Matilda Mann - Roxwell

The soft vocals of Matilda Mann could make even the heaviest of worries feel light as a feather, and it has never been more evident than on her debut album, ‘Roxwell’. That’s not to say it’s all lilting lyrics and mellowness, though. On ‘Roxwell’, Matilda Mann shows the vast scope of what she is capable of, creating an album that can be both formidable, flirty and earnestly sentimental.

It tracks Matilda’s journey over the last few years — the tidal wave of experiences that have made up her twenties thus far, in all their vibrant glory. All-encompassing heartache, the thrill of new love, adoration for friends and the wistful nostalgia when childhood feels like yesterday and decades ago simultaneously - each of them has their moment, coming to life with conversational, candid lyrics and the delicate indie folk guitar lines Matilda favours.

The brief choral moment of ‘Only So Far Away’ is stunning, and worlds apart from ‘Meet Cute’ and its alluring bass line. The album tries on new versions of Matilda’s artistry, angsty at times whilst tranquil at others. It’s her lyricism that ties ‘Roxwell’ together, though - conversational and candid but also empathetic and reflective, there’s a kind of peace imbuing it all regardless of the sonics.

‘Girls’ is a gut-punching ode to girlhood, and the joy and magic of growing up in tandem with someone, seeing somebody at every awkward stage and staying by their side through it all. It’s a tearful moment to close the album on, but its whispered vocals and strings feel fitting - it’s filled with the hope and love that emerges time and time again on the album. There’s a willingness to be tender and soft on ‘Roxwell’ no matter what life throws at you, and the Matilda Mann we meet at the end of it is more than ready to take that forward with her.