October 2nd marks the release of ‘This Road’ – the debut LP by one-to-watch Denise Sherwood, which features writing, production and instrumental contributions from Adrian Sherwood, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Mala, Mark Stewart, Skip McDonald and Doug Wimbish. In addition to this extended family who came together to help her talent flourish, the album also features drums by the late Style Scott, who the singer lovingly recalls as my “my beautiful uncle.”

New single ‘Let Me In’ is “about several people I felt disconnected to at the time, but really wanted a closeness with” says Sherwood. The blunted hip hop beats recall Portishead, but with lush strings and a solo cello adding a strange vaudevillian atmosphere.

Portraying dark themes and damaged characters through an empathetic filter of bittersweet optimism, ‘This Road’ is a work of contrasts, which musically matches the mixed emotions felt in life. Bass pressure, contemporary club beats, nourishing roots music, sumptuous instrumentation and accessible, pop-schooled melodicism are woven together by her soothing but heavy-hearted voice, which is perfectly matured and full of depth.

Saturated in vibes and an ingrained cognitive understanding of recording, ‘This Road’ is in part the product of childhood/teenage osmosis spent imbibing the sounds at her father Adrian Sherwood’s On-U Studios. The impressionable youth gained an unparalleled education in music and also human nature, living in a house/studio where Lee Perry, Neneh Cherry, Jah Wobble, Big Youth, Little Annie, Style Scott, Tackhead, Bim Sherman and countless more made tracks. 

Coming downstairs from her teenage bedroom and straight into the studio, her first session was at 13, when she recorded backing vocals for Bedlam A Go-Go. At 15 she sang BVs for Sinéad O’Connor live, and soon after did the same on Primal Scream and Lee Perry records, also singing with her Dad when he supported Blur.

In her late teens Denise was asked to join The Slits, and The Pogues touring band by McGowan himself, but decided a change of lifestyle was in order, opting for university instead. Following her degree and a few years spent exploring the world, our protagonist became a mother, before returning full circle to her spiritual home in sound.

Like an epic coming-of-age movie focussing on Denise’s part in the ongoing On-U chronicles –  charting her changing roles as daughter, musician, mother, lover and more – it’s little wonder ‘This Road’ is both contemporary and timeless, spanning time like a family tree.

(source: press release)