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Introducing UK alt-pop outfit Stealing Sheep

Posted 11/20/2015

It’s with pleasure that we introduce UK alt-pop outfit Stealing Sheep as the latest addition to our roster.

Hailing from Liverpool, England, Stealing Sheep have been described as an unanticipated ‘pagan pop revival’. Since the release of their debut album ‘Into the Diamond Sun’, they’ve toured as guests of Postal Service and Alt-J, opened for St.Vincent in Paris, performed the songs of David Lynch at the Barbican and collaborated with the Radiophonic Workshop on an original soundtrack to the cult 70’s science fiction film ‘La Planete Sauvage’.

For their second album ‘Not Real’, they have concentrated on developing the sonic aesthetic of their music. “We were more focused about what we are trying to do. Everything has a reason for being there.” They’ve experimented with tuned percussion, programmed beats, trigger samples and worked with effected synths, utilising the guitar and lap steel more sparingly and introducing more processed sounds. They’ve drawn inspiration from 50’s exotica, electronic music and 80’s pop and been influenced by the likes of Grace Jones, Maya Deren, Eden Ahbez, Delia Derbyshire, Moon Dog and John Carpenter.

Their visual representation is highly important to the band, all of whom have art backgrounds. “We like to be involved in all the aspects of the presentation because it’s symbiotic to the music.” The colourful and organic album cover, a collaboration between photographer Charlotte Rutherford and collage artist Louise Mason, shows their confident image for this record: as they tread the lines of surreal pop. Follow them on a hypnagogic journey as they sing: “listen to yourself and look within”.

The release of ‘Not Real’ in April 2015 was met with critical acclaim in the UK and Europe and a Summer of festivals followed including a stunning set at Glastonbury. In August they were hand picked by David Byrne to play the prestigious Meltdown Festival on London’s Southbank. Following a debut US trip to CMJ, where the band were acclaimed breakthrough act by Brooklyn Vegan and The Guardian, the band rounded off the year with tours in the UK and Europe alongside Everything Everything and Django Django. These tours coincided with “Apparition” the 3rd single from ‘Not Real’ following it’s two predecessors by going straight onto the influential BBC Radio 6 Music playlist.

Keep your eye on Stealing Sheep’s artist page for all upcoming US tour dates and news.