Strongroom Studios in Shoreditch served as the recording location for Proud of My Postcode, Longboat’s forthcoming all-electronic album. Engineered by Will Davies and scheduled for release at the end of September, the record turns its attention to Britain, London and the everyday experiences that have caught its songwriter’s imagination.
Longboat was formed in Seattle in 2011 and is led by its founding musician, whose background includes jazz tenor saxophone and songwriting. Although frequently a solo operation in the studio, the project can expand according to the needs of the music. Its wider range of collaborators can include live rock and jazz musicians alongside strings, horns and backing singers. For this release, the chosen format is entirely electronic.
The album’s subject matter moves between Britain’s past and present, shaped by an American perspective and a growing affection for the country. Its focus is not limited to landmarks or major historical events. “I particularly like the way people celebrate the mundane here between various and sundry political and economic crises,” Longboat’s founder says. Those ordinary habits and moments sit alongside history as sources for his observational songwriting.
Proud of My Postcode is the 37th album in a catalogue built through sustained writing and recording. Longboat’s founder has written more than 500 songs and recorded 39 albums overall. This forthcoming release brings that ongoing creative practice into focus around a particular subject: his personal relationship with Britain and the details of life that make it distinctive to him.