Bess Atwell

With her recent singles "Something Now", "Fan Favourite" and "Release Myself" reminding us that she is one of the most enchanting artists around, Brighton-based artist Bess Atwell has now released her eagerly-awaited new album 'Light Sleeper' alongside the emotive new offering "I Am Awake".

Produced by The National's Aaron Dessner (Taylor Swift, Ben Howard, Sharon Van Etten, Ed Sheeran), 'Light Sleeper' looks to continue the warm and effervescent aesthetic Bess Atwell has been cultivating for herself in recent years. The record also features additional instrumentation throughout from Dessner himself, alongside Big Thief's James Krivchenia, Beirut's Ben Lanz, and frequent Sufjan Stevens-collaborator James McAlister.

The record's focus track "I Am Awake" highlights what has made this release such an eagerly-awaited offering. Her warm and subtle presence heightened by some beautifully endearing songwriting, Bess Atwell continues to shine as one of the more passionate artists in the world right now.

Speaking about 'Light Sleeper', she said, "My album 'Light Sleeper' is out! I've never been so excited to share something I've made. I have too much to say that it's hard to say anything at all. This album records a difficult and reflective time in my life. So much has changed over the last couple of years and I've learnt and unlearned an awful lot. It's really all in the music if you listen carefully. I guess that's why us songwriters write? So we don't have to say anything at all. But of course I will.

"Light Sleeper is all about learning to be brave. While writing the album, I was realising that somewhere along the line I had become very afraid of feeling and I wanted to find the courage to face what it was I was so scared of, to face myself. The record spans a break up, a new love, mental health crises, the prelude to a diagnosis that would help me better understand myself - forgive myself. It faces harsh realities of familial history and the struggle of loving people who are in pain. But with all of this, really, the album aims to celebrate the joy of feeling, feeling it all, and trusting that it won't break you."

Fresh from supporting Ed Sheeran at the Royal Albert Hall, Atwell will play a series of intimate live shows in June including a sold-out London's Union Chapel, Bristol's Thekla, and Manchester's converted cinema venue Band On The Wall. These intimate surroundings should prove the ideal match for these exposing, quietly fearless songs of self-exploration.  These shows will be followed by support slots with The National in June & July and a newly announced UK headline tour in support of the album release, including a run of dates in October and London's KOKO in February '25. In support of the release and ahead of the tour she will do a run of in-store events. Full list of live dates below.