Jonny Woolnough - Mayurqa

Album - New. Release Date: 20/01/22. White vinyl

Genre: Indie / Alternative

Jonny Woolnough's debut album ‘Mayurqa’ is out now on Mönch Records, with coloured vinyl released January 20th.

"Firstly momentous pop; strident acoustic guitar signals dense, swirling soundscapes over which his voice simply floats" (5* R&R Mag)

"He has this incredible world-building ability to pull you into his spiritually shimmering aesthetic, as you find yourself swept away within its bright and audacious tones" (Music Crowns)

‘Mayurqa’ announces the warm and enticing direction we have become accustomed to from the glittering frontman through his recent singles. With its rich and shimmering production layered against his magnificent and distinct vocal performance, the album delivers you to a vivid and captivating atmosphere.

Originally written and conceived whilst living between mainland Spain and Palma De Mallorca during 2018/19, ‘Mayurqa’ documents a self discovery and emotional rebuilding of sorts. Jonny took an indefinite break from making music after forming the critically acclaimed bands Tomartyrs and The Bazaars, and as touring guitarist for Finley Quaye. ‘Mayurqa’ constantly hints at its place of conception, yet draws its deft, classic beauty from Woolnough's obvious deep pallet of influence.

Having studied literature at university, thefull-length sees him take regular influence from his literary favourites, regularly paying homage to them in the track titles. The island of Mallorca also played a large part in inspiring his new collection, being the home to any number of literary and musical figures from writer Robert Graves and George Sand to Chopin and Listz.

With producer Tom Orrell at the helm the songs took on an exciting, sparse immediacy. Each song was briefly routined before pressing record and the song captured. Under Orrell’s forensic direction, ‘The Natural’, a poem of visceral personal evocation and truth set to a musical Spanish vista bleeds seamlessly into the spiritual mantra of ‘The Earth From Above’. Orrell embraced all this, pushed it, and understood it.

"Marrying his soft and supple voice against a smooth and laid-back production, shimmering with bright and lofty textures at every turn, it feels like he is wooing us with every chord and verse" (Music News)

It was only when Woolnough finished the record and put the songs together, he realised how desperate his life and mental state had become. ‘Mayurqa’ was effectively a love letter to the Island and the country that had housed him back to health describing the songs and the album as “a map out of despair into the light, focused through the lens and legend of Spain’s deep beauty and all its contradictions”.

In his Edificio Fenix apartment in Mallorca, Woolnough faced only himself and fought that toughest of life battles, the acceptance of one’s truth. “For me that is that I am an artist, I am a writer. Anything else is to dishonour the choice that was made for me aside of my control.”