Elder Island

Biography

Elder Island is a British electronic music trio formed in Bristol, consisting of vocalist and cellist Katy Sargent, bassist and beat engineer Luke Thornton, and guitarist and synth virtuoso David Havard. The members met during their university studies in fine art, photography, and graphic design, with Luke and David having known each other since childhood, starting music together at age 16. They began making music as a hobby in shared houses, influenced by Bristol's vibrant genre-splicing scene, initially experimenting with 'experimental folk music' using basic equipment like a cheap microphone, GarageBand, a second-hand cello, and random instruments before incorporating electronic elements.

Formed around 2014 as an experiment, the band released their eponymous debut EP that year, featuring ambient soundscapes of field recordings, loops, and percussive elements. Their 2016 EP 'Seeds In Sand' marked a shift to a more cohesive dance-influenced sound. The debut album 'The Omnitone Collection' arrived in 2019 as an integrated concept album, blending electronica, house, pop, neo-soul, poetic lyricism, and unfamiliar instruments over synth-heavy beats. They have toured extensively, selling out shows in venues like New York's Bowery Ballroom, LA's El Rey Theater, London's Roundhouse and Printworks, and performing at festivals like Lightning In A Bottle, with continued activity post-pandemic including UK and North American tours.

Elder Island's style defies genre, prioritizing organic collaboration, improvisation, and themes drawn from memory, myth, biology, news, and television, refined through shared artistic backgrounds. Their DIY ethos and close friendship maintain a focus on fun and experimentation, resulting in shapeshifting songs where textures and crypticism are central.

Fun Facts

• Luke Thornton started staying with the band by sleeping in a kitchen alcove while they were university students in Bristol.
• The trio began with 'experimental folk music' using a cheap Behringer B-1 microphone, GarageBand, a second-hand cello, and random collected instruments before going electronic.
• Their debut album 'The Omnitone Collection' (2019) was created as an 'integrated concept' through intensive live improvised sessions, finishing just before the pandemic.
• Bristol's music scene and vinyl collecting habit heavily shaped their early jams and creative process.

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Luke Thornton - Childhood friend and bandmate since age 3, started making music together at 16; bassist and beat engineer (All releases including debut EP (2014), Seeds In Sand (2016), The Omnitone Collection (2019)) [2000s-present]
• David Havard - Childhood friend of Luke and bandmate; guitarist and synth virtuoso (All releases including debut EP (2014), Seeds In Sand (2016), The Omnitone Collection (2019)) [2000s-present]
• Katy Sargent - Vocalist, cellist, and bandmate met at university in Bristol through shared houses (All releases including debut EP (2014), Seeds In Sand (2016), The Omnitone Collection (2019)) [2010s-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz