[ she/her ]
city: Leeds“music of absolute assurance and credibility” The Sunday Times - Breaking Act
“combines dream-pop, bedroom-pop and shoegaze in a way which is reminiscent of artists like Soccer Mommy, Snail Mail and Alvvays” DIY
“reminiscent of those golden singles by The Cure” CLASH
“charming indie pop” Brooklyn Vegan
May 1st - Bored at My Grandmas House, AKA Leeds-based Amber Strawbridge, releases new single ‘I Like What You Bring Out In Me’. It is the latest preview of debut album Show & Tell (June 7th / CLUE Records (The Wedding Present, Van Houten, YOWL) / EMI North (Nadine Shah)).
Reminiscent of artists like Soccer Mommy, Snail Mail, and Alvvays, Amber’s ability to alchemise the wistful and the hopeful into expansive, anthemic indie moments is on full show on ‘I Like What You Bring Out In Me’. The production balances airy, silken elements with a distorted punch, atop which Amber explores MUNA- esque sapphic euphoria - as she details:
“This song is about all the gross cringey things that come along with being in love. It’s about the realisation of someone bringing out the best in you and making you feel confident in yourself at all times, something that I hadn’t really ever experienced prior to being with my girlfriend.”
On her debut album, Bored at My Grandmas House explores a broad range of heavy topics including anxiety, friendship, introspection, love, human greed, mental health, loss and empathy (or a lack of it) in the world. Despite the breadth of themes covered, each track deals with the weight of the subject with real conviction, while not losing any of Amber’s trademark pop sensibilities. She elaborates a little more on the thematic process:
“The main overall theme of this album is connection. Connection with myself, connection with the world and connection to the people around me who I love. This album is for me first and foremost and was a way for me to internally process.
The origin of these tracks all stem from me wanting to understand these connections and process my emotions surrounding them. The album covers topics such as the power of queer love, humanity and its ‘delusions of grandeur’, reflection and purpose.
It would be unwise to say that I haven’t developed and changed a lot since my EP. I’ve experienced more, questioned more, felt more and allowed myself to be vulnerable more - which I hope translates throughout the Album.”
Amber has received support and coverage from The Sunday Times (Breaking Act), DIY, Dork, Clash, Brooklyn, Vegan, Under The Radar, Rough Trade, BBC Radio 1, BBC 6Music, Rough Trade and more in the past, and has played Glastonbury, BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, Swn Festival, Standon Calling, Deer Shed (main stage) and more.
Originally from Cumbria but now based in Leeds, Amber began recording music in 2017 using garageband on her phone; she updated her bedroom set-up after saving up to buy a laptop and Logic Pro. After a couple of years of self taught production and recording Amber began working with Clue Records, releasing her debut EP 'Sometimes I Forget You're Human Too' which gained critical acclaim and sold out two pressings all before Amber had ever played a single gig.
Amber wrote and recorded all the demos for her debut album in her bedroom, before taking them to The Nave studio where she worked with Alex Greaves to give them a studio twist, allowing them to fulfil their rightful potential.
out on June 14, 2024
via Clue Records / EMI North
out on March 27, 2024
via Clue Records / EMI North
out on February 21, 2024
via Clue Records / EMI North
out on November 22, 2023
via Clue Records
out on February 22, 2022
via Clue Records
out on May 14, 2021
via Come Play With Me