Escaping in a whirlwind of cinematic folk textures and whispered honesty, Scottish singer-songwriter Tommy Ashby is back with a mighty statement in the form of his latest single, "Liar Liar," from his newly released LP, "Mantis." A totally relatable and deeply personal song, it further cements Ashby as one of the UK's most introspective and engrossing indie folk voices.
The genius of Ashby's work is that he takes the time to examine those microscopic instances of feeling that pass us by more often than not. With a PhD in Psychoacoustics, his knowledge of how we understand sound also gives his music an uncommon depth. On "Liar Liar," you can sense that sentiment. Every texture is intentional, and every pause is purposeful, so you have space to reflect and reverberate.
"Liar Liar" envelopes you in a gossamer cocoon of sound. Translucent acoustic guitar lines waft over subtle electronic flourishes, and Ashby's breathy but precise voice possesses the emotional heft of a long-suppressed truth. There's a subdued power in the song's build, as if it's tiptoeing through the emotional minefield of openness, trust, and the internal battles with ourselves we so often try to turn away from.
With early play from BBC Radio 2, BBC Scotland, and the prestigious KCRW, and through sync placements including on Netflix's Pulse forming a recognition undercurrent for "Liar Liar," the album is poised to find a wider ear than merely the indie folk faithful. The track marks a focal point for "Mantis," an album that arrived via Dance To The Radio, laden with self-produced finesse and emotional clarity.
Ashby's music story has been as relentless as it is soulful. He has toured Skinny Living and Banners and is preparing for a UK/EU headline run this November and bigger festival appearances at Between The Trees and Live At Leeds. If "Liar Liar" is anything to go by, his live renditions will be just as intimate and transcendent. With "Liar Liar," Tommy Ashby proves that even the faintest truths whispered count for the loudest echoes.
Discover Tommy Ashby on Instagram