The Vocalist and Composer Rowan Flack Explores the Genre Gap Between Nordic/European ECM-Style Jazz, Indie Folk and Soulful Pop

“Forest Fires” was first crafted during a co-writing session with Brazilian bassist, Dinho Barral during an online Help Musicians Songwriting Workshop, led by Squeeze’s Chris Difford (March 2021). Speaking on inspiration and the meaning behind the song Rowan says “The track takes an unusual lyrical approach, likening the downfall of a relationship to the collapse of a burning forest. We took influence from jazz bassist, Esperanza Spalding, using dissonance and clashes in the chorus as well as inspiration from Astrud Gilberto, keeping a sense of simplicity in the vocals”.

After Flack worked further on the arrangement, the recording took place in 2021 at Antenna Studio’s, Crystal Palace. This led to Rowan receiving ‘Help Musicians’ funding to create the rest of the project: a collection of material inspired by finding the flaws in her personality, looking inwardly at relationships and a strong flowing theme of self-awareness. 

The EP was recorded at Love Electric Studios, London with audio engineer, Andy Hughes and musicians from her close network of friends, fellow Trinity Laban jazz alumni, and established pop session players: Joel Waters, Deschanel Gordon and Jack Lecomber.  Collectively, the members of the band have performed globally in Europe, Scandinavia and Asia playing for the likes of Olivia Dean, Matilda Homer, Judi Jackson, SEED Ensemble, and Nubya Garcia and toured with and opened for Jordan Rakei, Oscar Jerome, Maverick Sabre and Billy Cobham.