I'll be at Morocco Bound bookshop this Thursday 24th October reading with the beautiful Mara Simpson who has (unbelieveably) written an album in response to my poems about mothering and the deep time of our landscape.
Mara Simpson is an award-winning film composer, multi- instrumentalist, performing artist and songwriter. Her critically acclaimed work seamlessly blends electronic, acoustic and orchestral instruments, exploring her love for tape delays, analogue synths and field recordings.
Mara’s become known for her dynamic live show and genre-defying musical works including scores for the Apple TV series SILO and magical-realist film Blue Hour, as well as her collaborations with Hidden Orchestra, Cerys Matthews, Poppy Ackroyd, and Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres. Alongside her compositional and collaborative work, Mara has released two full-length studio albums, which have garnered support from the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio 3 Unclassified with Elizabeth Alker and BBC Radio Scotland with Roddy Hart.
Inspired by our shared love of outdoor swimming and a fascination with ancient matriarchal rites performed on the banks of our local waterways, we’ve been weaving in and out of one another’s work for over a year now.
Here’s a taste - Mara’s ‘Safe Passage,’ written in response to my poem of the same name below.
JLM Morton
ritual for safe passage through childbirth
before dawn
the expectant mothers creep
from their houses in the suburbs
where water still seeps up
t
a
r
m
a
through the c
trickles of it, glistening
in the dark
they drop their votive p
i
n
s
through the cracks at the kerbside
hear them drop – ting!
onto millions, the millions heaped
before them, into the springs
Morocco Bound is a legendary venue, well worth a visit and super close to London Bridge. If you love synths, drums, vocals and words, come through!
We'd really love to see you there x
ps. for Stroudies, we're playing live at the Sanctuary, Long Table 29th November too!