangements, but the fusion of her disparate cultural influences makes for an enchanting sound entirely Bock’s own.” [“Giant Palm”] - New York Times
“Exquisite solo debut” - ★★★★ MOJO
“Quiet, melancholy and occasionally divinely uplifting (8/10)” - Uncut
“Hugely ambitious - the individual pieces are delicately arranged, the end product solid as steel” [ “Music of the Month”] - The Quietus
“A real gem…[it’s] cinematic and spectral; it makes one contemplate things like energy flows and meditation and the long arc of history.” [“Album of the Week”] - Stereogum
“Giant Palm, is quietly dazzling, drawing from a wide range of influences including ’70s British folk, jazz, and Tropicalia.” [“Album of the Week, Indie Basement”] - Brooklyn Vegan
“This album has an unforced charm, making it an ideal accompaniment to long summer nights” ★★★★- The Times of London
“Naima Bock’s ‘Giant Palm’ is - frankly - exquisite. A truly special listen” - CLASH
“Steady and calming, intimate and revelatory, sporadically startling - it’s a record as unique as Bock’s history (8/10)” - Loud and Quiet
“As a debut, Giant Palm situates itself in a specific tradition without being constrained by convention - finding a voice in ten tracks that occupy their own lifeforce, almost set in motion by the elements.” ★★★★ - DIY
“Giant Palm is a stellar debut and one of 2022’s more distinct releases (8/10)” - The Line of Best Fit
“Though she took a roundabout path to make and release Giant Palm, the way Bock shares her profound moments and little insights with a generous spirit makes for an often brilliant debut.” ★★★★ - All Music
Naima Bock has shared an official video for her striking new single, “Lines” which is now available on all DSPs from Sub Pop/Memorials of Distinction. This stand-alone track was engineered & produced by Ali Chant in 2022 at The Playpen Studio, in Bristol, UK.
Bock reveals “Lines is about what we do to each other, some call the dance of intimacy, exchanges. What we are given, carry with us, then subsequently pass on to others- good and bad. How the recipient is often undeserving of the negative side of this reality. It’s about trying to dodge blame and the loneliness of guilt. It’s about the irony of impermanence and unhealthy patterns coexisting; ‘nothing stays’ but ‘nothings changed’. The idea of change I had grown accustomed to but the reality that some things won’t change until you actively work on them is something new to me, preferring to adopt a slightly lazy attitude and misunderstanding the saying ‘all passes’. Sometimes it doesn’t pass quickly enough. It’s also a song about anger, and the familiarity of not knowing where to put it.” You can watch the official video for “Lines” which was directed by Kit Harwood HERE.
Naima will return to the US on Friday, March 3rd performing songs from her critically acclaimed debut release Giant Palm. See below for a full list of dates.
Praised for its originality, warmth, and ambition, Giant Palm has been heralded as one of last year’s finest debuts so far with features from CLASH, Loud & Quiet, The Quietus, and Uncut, and receiving rave reviews like “Album of the Week” from Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan (Indie Basement), The Line of Best Fit and inclusion on Pitchfork’s “34 Great Records You May Have Missed”, Spring/Summer” list.
Giant Palm also appeared on multiple year end lists, including #1 on Brooklyn Vegan’s “Indie Basement: Top 40 Albums of 2022” as well as its “50 Best Albums of 2022” list. The album also appeared on additional “Best of 2022” lists from Stereogum (#24), Loud & Quiet (#22), Clash (#42), and Our Culture (#50).
US 2023
Fri. Mar. 03 - Brooklyn, NY - Public Records
Sat. Mar. 04 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
Sun. Mar. 05 - Washington, DC - Songbyrd Cafe
Wed. Mar. 08 - Seattle, WA - Barboza
Sat. Mar. 11 - Los Angeles, CA - Gold Diggers
UK/Europe 2023
Tue. Mar. 14 - Bristol, UK - Thekla Social*
Wed. Mar. 15 - Norwich, UK - Norwich Art Centre*
Thu. Mar. 16 - O2 - Oxford, UK - Academy Oxford*
Fri. Mar. 17 - London, UK - Heaven*
Sat. Mar. 25 - Bristol, UK - Ritual Union Festival
Sat. Apr. 01- Manchester, UK - Fair Play Festival
Sat. May. 27 - London, UK - Wide Awake Festival
Fri. Jun. 09- Sat. 10 - Ipswich, UK - Brighten The Corners Festival
*Supporting Orlando Weeks
What People Are Saying About Naima Bock’s Giant Palm:
“There’s a bit of ’70s Brian Eno in her vocal delivery and an echo of John Cale in her arrangements, but the fusion of her disparate cultural influences makes for an enchanting sound entirely Bock’s own.” [“Giant Palm”] - New York Times
“Exquisite solo debut” - ★★★★ MOJO
“Quiet, melancholy and occasionally divinely uplifting (8/10)” - Uncut
“Hugely ambitious - the individual pieces are delicately arranged, the end product solid as steel” [ “Music of the Month”] - The Quietus
“A real gem…[it’s] cinematic and spectral; it makes one contemplate things like energy flows and meditation and the long arc of history.” [“Album of the Week”] - Stereogum
“Giant Palm, is quietly dazzling, drawing from a wide range of influences including ’70s British folk, jazz, and Tropicalia.” [“Album of the Week, Indie Basement”] - Brooklyn Vegan
“This album has an unforced charm, making it an ideal accompaniment to long summer nights” ★★★★- The Times of London
“Naima Bock’s ‘Giant Palm’ is - frankly - exquisite. A truly special listen” - CLASH
“Steady and calming, intimate and revelatory, sporadically startling - it’s a record as unique as Bock’s history (8/10)” - Loud and Quiet
“As a debut, Giant Palm situates itself in a specific tradition without being constrained by convention - finding a voice in ten tracks that occupy their own lifeforce, almost set in motion by the elements.” ★★★★ - DIY
“Giant Palm is a stellar debut and one of 2022’s more distinct releases (8/10)” - The Line of Best Fit
“Though she took a roundabout path to make and release Giant Palm, the way Bock shares her profound moments and little insights with a generous spirit makes for an often brilliant debut.” ★★★★ - All Music
Naima Bock’s “Campervan,” is a single and official video from Giant Palm, her acclaimed debut. The song, which Stereogum calls “expansive and lovely,” is now the subject of this live performance by Naima, violinist Oliver Hamilton, and the Institute Collective contemporary vocal ensemble. Filmed at Waverley House in Margate, a small seaside town in the Southeast coast of England, it’s an absolutely exquisite presentation of the song. Watch now.
The Institute Collective was founded by composer, producer and vocal arranger Hughie Gavin, and is a collective of artists in their own right who come together to collaborate and perform with other musicians. Gavin offers this on the performance, “I loved arranging ‘Campervan’ as the song has such a natural ebb and flow. I tried to make sure the voices followed that movement, rising and falling throughout. I also wanted to be true to the song’s clear contrasting sections. As well as the part itself, how the choir sung was really important, from the airy builds in the verses to the almost raucous chorus refrain.”
Naima says of the performance, “It was a real pleasure to work with the Institute Collective, we had a beautiful day meeting all of the singers, arrangers and crew. There was a very special energy whilst filming and the more we sang together the better it got. I’m delighted to release this video and to have worked with such a talented bunch”.
Naima Bock’s international tour schedule in support of Giant Palm resumes Friday, September 2nd at The End of the Road festival in Dorset, UK, and currently run through Thursday, October 27th in London at ICA. A US tour announcement will be made soon. Please find a current list of dates below and on naimabock.com.
September and October 2022 Fri. Sep. 02 - Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival Sun. Sep. 04 - Dublin, IE - Dun Laoghaire Folk Festival (@ The Lighthouse) Thu. Sep. 08 - Vienna, AT - WAVES Festival (@Fania Live!) Sun. Sep. 11 - Southampton, UK - Joiners* Tue. Sep. 13 - Brighton, UK - Chalk* Wed. Sep. 14 - Margate, UK - Olbys* Thu. Sep. 15 - Oslo, NO - by:Larm (@ Kafé Hærverk) Fri. Sep. 16 - Oslo, NO - by:Larm (@Kulturkirken Jakob) Sat. Sep. 17 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club* Sun. Sep. 18 - Newcastle, UK - The Cluny* Tue. Sep. 20 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz Wed. Sep. 21 - Hamburg, DE - Reeperbahn Festival Thu. Sep. 22 - Berlin, DE - Marie Antoinette Fri. Sep. 23 - Cologne, DE - Wohngemeinschaft Sat. Sep. 24 - Frankfurt, DE - Mounsontum Tue. Sep. 27 - Nijmegen, NL - Merleyn ^ Wed. Sep. 28 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso (upstairs) ^ Thu. Sep. 29 - Bruges, BE - Villa Bota ^ Sat. Oct. 08 - Margate, UK - Elsewhere Mon. Oct. 11 - Brighton, UK - The Hope & Ruin Wed. Oct. 12 - Bristol, UK - The Cube Thu. Oct. 13 - Manchester, UK - Gullivers Sat. Oct. 15 - Norwich, UK - Wild Paths Festival (@Voodoo Daddy Showroom) Sun. Oct. 16 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds Thu. Oct. 20 - Oxford, UK - Florence Park Community Center Fri. Oct. 21 - Glasgow, UK - Hug & Pint Sat. Oct. 22 - Leeds, UK - Mill Hill Chapel Sun. Oct. 23 - Newcastle, UK - Cumberland Arms Thu. Oct. 27 - London, UK - ICA
Naima Bock’s Giant Palm and its singles, saw praise from the likes of Brooklyn Vegan (“Album of the Week, Indie Basement”), CLASH, DIY, The Line of Best Fit, Loud & Quiet, MOJO, New York Times, Our Culture, The Quietus, Stereogum (“Album of the Week”), The Times of London, Uncut, and more.
Recently, Pitchfork included the album in its “34 Great Records You May Have Missed, Spring/Summer,” and said, “Naima Bock has been unraveling her own heritage and weaving it into something new. Bock spent her early childhood in Brazil before relocating to South-East London, and on her solo debut Giant Palm, she braids together bucolic English folk, fluttering Tropicalia, and elements of ’60s psych rock. With the help of producer and arranger Joel Burton, she enlisted over 30 musicians to record on Giant Palm. The cohort’s contributions add a delightful strangeness to the album: Bent saxophone, jazz flute, and strings wrap around Bock’s hazy voice, suggesting some mystical, askew idyll.”
What People Are Saying About Naima Bock’s Giant Palm: “Exquisite solo debut” - ★★★★ MOJO
“Quiet, melancholy and occasionally divinely uplifting (8/10)” - Uncut
“Hugely ambitious - the individual pieces are delicately arranged, the end product solid as steel” [ “Music of the Month”] - The Quietus
“A real gem…[it’s] cinematic and spectral; it makes one contemplate things like energy flows and meditation and the long arc of history.” [“Album of the Week”] - Stereogum
“Giant Palm, is quietly dazzling, drawing from a wide range of influences including ’70s British folk, jazz, and Tropicalia.” [“Album of the Week, Indie Basement”] - Brooklyn Vegan
“This album has an unforced charm, making it an ideal accompaniment to long summer nights” ★★★★- The Times of London
“Naima Bock’s ‘Giant Palm’ is - frankly - exquisite. A truly special listen” - CLASH
“Steady and calming, intimate and revelatory, sporadically startling - it’s a record as unique as Bock’s history (8/10)” - Loud and Quiet
“As a debut, Giant Palm situates itself in a specific tradition without being constrained by convention - finding a voice in ten tracks that occupy their own lifeforce, almost set in motion by the elements.” ★★★★ - DIY
“Giant Palm is a stellar debut and one of 2022’s more distinct releases (8/10)” - The Line of Best Fit
“Though she took a roundabout path to make and release Giant Palm, the way Bock shares her profound moments and little insights with a generous spirit makes for an often brilliant debut.” ★★★★ - All Music
“There’s a bit of ’70s Brian Eno in her vocal delivery and an echo of John Cale in her arrangements, but the fusion of her disparate cultural influences makes for an enchanting sound entirely Bock’s own.” [“Giant Palm”] - New York Times
Today Naima Bock is sharing a new video for “Campervan,” directed by Cassidy Hansen, and a standout from Giant Palm, her forthcoming full-length debut.
Naima says of the track, “Campervan” is another collaboration between myself and producer Joel Burton. This is a song about the falling apart of a relationship and the bleak impact that it seems to have on us as humans and the renewal that it can provide afterwards. We thought it would be fun to approach the song from a more tongue-in-cheek perspective; Joel’s arrangements draw on western cowboy nostalgia as well as orchestral influences such as ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ by Joaquin Rodrigo and ‘Pure Imagination’ from the 1971 Willy Wonka film. The process of writing the song was a joyful and creative one, turning something depressing into something that doesn’t take itself too seriously whilst preserving the poignancy and melodrama of heartache.”
Naima Bock’s international touring schedule in support of Giant Palm resumes Friday, June 17th with a stop at Edinburgh, Scotland’s Hidden Door Festival, and currently runs through Monday, October 27th for a show at London’s ICA. Please find a full list of dates below and on naimabock.com
Fri. Jun. 17 - Edinburgh, UK - Hidden Door Festival Sun. Jun. 26 - Somerset, UK - Glastonbury Festival Fri. Jul. 01 - London, UK - Rough Trade East Sat. Jul. 23 - Southwold, UK - Latitude Festival Thu. Sep. 01- Sun. 04 - Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival Fri. Sep. 09 - Sat. Sep. 10 - Vienna, AT - Waves Festival Thu. Sep. 15 - Sat. Sep. 17 - Oslo, NO - by:Larm Tue. Sep. 20 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz * Wed. Sep. 21 - Hamburg, DE - RBF * Thu. Sep. 22 - Berlin, DE - Prachtwerk * Fri. Sep 23 - Cologne, DE - Theater der Wohngemeinschaft * Sat. Sep. 24 - Munich, DE - Heppel & Ettlich * Tue. Sep. 27 - Nijmegen, NL - Doomrosje * Thu. Sep. 29 - Brugge - BE - Cactus * Tue. Oct. 11 - Brighton, UK - The Prince Albert Wed. Oct. 12 - Bristol, UK - The Cube Thu. Oct. 13- Manchester, UK - Guillivers Sun. Oct. 16 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds 2 Fri. Oct. 21 - Glasgow, UK - Hug & Pint Sat. Oct. 22 - Leeds, UK - Mill Hill Chapel Sun. Oct. 23 - Newcastle, UK - Cumberland Ave Mon. Oct. 27 - London, UK - ICA * w/ Dana Gavanski
Born in Glastonbury to a Brazilian father and a Greek mother, Naima spent her early childhood in Brazil before eventually returning to England and various homes in South-East London. This heritage combines with more recent pursuits in Naima’s music; from the Brazilian standards that the family would listen to driving to the beach, to the European folk traditions she tapped into on her own, and the pursuits that interest her today – studies in archaeology, work as a gardener, and walking the world’s great trails – Naima’s music draws from family, the earth and the handing down of music through generations.
What People Are Saying About Naima Bock: “Hugely ambitious - the individual pieces are delicately arranged, the end product solid as steel” [Giant Palm / “Music of the Month”] - The Quietus
“Naima Bock sounds like no one else around,” [“30 Degrees”/ Track of the Day] - Clash
“A grand statement.” [“Artist of the Week”] - The Line of Best Fit
“A ray of optimism” [“Every Morning”] - The Guardian
“Superb” [“Giant Palm”/ “’Neu Recommended”] - DIY
“Bock’s music is like discovering you have a false wall when renovating your house. That, once knocked down, reveals a chamber of trinkets to unearth” [“Toll” / Single of the Week] - Secret Meeting
“Delightfully gentle” [“Toll”] - The Times
“A compelling first step into the spotlight that suggests great things to come” [“30 Degrees”] - The Forty Five
“Wistful and subtly eerie” [“30 Degrees”] - Our Culture
“Spiralling folk” [“30 Degrees”] - Loud and Quiet
“’30 Degrees’ oozes and surprises across its run time, opening up new melodies and instrumental dimensions from imperceptible trap doors within the song” - Beats Per Minute
“Strange but catchy bossa-folk” [“30 Degrees”] - Uncut
“A mightily impressive introduction” [“30 Degrees”] - God Is In The TV
“There’s a bit of ’70s Brian Eno in her vocal delivery and an echo of John Cale in her arrangements, but the fusion of her disparate cultural influences makes for an enchanting sound entirely Bock’s own.” [“Giant Palm”] -New York Times
“It’s unhurried but magnetic, the kind of song that isn’t flashy but leaves a deep impact if you’ll let it. I guess you could say … it takes a toll. [“Toll” / #3, “Songs of the Week”] - Stereogum
“…Dark, smoky, folk sound, close harmonies and production touches that nod towards her upbringing in Brazil.” [“30 Degrees”] - Brooklyn Vegan
“‘30 Degrees’ is hushed and mournful, with Bock’s deep voice at the center.”- Stereogum
“A strong contender to be one of 2022’s breakout stars” [“30 Degrees”] - For The Rabbits
On July 1st, 2022 London-based artist Naima Bock will release her debut album Giant Palm via Sub Pop Records/Memorials of Distinction. Following the single releases of “30 Degrees,” her cover of the classic Brazilian song “Berimbau”, “Every Morning” and “Giant Palm” comes her latest single/official video for her song “Toll.”
Naima says of the song, “Toll was originally composed as a song to hold hands with decay and death. Recording alongside Joel Burton who arranged the violin and woodwind parts brought the song to life and allowed for space and freedom within it, while Alex Mckenzie’s flute solo beautifully introduces us into its world. My drummer Cassidy Hansen wrote and directed the video, magically closing the circle.” You can watch the video for “Toll” below.
Naima recently concluded a 17-date tour, as the main support slot for Rodrigo Amarante throughout Europe. She will headline The Lexington on 23rd May. She will have additional festival plays at Glastonbury, The Great Escape Festival, The Great Eastern Festival, Sea Change Festival, Hidden Doors Festival, and End of the Road Festival. In September she’ll support Dana Gavanski in Europe. See below for a full list of shows.
Sat. May 21 - Edinburgh, UK - The Great Eastern Festival Mon. May 23 - London, UK - The Lexington Sat. May 28 - Totnes, UK - Sea Change Festival Fri. Jun. 17 - Edinburgh, UK - Hidden Door Festival Wed. Jun 22-26 - Somerset, UK - Glastonbury Festival Fri. Jul. 01 - London, UK - London’s Rough Trade East Thu. Sep. 01 - Sun. Sep. 04 - Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival Fri. Sep. 09 - Sat. Sep. 10 - Vienna, AT - Waves Festival Thu. Sep. 15 - Sat. Sep. 17 - Oslo, NO - by:Larm Tue. Sep. 20 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz * Wed. Sep. 21 - Hamburg, DE - RBF * Thu. Sep. 22 - Berlin, DE - Prachtwerk * Fri. Sep 23 - Cologne, DE - Theater der Wohngemeinschaft * Sat. Sep. 24 - Munich, DE - Heppel & Ettlich * Tue. Sep. 27 - Nijmegen, NL - Doomrosje * Thu. Sep. 29 - Brugge - BE - Cactus * Tue. Oct. 11 - Brighton, UK - The Prince Albert Wed. Oct. 12 - Bristol, UK - The Cube Thu. Oct. 13- Manchester, UK - Guillivers Sun. Oct. 16 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds 2 Fri. Oct. 21 - Glasgow, UK - Hug & Pint Sat. Oct. 22 - Leeds, UK - Mill Hill Chapel Sun. Oct. 23 - Newcastle, UK - Cumberland Ave Mon. Oct. 27th - London, UK - ICA
* w/ Dana Gavanski
Born in Glastonbury to a Brazilian father and a Greek mother, Naima spent her early childhood in Brazil before eventually returning to England and various homes in South-East London. This heritage combines with more recent pursuits in Naima’s music; from the Brazilian standards that the family would listen to driving to the beach, to the European folk traditions she tapped into on her own, and the pursuits that interest her today – studies in archaeology, work as a gardener, and walking the world’s great trails – Naima’s music draws from family, the earth and the handing down of music through generations.
What People are saying about Naima Bock: “There’s a bit of ’70s Brian Eno in her vocal delivery and an echo of John Cale in her arrangements, but the fusion of her disparate cultural influences makes for an enchanting sound entirely Bock’s own.” [“Giant Palm”] -New York Times
“Flashes of jazz and Americana bolt across her songs, and with each brush of warmth and familiarity there’s something to claw you back to the edge of your seat.” [“30 Degrees”] - The Line of Best Fit
“…Filled with interweaving vocal harmonies and a transcendent sense of stillness.” [“Every Morning”]- Stereogum
“…Dark, smoky, folk sound, close harmonies and production touches that nod towards her upbringing in Brazil.” [“30 Degrees”] - Brooklyn Vegan
“‘30 Degrees’ is hushed and mournful, with Bock’s deep voice at the center.”- Stereogum
“A strong contender to be one of 2022’s breakout stars” - For The Rabbits
On July 1st, 2022 London-based artist Naima Bock will release her debut album Giant Palm via Sub Pop Records/Memorials of Distinction. Born in Glastonbury to a Brazilian father and a Greek mother, Naima spent her early childhood in Brazil before eventually returning to England and various homes in South-East London. This heritage combines with more recent pursuits in Naima’s music; from the Brazilian standards that the family would listen to driving to the beach, to the European folk traditions she tapped into on her own, and the pursuits that interest her today – studies in archaeology, work as a gardener, and walking the world’s great trails – Naima’s music draws from family, the earth and the handing down of music through generations.
Naima’s debut album Giant Palm is undoubtedly infused with the Brazilian music of her youth and regular family visits. She found inspiration in “the percussion, the melodies, chords - and particularly the poetic juxtaposition of tragedy and beauty held within the lyrics”.
On the heels of the single releases of “30 Degrees,” her cover of the classic Brazilian song “Berimbau”, and single “Every Morning” comes the official video for her album-title track “Giant Palm.”
Naima says of the track: “Giant Palm was written collaboratively by myself and Joel Burton (who arranged and produced the whole album), I wrote the vocal melody and lyrics and he wrote the instrumentation. The recording process was limited (which I always find the most creatively productive way to record) by what we had in Joel’s room and recorded during the summer of 2020, resulting in mostly electronic instruments apart from the acoustic guitar. The vocals were later recorded by my dad, Victor Bock. We named the album after this song as it was the one that most reflected our collaboration as musicians and the innocence and freedom that characterised the making of the record.”
The music video for “Giant Palm” was directed by Max McLachlan. Naima adds “he projected the contrast of elevation and submission that is present in the song into a physical visual format. I’ve struggled to express in writing the meaning of this song so I feel it is best to leave the listener to make of it what they will. It’s a deeply personal song which means it can be reflected in whichever way one feels they want it to be.”
Naima’s headline show at London’s The Lexington on 23rd May follows UK and EU tours with Porridge Radio and Dana Gavanski (with additional opening support coming in September), and a stint at SXSW. She will also open 17 dates as main support for Rodrigo Amarante starting on 18 April throughout Europe. She will have additional festival plays at The Great Escape Festival, The Great Eastern Festival, Sea Change Festival, Hidden Doors Festival, and End of the Road Festival. See below for a full list of shows.
Mon. Apr. 18 - Porto, PT- Casa Da Musica % Tue. Apr. 19 - Lisbon, PT - Capitolio % Thur. Apr. 21 - Madrid, ES - Sala Mon % Fri. Apr. 22 - Barcelona, ES - La 2 % Sat. Apr. 23 - Lyon, FR - L’Epicerie Moderne % Mon. Apr. 25 - Milano, IT - Santeria % Tue. Apr. 26 - Zurich, CH - Mascotte % Wed. Apr. 27 - Munich, DE - Ampere % Thur. Apr. 28 - Cologne, DE - Stadtgarten % Fri. Apr. 29 - Hamburg, DE - Nochtspeicher % Sat. Apr. 30 - Berlin, DE - Lido % Mon. May 02 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso Noord % Thur. May 04 - London, UK - Scala % Fri. May 05 - Brussels, BE - Botanique (Orangerie) % Sat. May 06 - Paris, FR - Cabaret Sauvage % Sun. May 07 - Lille, FR - Aeronef % Mon. May 08 - Nantes, FR - Le Lieu Unique % Wed. May 11 - Sat. May 14 - Brighton, UK - The Great Escape Sat. May 21 - The Great Eastern Festival, Edinburgh, UK Mon. May 23 - London, UK - The Lexington Sat. May 28 - Totnes, UK - Sea Change Festival Fri. Jun. 17 - Edinburgh, UK - Hidden Door Festival Fri. Jul. 01- - London, UK - London’s Rough Trade East Thur. Sep. 01 - Sun. Sep. 04 - Dorset, UK - End of the Road Festival Fri. Sep. 09 - Sat. Sep. 10 - Vienna, AT - Waves Festival Thur. Sep. 15 - Sat. Sep. 17 - Oslo, NO - by:Larm Tue. Sep. 20 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz # Wed. Sep. 21 - Hamburg, DE - RBF # Thur. Sep. 22 - Berlin, DE - Prachtwerk # Fri. Sep 23 - Cologne, DE - Theater der Wohngemeinschaft # Sat. Sep. 24 - Munich, DE - Heppel & Ettlich # Tue. Sep. 27 - Nijmegen, NL - Doomrosje # Thur. Sep. 29 - Brugge - BE - Cactus # ___ % w/ Rodrigo Amarante # w/ Dana Gavanski
What People are saying about Naima: “Flashes of jazz and Americana bolt across her songs, and with each brush of warmth and familiarity there’s something to claw you back to the edge of your seat.” - [30 Degrees] The Line of Best Fit
“…filled with interweaving vocal harmonies and a transcendent sense of stillness. - [“Every Morning”] Stereogum
“…dark, smoky, folk sound, close harmonies and production touches that nod towards her upbringing in Brazil.” [30 Degrees] Brooklyn Vegan
““30 Degrees” is hushed and mournful, with Bock’s deep voice at the center. “ - [30 Degrees] Stereogum
“A strong contender to be one of 2022’s breakout stars” - For The Rabbits
More on Naima Bock’s Giant Palm: The roots of Naima Bock’s music are far-reaching. Born in Glastonbury to a Brazilian father and a Greek mother, Naima spent her early childhood in Brazil before eventually returning to England and various homes in South-East London. This heritage combines with more recent pursuits in Naima’s music; from the Brazilian standards that the family would listen to driving to the beach, to the European folk traditions she tapped into on her own, and the pursuits that interest her today – studies in archaeology, work as a gardener, and walking the world’s great trails – Naima’s music draws from family, the earth and the handing down of music through generations.
Naima’s debut album Giant Palm is undoubtedly infused with the Brazilian music of her youth and regular family visits. She found inspiration in “the percussion, the melodies, chords - and particularly the poetic juxtaposition of tragedy and beauty held within the lyrics”. By the age of 15 Naima was embedded in the music scene of South-East London, slotting into a group of like-minded friends writing and playing music. This led to the creation of Goat Girl, the band she toured the world with playing bass and singing alongside her school friends. After six years, Naima decided to leave Goat Girl to try something new. In the intervening years she set up a gardening company and started a degree at University College London in archeology because, as she jokes, “I liked being near the ground”. During this time she was writing music, playing guitar, and learning violin. She was also introduced to producer and arranger Joel Burton through Josh Cohen and his label, Memorials of Distinction. Over the time he and Naima worked together, Joel’s burgeoning interest in Western Classical music, global folk music, experience in large scale arrangement and orchestration informed the collaborative process that eventually culminated in Giant Palm. Naima had been writing songs for years without any strong idea of where to take them. However, over a gradual process of rehearsing and performing with Joel, the compositions began to settle into something more concrete. It wasn’t until restrictions began to ease post- lockdown that they were able to focus on getting the songs finished and recorded. Fortunately, Dan Carey of Speedy Wunderground offered his spare studio space in Streatham, in south east London, free of charge. Informed by a desire to create music that was considered and intentional, they spent the month leading up to the recording expanding the arrangements, to be performed by a large and varied group of musicians - with Joel scoring parts and recording the synth and electronic elements in advance. Once they managed to schedule slots for the more-than 30 musicians on the record - the expansive yet delicate arrangements were brought to life and captured with the help of engineer Syd Kemp. Naima loves the collective voice of traditionals that belong to everyone. She’s recently found a home for this passion in her role in the ever-shifting line-up of South-London folk collective Broadside Hacks, but it’s long been a way for her to explore her own artistry. She learned to play guitar and violin through these songs, but she also found her voice in them. “All the other representations that I’d had of singing felt so unattainable” she recalls, but in folk music she found that singing can take on so many forms without the need to exactly replicate something. Here, qualities that make her voice unique were able to flourish. This is present all through her music, as well as a feeling of community and the sharing of ideas. Written over the space of years, each of Naima’s songs represents a snapshot of a specific feeling, of brief moments in Naima’s life that make up a larger whole. “I never change lyrics” she says, “even if I don’t relate to them anymore, I related to them once which means someone else could, somewhere”. Whether that’s in the playful humour of ‘Campervan’, the peaceful exhale of ‘Giant Palm’ or in the darker moments like in the stark, self-critical honesty of ‘Every Morning’, whatever the form it’s always laid bare. There’s also a feeling of clarity to the songs, which Naima largely credits to the fact that many of them were written while walking. She finds inspiration in the meditative and revealing nature of long walks with a fixed but far-off destination. “There’s a stripping away that takes place”, she says, the slowing of thoughts by the rhythm of walking is often to thank for the sharp focus of her lyrics. Be that during a period of three years where she would return to Spanish pilgrimage network Camino de Santiago for weeks at a time, or simple hours spent in the English countryside.
Naima Bock Giant Palm
Track Listing: 1. Giant Palm 2. Toll 3. Every Morning 4. Dim Dum 5. Working 6. Natural 7. Campervan 8. Enter the House 9. Instrumental 10. O Morro
