MINT FIELD - Jardin de la Paz [Tapetown Sessions]

In addition to this clip of Mint Field performing 'Jardin de la Paz' as part of Tapedown Sessions, you can also watch their full set from Highland Park Ebell Club on 5/1/2019 here.

Fantasy Festival number 3: The Lineup

Julia Bardo: This young musician moved from Brescia in Italy to Manchester three years ago and after playing as part of Working Men's Club for a bit, is now pursuing a solo career. You can read a really good interview with Julia over on the Fred Perry website, and find out more about her here. 

Biig Piig: One of The Guardian's 'One To Watch' from late last year, and a favourite of 6Music, Biig Piig is the pseudonym of Irish musician Jess Smyth. You can find her on Insta and listen to her on Soundcloud.  

Mint Field: 2020 sees Mexican band Mint Field return with a changed lineup as they begin the build up to their much anticipated second album. You can find out more at their Bandcamp page. 

Sui Zhen: Electronic artist Sui Zhen began her career in Japan in 2016 but is now based in Melbourne, Australia. Last years album Losing, Linda was a understated classic. You can find out more over at her website. 

Jenny Hval: Experimental Norwegian artist Jenny Hval has built up a cult following over the past five years or so, and has collaborated with a number of other artists, including Kelly Lee Owens. You can access her website here. 

Ibeyi: French-Cuban sisters Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz make sophisticated and intricate music in English and Yoruba, a Nigerian dialect. As well as featuring in Amy Raphael's recent excellent book of interviews with female musicians, A Seat At The Table, there's also a good introductory interview with them here. 

Rosalía: Catalan global popstar Rosalia Vila Tobella has only been with us a few years, but she is going from strength to strength, steadily climbing the live circuit and performing in bigger and bigger venues, turning in stirring performances at every award ceremony going, and generally bossing it. Now is her moment. 

Mint Field - "Natural" (Official Video)

There have been a number of lineup changes within Mint Field since they emerged in late 2017 with the gorgeously atmospheric 'Ojos En El Carro'. It looked for a while like they might go down a psych route but 'Natural' represents a return to dreamy ethereal post rock that is most welcome.

Songs of the year: Number 7

We started 2018 with Mint Field's bewitching Sophia Coppola esque video for 'Ojos En El Carro', and it's remained a favourite of mine throughout the year. There's a dreamy quality to the post rock soundscape they create here, and the soaring vocals perfectly compliment the thrash of the guitars. It is beautiful.

Mint Field - "Quiero Otoño De Nuevo" (Official Video)

A second teaser track from the forthcoming debut album Pasar De Las Luces, which is due out on February 23rd on Innovative Leisure.

The band are also touring throughout February, March and April.

In their native Mexico they will be playing Departamento in Mexico City on February 22nd and their home town of Tijuana at the Black Box on February 23rd.

They then have four UK dates:

Leeds Headrow House on February 26th

Glasgow Broadcast on February 27th

Salford Eagle Inn on February 28th

London Shacklewell Arms on March 1st

After that they have more European dates, firstly two in the Netherlands, Groningen (Vera) on March 3rd and Amsterdam (Paradiso) on March 4th.

Then Jena in Germany at the Glashaus on March 6th, over to the Czech Republic to play in Prague at Underdogs Ballroom on March 7th, back to Germany on March 8th to play in Berlin at Loophole, then off to France for their Paris gig at Espace B on March 10th.

They have a series of US dates after that, and then they're back in Mexico City at Ceremonia on April 7th.

The US dates are:

South by South West, March 13th-18th
Santa Fe Rufina Tap room on March 20th
Denver at the Rufina Tap Room on March 21st
Seattle at Vera Project on March 25th
Portland Liquor Store on March 26th
San Francisco Cafe Du Nord on March 29th
Los Angeles Resident on March 30th
San Diego Blonde Bar on April 1st.

It's a helluva schedule I must say...

Mint Field - "Ojos En El Carro" (Official Video)

This is just gorgeous, both sonically and visually. Like a particularly luminous, wistful and euphoric branch of post rock with a video that looks like the work of a young Sofia Coppola.

Mint Field are Estrella Sanchez (vocals and guitar) and Amor Amezcua (drums and synths) who are both 21 and from Tijuana, and this is their current single, a taster from their debut album Pasar De Las Luces, which is due out on February 23rd.

Can't wait on the strength of this...