Since dropping their debut single in 2020, Brighton-based duo PELA have been on the rise with their hypnotic music.
Spending the last year hidden away beside the sea and sharing two single releases, the pairing can now unveil their highly anticipated debut EP ‘Little Ceremonies’ – a collection of tracks that truly speak to their incredible talents.
As masters of spacious alt-pop, previous singles ‘Tell Me’ and ‘Heavy’ – both of which were co-written with Liz Lawrence.
The two previous singles display PELA’s sublime orchestration.
With Hannah Coombes‘ caramel-soft vocals tenderly layered over Olly Shelton‘s textured production, the duo blend together with an impressive ease.
With delicate piano melodies on the featherweight ‘holy / wholly’, the pair return to their atmospheric notions on ‘I hope you are Happy’.
Constructing a calming soundscape of soothing electronics and sleek sax, it’s a moment of meditative bliss.
While on title track ‘Little Ceremonies’, the combination of hazy guitar lines and glacial harmonies produce a single built with percussive melancholy.
Echoing this ethereality within the track’s celestial vocals and magical tones, it’s an elegant EP closer.
PELA tell us more: “Little Ceremonies is the title track of the EP and is in many ways our favourite song on it.
It’s about how making everyday acts ceremonial and precious can be a way to find joy, peace and solace from anxiety and pain.”
Speaking about their debut EP, PELA says: “This is our debut EP and our first time bringing a body of work together that is connected.
‘Tell Me’ and ‘Heavy’ confront frustration and anxiety, both personal and political and we really expanded the scope of our sound with these – co-writing both with Liz Lawrence and bringing other musicians on board too.
The three other songs on the EP – ‘holy / wholly’, ‘I hope you are Happy’ and ‘Little Ceremonies’ – were a way to transform those feelings.”
“The EP represents a period of transition and change for us, moving out of London – where we met and both lived for years – down to Brighton.
But also, this EP is a bridge between where our music was and where it is going. Sonically, you can hear this sense of transition throughout the EP, with the introduction of different sounds and elements of vocal improvisation.
We have our EP launch show downstairs at Komedia on Thursday 16th June 2022 and we’re so excited to play the EP in full.”
‘Little Ceremonies’ is testament to PELA’s commitment to producing and releasing only their finest work, and this EP promises to inspire, comfort and even confide in those who take the time to indulge their senses into the effortlessly heavenly sounds of Hannah and Olly.
Firstly beginning as a studio project in 2019, the undeniably magical working relationship between the pair has since blossomed into an exciting trajectory.
Finding support already in the likes of Earmilk, Notion, 1883 Magazine, Rolling Stone France, Spotify editorial playlists and more, plus radio support from BBC Radio 1 and Radio X, PELA’s ongoing collection of support is proving more impressive with each release.
Also being labelled as HMV’s Next Big Thing, PELA’s future remains a promising one and with live shows already locked in for the summer, their strength as an unmissable live act will attract audiences in their thousands.
