“A shimmering web of vocal loops and pedals – sinuous musical invention and experimentation”
-Clash Magazine
THE WOODS
The Woods is the music of Scottish producer, vocalist, & multi-instrumental loop artist Johnny McFadzean.
“Like a cross between Jeff Buckley & James Blake"
Ethereal vocals meld with intricate beats and textured harmonies weaving worlds of soulful neo-folk tinged electronica, and gaining comparisons to James Blake, Air and Alt J. With a deep background as a classical singer unlearned and remoulded, The Woods’ is Johnny's music project focused on capturing the unique atmospherics and sounds floating around his head. His debut EP 'The Start' was crafted in 2015, gaining airplay on BBC Introducing, 6 Music and Radio Scotland. He followed this by developing his live-looping multi-instrumental live and studio set up that would allow him to communicate all these ideas to audiences, and his Summer 2018 single 'Armchair Expert' represented the first taste of The Woods 2.0, gaining support from BBC Introducing, WorldwideFM, Amazing Radio & Balamii Radio, as well as being chosen as Q Magazine/ Richer Unsigned Artist of the week and The Unsigned Guide's Artist Spotlight in Summer 2019. 2019 EP ‘Night Silk Threads’ and 2020’s EP ‘Tone Poems’ saw his cinematic style of layered soundscaping develop further, with various collaborations including with Scottish Hip Hop artist, poet and MC Butterscotch. The Woods kicks 2021 off with a bang with new single ‘Conversations We Should’ve Had’, out 15 January.
In 2019 & 2020 The Woods was invited to create a live performance at London Fashion Week to accompany US Eco Designer Jeff Garner's 'Prophetik' shows, including original works and reworkings of Scottish Folk and Classical Art Songs. This is typical of the eclectic appeal of The Woods’ live performances, mesmerising audiences as a Clash Magazine highlight at XpoNorth 2019, to playing live sets on South London’s urban music institution Balamii Radio. This year The Woods is creating the music for new feature film 'The Unreason', currently being shot and directed by award winning film maker Chris Reading.
That McFadzean is cutting such a unique path is perhaps unsurprising given his singular upbringing. Recognised as a prodigious singing talent as a young child, Johnny was plucked from his home in rural Scotland to join a world-famous choir, leading to what can only be described as several surreal experiences for a 10-year-old, touring the planet and singing in spaces including the Sydney Opera House as well as on BBC Christmas broadcasts which necessitated a cover shot for the Radio Times!
Meeting unique musicmakers like Arvo Part, Judith Weir and Peter Maxwell Davies during these years had a profound affect on Johnny, realising the sheer power of finding an authentic musical voice. It’s this freedom of expression that The Woods continues to hold so close to his heart.
NB: The moniker ‘The Woods’ is a nod to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s writings on nature and the value of someone’s work. Emerson’s texts were crucial in inspiring Johnny to make music the focal point of his life: “They kind of rewired my brain at a time I needed rewiring,” says the musician.
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