SELK. (official page)

SELK, is the alt- folk group spearheaded by Anna Jordan (bandleader/composer).

Their most recent record 'Shed the Skin' is a stunning showcase of SELK’s unique style and talent, as it moves between full band intricate arrangements, to minimal evocative pieces stripping the sound back to it’s bare bones featuring only Anna on piano/guitar/loops with strings, or bass.

Their sound weaves between genres, drawing on jazz, classical, electronica, avant-folk, ambient rock, classical and more. SELK’s otherworldly sound juxtaposes Jordan’s stark, emotionally raw lyrics and hypnotic acoustic with percussive grooves from Cassidy and the band.

The group’s line-up, featuring Barry Brady on guitar and Dave Redmond on bass, has added a powerful rhythm section that has transformed their sound since their debut album ‘Beast’, which was recorded as a duo (Anna Jordan and Dennis Cassidy). The album also features stunning string arrangements performed by cellist Kate Ellis and violinist Cora Venus Lunny (Crash Ensemble) scored by Judith Ring.

Singles from the album include poignant and introspective ‘Moments’; ‘No Saviours’ a vibrant track, with folk/Americana undertones, accentuated beautifully by a string arrangement composed by Judith Ring; and ‘Spill’ which Hot Press described as “a starry-eyed track that belongs in an Oscar nominated indie movie”.

“The variety and beauty of ‘Shed the Skin’ cannot be understated… Deftly original, winsome and thoughtful music.” – The Goo

Anna Jordan has established herself as a serious composer with fruitful contributions to soundtracks for movies such as 'Snap' directed by Carmel Winters (best known for her film Float Like A Butterfly) and 'Breakfast On Pluto' starring Cillian Murphy, and with the release of her debut EP ‘Dust’ in 2013. Anna’s moving compositions lend well to film and more recently SELK’s track ‘Salt’ was added to the soundtrack of 2019 thriller ‘Greta’ starring Chloe Grace Moretz.

Anna also collaborated with the film composer Javier Navarette (Pans Labyrinth) under the SELK moniker in 2020 with the release of two compositions, 'Moments' and 'Silent Sea'.

"Moments' is a delicate lullaby – it's intimate, but Navarrete's underlying composition feels larger-than-life, too. The orchestration is not overwhelming despite its cinematic quality. Jordan is a multi-instrumentalist herself, and it's clear when listening to 'Moments' that it was crafted by two artists who are incredible at their craft. The track is studded with dark imagery, and the inherent theatricality in Jordan's fluttering vibrato calls back to the golden age of Hollywood.” - Hot Press

Anna's most recent single release 'Born with Colours' was received very positively and has been featured regularly on Irish radio, most notable on John Kelly's Mystery Train.

"A truly gorgeous piece of music that deserves your attention, following on from the remarkable 'Shed the Skin', it's a wonderful return to form from SELK, and bodes well for further murmurations from one of the most remarkable projects that you might not yet know about. Highly recommended."

The Goo Magazine