Rae Isla
Rae Isla was on top form for her first headline London show and the room was completely sold out a few weeks beforehand. She opened with Miles and Miles, the first track from her New Frontier album. Travel in all of its aspects is a key theme throughout Rae’s work and no wonder, as she travels extensively around America and beyond. Everywhere she goes she acquires new fans and followers, and I spotted a few people wearing her T-shirts in the crowd.
I think you’re my destiny
I took a drive out west
Drove for miles and miles
And miles and miles, endlessly
Stood on the canyon’s edge
Drew my first breath
And I think I can see what you see in me
Aftermath was up next, a song I have grown to love. There’s a demo on streaming but it’s otherwise quite a rare track. There were a few unreleased ones including Lost in Oasis and Casually. All the fan favourites were there as well including Years Beers Her Tears which was the first Rae Isla song I ever heard and still play every week, Traveling On, the tragicomedy of What If I Die Flying Over Oklahoma? and (of course) Stones, homage to Rae’s rock collection. There were more than a few rock collectors in the audience who made themselves known, after some encouragement, as Rae introduced her hobby. Her rocks even have their own Instagram account.
Oh stones carry them home
Weary are my bones since I’ve been gone
Dark is the day when you’ve got nothing left to say
I’ve got a message for you babe, I’m coming home
Rae was accompanied by a multi-instrumentalist wizard and long-time friend, David Salonen, who had just flown in from Seattle. His wide variety of instruments became a running joke through the night. From memory there was a fiddle, a double bass and maybe a couple of guitars. He promised to learn the cello for next time!
They had to sing Waiting, of course, with us all standing in a venue called The Waiting Room in Stoke Newington. It’s below the Three Crowns pubs, quite well-hidden. ‘If you have to die every night to be with me, I know you will.’ There’s a sadness in many of Rae’s songs but she delivers them all so authentically and with such commitment that I even find the sad ones uplifting. They all develop and expand the more you listen. She’s building an audience who value the analog, nature and travel.
A new song called Lottery has become one of my favourites live but has not been released quite yet. It really shows off Rae’s vocal range and is extremely fun. The night ended with all six minutes of the title track from her last album, New Frontier. The new one will be out in 2027.
It’s a proper immersive experience, seeing Rae Isla live. I was lucky enough to see her in Chesham back in March playing solo in a smaller venue, and both shows really pulled us all closer to her as she sang and told her stories from the road. The audience literally stepped forwards as the show progressed, until we were all pressed up at the front. She’s funny with a dry wit (one reason she is so popular in England!) and has the gift of converting people into lifelong friends. Another night to remember, and she promised even more musicians next time.
Rae is active on social media, especially TikTok and Instagram, and you can visit her website here. You can buy her music on Bandcamp or stream in all the usual places.
Moy Cohen
Moy Cohen met Rae Isla when they were both travelling in Mexico around five years ago and they kept in touch. He described it as a full-circle moment for them both to be sharing a stage here in London, so many thousands of miles later.
Moy has also been a pick of the week on BBC Introducing in the west of England and is based near Bristol. He instantly won over the audience with his storytelling songs based in nostalgic memories of a family dog and his grandfather, among other topics. He played several songs from his brand-new EP, A Brief Escape, and one called Benevolent stood out for me. Childhood Photographs also stood out, from 2024, and he showcased some upcoming unreleased songs. There was a lovely one about living every day twice, sort of a more optimistic Groundhog Day.
And though it’s summer on the outside
On the inside
I’m emotionally a landslide
And though, and though I try to lock up my mind
It’s not the time
To move my life
So, I won’t change
Like childhood photographs I’ll stay the same
You can follow Moy Cohen on Instagram. His debut EP A Brief Escape is here.
Parts & Spares
P&S opened the night brilliantly with an instantly catchy song called Apple Yard. It builds and develops beautifully from a gentle start and showcases their range. The harmonies gradually layered on for a really stunning finish. They’re a London-based indie folk trio who describe themselves succinctly like this: ‘Oversharing with my dad and my girlfriend.’
Some of their inspiration comes from the south-west. Singing about apples and cider, shooting videos on the coast and recording songs in a Dorset cottage. The addition of a harmonium on stage brought their unique sound to life. I really warmed to this trio who soldiered on through tonsilitis, although it did not affect the performance.
And I’ll see you down at the apple yard
Now the sugar’s all turned to alcohol
Wish away your suffering
Telling everybody that your luck’s come in
You forgot my name again
Something’s just slipping down the ranks
Discover more about Parts & Spares on their website. You can hear their EP Windfalls here. Note: they also have a song about stones!
