Mel Biggs debut album – From Darkness Comes Light

“It is a rare privilege to hear a musical creation as stunning as this.”
Simon Care (Banter, Albion Band, Edward II)

“FIVE STAR CHOICE! …she can stand up proudly with the folk world’s great composers.”
Folk Wales

One of the UK’s leading diatonic accordion players, Mel Biggs releases her debut album ‘From Darkness Comes Light’ on 1st October 2021.

Having created three albums with acclaimed trio Moirai (with Jo Freya and Sarah Matthews), this solo instrumental album packed full of original material sees Mel stepping out boldly in her own direction; shining a bright and positive light into the murky shadows of mental health.

Twelve tracks span a year of moods set to music, influenced by seasonal light states, nature, and ritual.

Opening with the confidence boosting ‘Dream Big‘, bathing in the glow of ‘Shivelight In Spring‘, celebrating the joy of Morris Dancing on May Day with ‘Mounthills/Coleford Jig‘, flying high over Norwegian mountains in ‘Oppland Upland‘, and closing on ‘Katy’s Theme‘, a battle with self-identity; this album shows that by finding the positives in what life throws at you, the conversation around mental health can be ultimately uplifting.

Being neuro-diverse and a visual artist, Mel encounters sensory crossover (synaesthesia) experiencing sound as abstract shapes and colours. Using audio to narrate a visual – be it memory, feeling, or place – adds great depth and intrigue to her arrangements.

Whilst rooted in English Morris and Northern European folk dance music, there are reflections of Philip Glass, Yann Tiersen, Hans Zimmer, and The Penguin Café Orchestra throughout. The diatonic accordion, with its warm expressive qualities, is Mel’s tool of choice for channelling her experiences. Accompanied by fiddle, mandolin, piano accordion, guitar, and cittern, she invites the listener to join her in this deeply personal, tangible world of sound and light, creating an immersive, almost cinematic sensory experience.

The album is available from the following places:

Quotes

“ ‘From Darkness Comes Light’ takes the listener on a wondrous, magical journey. Mel’s music is fresh, contemporary and melodious, rooted in tradition yet looking far beyond. A wonderfully skilled and sparkling debut.”
Annie Whitehead (The Penguin Café Orchestra)

“For several years I have watched Mel develop and grow as a box player and musician. Listening to ‘From Darkness Comes Light’ her first solo record, gives me great pleasure. A strong body of work beautifully crafted and recorded”
Andy Cutting (Leveret, Blowzabella, Topette!!)

“The overwhelming feeling was of someone who has carefully created, nurtured, and delivered a complete musical adventure from start to finish. I felt I was listening from inside Mel’s melodeon and her head simultaneously. The arrangements and production are exceptional… Truly a thing of beauty!!!”
Simon Care (Banter, Albion Band, Edward II)

“Filled with beautifully arranged and masterfully played tunes, this is an album rich with meaning.”
The Folk Forecast

Reviews

“One of the best button accordionists of her generation” Bright Young Folk FULL ARTICLE

“She can stand up proudly with the folk world’s great composers.” Folk Wales FULL ARTICLE

“A masterful melodeonist” At The Barrier FULL ARTICLE

“A fresh approach…a total delight!” Living Tradition FULL ARTICLE

“Stunningly inventive” Darren’s Music Blog FULL ARTICLE

“Delightful” folking.com FULL ARTICLE

Upcoming 2022 Performances

12th March SOLO joint gig with Intarsia Belper, Derbyshire TICKETS

Radio, Podcasts etc.

Stafford FM ‘What The Folk Is That?‘ featured artist interview with Gary Hazlehurst LISTEN AGAIN

‘Folk & Acoustic Show‘ on WMFO w/Alex Cumming. Ep. 1 Oct 1st FULL SHOW / EXTENDED INTERVIEW

‘Podwireless‘ with Ian Anderson. Edition 229, Sep 2021 LISTEN AGAIN

‘Thank Goodness It’s Folk’ with James Fagan & Sam Hindley. Closing the October 1st show LISTEN AGAIN

For EPK (Full album WAV/MP3 download, sleeve notes, hi-res photos) and to book interviews, please contact:

Mel Biggs Email: ku.oc.cisumsggiblemnull@lem Mobile: 07969060394

@MelBiggsMusic: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube

Image Gallery

Please note: these are all low-res images. For full-res images, please contact Mel for EPK (details above).

Artist Biography

As a Morris dancer, musician, and highly-renowned melodeon teacher, Mel is a familiar face on the UK folk scene.

In her professional career, Mel has risen from the EFDSS ‘Aspire’ program with Andy Cutting to perform with Moirai with Jo Freya (Narthen, Blowzabella, Token Women) and Sarah Matthews (Sweet Visitor Band, Intarsia), and Boxtet (with Owen Woods, Ollie King and Matt Quinn).

She has been involved in several recurrent Arts Council England funded projects. These include Jo Freya’s ‘Komposit Young Composers’ (with Annie Whitehead, Judith Weir CBE and Chris Woods), and cross-cultural theatre shows such as Priya Sundar’s ‘Morris:Natyam’ and Kate Flatt’s and Adriano Adewale’s ‘The Oss & The Ox’.

She has performed on some of the biggest UK festival stages including Sidmouth, Musicport, Shrewsbury, Dartmoor, Whitby Folk Week, Broadstairs, and street theatre festivals Imagine Watford and Out There Arts.

Album Information

PERFORMERS

Mel Biggs – diatonic accordions, vocals

Kat Biggs – piano accordion

Jon Loomes – guitar, cittern

Bridget Slater – fiddle

David Squirrell – mandolin, octave mandola

ALBUM DETAILS

Title: From Darkness Comes Light

Release Date: October 1st 2021

Artist: Mel Biggs

Label: Talking Cat Recordings

Genre: Folk/Contemporary

Format: CD and Digital

Bar Code: 5029385862534

Cat No: TCCD 2103

Engineered by Jon Loomes

Produced by Jon Loomes & Mel Biggs