“Moving, haunting and mysterious tracks.” Andrew Marston, BBC Introducing – Hereford and Worcester, on Fifteen Lions
Fifteen Lions is the solo project of singer, songwriter and musician, Stuart Fiddes. Picking up plaudits from BBC Introducing for his synth and guitar work following a live BBC ‘In Session’, the debut EP from Fifteen Lions (So Serene) was released in 2018. That release is now being followed up by The Picture House, the first full-length album from Fifteen Lions.
Co-produced by acclaimed recording artist and noted Davie Bowie collaborator, Gerry Leonard, the album will be released on 1st March 2023.
Cinematic strings meld with layered synths and melodic guitars to create songs that hint at Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears and Orlando Weeks but are delivered with an original identity. A body of work with a genesis of an imagined film soundtrack, the songs on The Picture House album brim with sometimes raw honesty about the human condition.
Stuart Fiddes: “It’s called The Picture House because in the original genesis of it I had in mind a soundtrack for an unmade movie. I originally envisaged this dark story of an anti-Bond-type figure, and the rest of the album developed from there.”
Written and recorded in the UK by Fiddes, the album was produced, mixed , mastered and polished in the US by Gerry Leonard. A renowned recording artist and guitarist in his own right, performing as Spooky Ghost, as well as David Bowie’s guitarist on three albums, the list of Leonard’s production collaborations include Suzanne Vega, Rufus Wainwright and many more.
Stuart Fiddes: “I always tend to start on guitar, exploring ideas and getting the bare bones of songs and then building the strings and synths. I had no fixed idea of how the album was going to turn out but I spoke with Tom Wilcox of Maniac Squat Records and he suggested getting Gerry Leonard on board. The chance to work with someone of Gerry’s skills was incredible and the experience was fantastic. Gerry taught me the art of subtlety and using textures in the music. Sometimes less is more.”
Co-producer, Gerry Leonard, adds: “There is nothing quite as unique as a homemade record and Stuart’s Picture House album is a real gem in this regard. The album feels like a long lost friend who shows up and makes you wonder why you didn’t spend more time with them. A damm fine record.”
Fifteen Lions will join the Lust For Life UK Tour (featuring Glen Matlock, Clem Burke and Katie Puckrik) at the Bristol Exchange on 28th February, followed by the official album launch on 1st March at the iconic 100 Club in London’s Soho. Fiddes adds: “Supporting the band on this tour will be brilliant. I’ve been on a fair few things with Kevin Armstrong before and you’ve got Katie Puckrik and Luis Correia and Florence Sabeva. And obviously you’ve got legends like Clem Burke and Glen Matlock so it’s going to be an incredible thing to be part of. I can’t wait.”
About Fifteen Lions:
The alter-ego of singer, songwriter and musician, Stuart Fiddes, since debuting in 2016, live appearances have seen Fifteen Lions at UK festivals, legendary London venues such as The Water Rats and across the Atlantic in NYC. BBC Introducing described the songs as ‘haunting’ following a live BBC ‘In Session’. Multiple radio plays followed the release of 2018 EP So Serene recorded with Paul Cuddeford (Holy Holy, Bob Geldof). The Fifteen Lions sound has grown into the character you will find today on the forthcoming debut album release The Picture House. Two tracks from the album, ‘Throw It Away’ and ‘One For The Demon’, were released in January as a double A-side single have already been picking up airplay on both the BBC and independent stations.
The Picture House album is released by Maniac Squat Records on CD and all the main digital platforms on 1st March 2023. Streaming links: https://orcd.co/picturehouse
Media enquiries: Darren Johnson +44 (0)7799 731 682 darrenjohnson@crowfliescommunications.com
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Crowflies Communications: Darren Johnson Music PR 