Laura Cannell Explores DIY Creativity and Her New Video Featuring the Ancient Sutton Hoo Lyre
Unearthing Echoes of the Past: Laura Cannell’s LYRELYRELYRE
In the sprawling landscape of experimental music, few albums capture the essence of history intertwined with innovation like Laura Cannell’s upcoming release, LYRELYRELYRE. Set to release on May 30, 2025, this bold exploration features the haunting sounds of the bass recorder and crumhorn, alongside a replica of an instrument from the iconic Sutton Hoo burial, dating back to the 7th century. Notably, Paddy Clarke of The Quietus has heralded the album as a journey through time, asserting, “listening to the chasmic reverberations on LYRELYRELYRE, it’s easy to imagine them echoing all the way back to the seventh century and beyond.”
A Journey Through Time and Texture
Cannell’s creative vision for this album is both ambitious and deeply personal. As she recounts her journey, the initial challenge lay in mastering the lyre, a six-stringed instrument that demands a shift in technique from her previous work with a 12-string lap harp. “I had to change my position and techniques… and learn a new instrument,” she recalls, emphasizing the radical shift in her musical approach.
Delving deep into the potential of this age-old instrument, she eschews traditional melodies. Instead, Cannell opts for improvisation that breathes life into the lyre, framing it not as an accompaniment but as a standalone force. “I wanted to set it free,” she says, her voice imbued with passion. “I pressed record over several days and improvised, leaning into the textures, tones, and feelings it produced.”
Harnessing the Voice of the Ancients
Drawing upon the lyre’s storied past—its role in the lives of Anglo-Saxon poets and musicians—Cannell’s work becomes a bridge connecting the present with the echoes of yesteryear. With each track, she invites listeners to immerse themselves in a soundscape rich with history and emotion. “There is no set tuning,” she explains, “so you can create multiple worlds to sink into.” This freedom allows her to explore a vast range of aural landscapes, evoking the energy of the countryside that surrounds her native Suffolk.
The album resonates not only with Cannell’s personal journey but also with a collective history, a reflection of the themes of womanhood and power present in the narratives of the past—especially in her evocative video for “A Ship Sunk In Earth.”
A Celebration of Womanhood
The visual accompaniment to the album delves into the mythos surrounding the Sutton Hoo burial, focusing on the unnamed queen who curated her king’s final resting place. Cannell beautifully reconstructs this narrative, invoking a sense of empowerment: “I wanted to represent the vision, strength, and power of a woman at the crossover from Paganism into Christianity in the seventh century.” The video features women artistically collaborating to create a new ritual, a symbolic homage to the Queen’s legacy.
DIY Ethos: A Path to Authenticity
At the core of Cannell’s artistry lies a staunch DIY ethos. “I have always had a massive sense of not fitting in,” she reflects. “Making music is like creating a painting; I want to choose the size of canvas, the materials, the colors, and techniques myself.” It’s this determination that has allowed her to carve a unique space within the music landscape—teaching herself recording, mixing, and editing without adhering to conventional norms.
With LYRELYRELYRE, Laura Cannell invites listeners to traverse the boundaries of time, connecting with an ancient past that still resonates in the present. The album isn’t just a musical endeavor; it’s a testament to the enduring power of sound and the indelible mark of history on the creative spirit.
As we await its release, Cannell’s sounds promise to transport us to a landscape where ancient whispers meet modern improvisation, urging us all to listen closely and feel deeply—just as the lyre itself once sang to the shores of a bygone era.
Preorder LYRELYRELYRE on Bandcamp here.
