Mayshe-Mayshe, real name Alice Rowan, is a York-based dream pop artist who has just come to my attention thanks to her second album Indigo, released today.

By Graeme Smith

Alice released her first album Cocoa Smoke back in 2018 and Indigo reflects how our world has changed since then, and how it’s all impacted Alice personally. Themes of anxiety, depression and burn out all weigh heavily on its eleven tracks and Alice doesn’t shy away from any of it.

Despite its deep musings, Indigo has its airy moments too. Instrumentally, we are treated to layers of bright electronica and Alice’s vocals are light and expressive. There are hints of Grimes or Let’s Eat Grandma in her style, but she’s also bringing something that feels unique.

Track two and track eleven Dark Mountain and title track Indigo are perhaps the album’s stand out moment and they deserve their places as singles. The former is a groovy, glitchy piece of dark pop with outward-looking, stream of consciousness verses. The latter is the album’s brooding climax with whispered vocals and soothing harmonies.

A truly DIY project, Alice wrote, performed and produced the album herself, with support from Jeff T. Smith who helped with production and mixing. Mastering came courtesy of Carl Rosamund at RRS Media Services.

With Alice being a proponent of the local scene (as well as performing as Mayshe-Mayshe, she’s been part of Juffrage, Vessels, Esper Scout and Living Body), it seems frankly criminal that I’m only discovering her music now. Better late than never, I suppose, and Indigo is a wonderful introduction to her world.

You can give the whole album a listen below and, if you can, head down to FortyFive Vinyl in York tonight where she will hosting the album launch party. She’ll also be performing on the road in Sheffield, Derby, Durham, Leeds, Manchester, Hartlepool, Halifax and Richmond.