Introducing… Private Cathedral

Private Cathedral are a Transatlantic art-pop duo for fans of the weirder side of chamber pop. Made up of multi-instrumentalists Wendy Spitzer and Genevieve Dawson, they’ve brought together a rootsy, homely sound with pianos, organs, bass, synths and an English horn for good measure. They cite My Brightest Diamond, Tune-Yards, and Cate Le Bon as influences. Think artistic arrangements with bursts of raw emotion.

Each of their singles to date has a different tone, but I’ve chosen their second single, ‘Never Underestimate’, to showcase the duo’s talents. It is the closing track from their forthcoming self-titled debut album, which is released tomorrow (5th May). So far, it is the softest track released to date, and I enjoyed the clean serenity of it. There is an uplifting, hopeful, mildly sassy undertone that I appreciate. Integrating synth woodwind gives it a ’60s rock retro kick, too. The other lead singles, ‘Excavation’ and ‘Braille Upon Your Face’, lean more into the baroque/cabaret side of chamber pop, with an Amanda Palmer flair.

Private Cathedral is available to buy on Bandcamp. The music video for the single ‘Never Underestimate’ features lots of sea swimming and photo filters, and fits the vibe perfectly. For more information, follow Private Cathedral on Instagram.