Bonnie Kemplay has returned with ‘Big Machine’ after time away and a major reset
Her first release in three years follows a lengthy recovery from injury.
Three years on from debut EP 'running out of things to say, running out of things to do', Bonnie Kemplay has returned with 'Big Machine', released through Dirty Hit.
The Scotland-born, London-based artist spent much of the period between releases recovering from a long-term arm injury that kept her away from guitar, an instrument in which she is classically trained. That stretch also brought with it a broader reassessment of who she is as both a person and a creative. "When I released my first EP, my artist identity was deeply intertwined with who I was," she says. "Since then, I've discovered who I am beyond music."
Now 24, Kemplay's new work draws on a wider pool of influences, counting Allegra Krieger, Wilco, Big Thief and German Error Message among them. Rather than centring on romantic relationships, the songwriting turns its attention towards friendships, family and formative memories, all delivered over nostalgic, finger-picked guitar and restrained production.
Speaking about the track, Kemplay says: "I like storytelling and trying to capture a feeling or a moment. A lot of these songs come from conversations and shared experiences. I wrote 'Big Machine' shortly after moving to London. It's about being swept into a new life, running on autopilot, and the helplessness and overwhelm of watching the world unravel on your phone."