Tag Archives: Little Lore

Being Serafina: the stunning new album from Little Lore inspired by Tennessee Williams

Album reviews, americana, Music news, , , , , , , ,

Released: 12 June 2026

“In the 21st century it’s refreshing to know that there are still artists creating unique albums. The London-based Little Lore is a fine example of that and her latest release Being Serafina is a work that stretches the imagination and reveals a conceptual depth outside the normal approach.” – RnR magazine (5 stars)

Being Serafina is the new musical project from acclaimed, London-based singer-songwriter, Little Lore aka Tricia Duffy. Released in June this year the albumis named after the central character in Williams’ celebrated play from the 1950s, The Rose Tattoo.

Little Lore: “Being Serafina began as an academic experiment. I wanted to explore whether method acting techniques could be used as a songwriting device. My initial idea was that I could use the Method to write a collection of songs from multiple different character perspectives, perhaps drawn from fiction or characters of my own invention. But projects have a habit of unfolding in unexpected ways. I signed up for method acting classes and to start the process purely, from an acting point of view, I selected a monologue from a play I loved. The Rose Tattoo, by Tennessee Williams. I have been obsessed by Williams’ writing since I was a teenager. I loved and admired his ability to capture such rich female characters. As a homosexual man born in 1911, he understood how it felt to be oppressed.”

“The project began and my first song arrived, written from the perspective of the main protagonist in The Rose Tattoo – Serafina. It’s a song called ‘Did You Exist?’ that sees Serafina questioning everything when she learns that her deceased husband, the love of her life, was having a long-term affair before he died. She is devastated and confused and as I ‘became’ her, I felt it all. And so began an intimate love affair of my own, with this beautiful, vulnerable, funny and flawed character, Serafina. I had a crazy notion that maybe I could go deeper into character and write an entire album from her perspective. Being Serafina is the result. The album draws on a wide range of genre influences from the folk Americana people know me for along with prog rock, punk and blues peppered into the creative process.”

A burgeoning presence on the UK Americana and singer-songwriter scene, Little Lore has received many plaudits, both for her astute, observational songwriting and for her warm, heartfelt vocals. Add into the mix the lush instrumentation and sumptuous production from her principal musical collaborator, Oli Deakin, and the result is nothing short of magical.

Renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin,(who records under the name of Lowpines) produced album and, as with previous Little Lore releases,  provides much of the instrumentation.

Being Serafina will be released in vinyl, CD and digital formats on 12 June 2026 via: https://littlelore.bandcamp.com or can be pre-saved via: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/littlelore/being-serafina?ref=release

Being Serafina – track by track:

1. Fair Weather:“Serafina is a central part of a close Sicilian community; she is the local seamstress. Williams describes the opening scene of the play with children playing, excitedly talking about the flags flying at the coast guard that indicate the weather will be fine. He describes the mothers calling the children home tenderly and musically. Serafina has set the table for a romantic dinner; she plans to tell her husband that she is pregnant with their second child. Her 12-year-old daughter is catching firebugs, and the scene is quite perfect. The song includes backing vocals from Bella Collins and Ella Tobin in the harmonies to enhance this sense of community, and introduces the use of a clarinet, a musical device used to characterise Rosario – Serafina’s husband. Attentive listeners may notice that the clarinet always pans to the right. A deliberate decision drawn from traditional pantomime, where the ‘baddies’ always enter from the right (or stage left). No spoilers … you will learn why later! A simple song that seems positive but with minor arrangement that offers a sense of foreboding and hints at what will unfold.”

2. Evil Eye: “Serafina is superstitious and prone to judgement. She believes that her neighbour is a ‘Strega’ or witch, with an evil eye that can put a curse on her and her daughter. The Strega is often watching throughout the play, offering useful commentary on what is unfolding. In the scene that inspired this song her menace of a goat has got into Serafina’s yard to eat her tomatoes. Serafina instructs her daughter to avoid looking at the Strega and to wash her face in salt water and throw it quickly away to prevent the Mallocchio: the curse of the evil eye. Her daughter, Rosa points out that the neighbour, far from being a witch, has a cataract and crooked hands caused by rheumatism. Musically Oli and I tried to garner a jaunty yet eerie feel, taking inspiration from the likes of Tom Waits. This superstition could be considered silly, but this moment is an indication of things to come. All is not well in Serafina’s world.”

3. Don’t Speak: “It is dawn and we find Serafina at her sewing machine, waiting. The table is still laid, but the food untouched. Her husband hasn’t come home. Outside she hears the low tones of the women in her community and the priest discussing how to tell her the news. Rosario is dead. Written as a real time unfolding of events, shock and denial are the primary emotions of this song. The devastating moment she learns that her husband has died but tries to hold back the knowing. Written in a deliberately high key – to offer the sensation of that high pitched quality we sometimes get in our voices when we are trying to deny something. The sparse music is uncomfortably dissonant with an off-key drone in the mix to give that sensation of the blood rushing in our ears as she experiences the shock. This was a harrowing song to write. Using the method acting techniques which includes the use emotional substitutions, I allowed myself to access the most significant and devastating losses of my life. I cried throughout the entire writing process. It was an emotional song to record.”

4. Trying not to Breathe: “At this point in the original play by Tennessee Williams Serafina is off stage. A necessary device for the momentum of the story because it is here that the audience learns that Rosario, the love of her life, was having a long-term affair for more than a year before he died. The doctor tells her friends that she has lost her baby and is trying not to breathe. He has given her morphine and leaves the group with a syringe to administer more drugs if she tries to get out of bed. As this album is written purely from Serafina’s perspective, I decided that I needed to live her experience of devastated intoxication. The world knows that Rosario was unfaithful, but Serafina remains in the dark. Leaning on prog rock devices to offer the sensation of this drug induced state, we hear her loss and confusion unfolding. There is a tension and a back and forth in this song as she goes in and out of her sedated state.”

5. Lock up your Daughters: “It’s been three years since Rosario died, and Serafina is still grieving. She fears for her now 15-year-old daughter Rosa’s innocence and has locked her clothes away to prevent her leaving the house. Rosa has fallen in love with a sailor. This song is relatable for any parent! That moment when they are growing up and stepping out on their own story. The musical quality of this song leans to pop, on one level it’s a straightforward cautionary tale to other parents, on another Serafina sees her wild husband’s eyes in her daughter and is forced to confront the fact that soon she will be left alone. Cut off from her community with no husband or child at home. She is becoming ever more isolated.”

6. He Wore Rose Oil in his Hair: “Serafina lives almost as if Rosario is still alive, talking to his ashes and fantasising about their love. She idolises his memory and gloats about their harmonious relationship. She talks indiscreetly about their sex life – how she gave him the ‘glory’ every night of their marriage. She knew that he was working for the mob and turned a blind eye. This is a pure love song; she loved him with every fibre of her being and enjoys remembering with pride about how he smelled and made her feel. I used a deep process of sense memory work to write this song, another method acting technique that had me returning to times in my life when smells have overwhelmed me or triggered significant memories. It is one of my favourites on the record. Those who know my work, will know that I am usually more comfortable with writing about death or loss than love! So, it was quite a tough one for me to create. The interplay with the clarinet that represents Rosario is like a love duet and the melody saws with love and reminiscing.”

7. Did you Exist? “The bubble has burst, for three years Serafina has lived with her grief, comforted only by the memory of her idealised marriage and now two careless girls have let it slip that Rosario was having an affair when he died. Not a fling, but a relationship that was going on for over a year with Estelle, the blackjack dealer at the club downtown. Serafina questions everything. She wants it to be a lie. She asks the urn of Rosario’s ashes, ‘Did you exist? Did we exist?’ And the clarinet responds. Sheepishly. The play is set in the early 1950s, and this song has an AABA form, typical of the music which would have been played on radio at the time. I enjoyed these musical nods to the era.”

8. Dummies: “Serafina becomes ever more isolated, taking comfort in the company of her dressmaker’s dummies rather than the women in her once close-knit community. Her dummies can’t tell her lies or call her names. For me, this is one of the saddest songs on the record. The chorus starts with an imaginary response from the dummies (there are several in the stage directions). In the middle chorus Serafina responds for them and in the last chorus that response doesn’t come, as Serafina faces the fact that she has lost her husband, her baby, her friends, the memory of her husband was false, her daughter finds her disgusting and her faith in the Virgin Mary has let her down. All she has left are these morbid mute dummies. The only co-written song on the record, created with long-time collaborator and friend Thiago Trosso (of Abraskadabra fame). Our close friendship was tested as Thiago bravely gave me permission to write in character as Serafina! The 6/8 time supports the choreographed stage directions regarding the dummies that is indicated by Tennessee Williams throughout the play.”

9. Atone: “Serafina moves through her second bout of shock and denial to anger! Punk beats underpin this driving forceful song of rage! Another direct tribute to Williams’ dramaturgy, the saturated toms are indicative of ice being chipped off stage. The song climaxes with a bell as Serafina throws her dead husband’s ashes across the room and the script notes tell us that a little boy who has been counting down for hide and seek shouts, ‘Coming ready or not!’ Serafina is coming for Estelle with a kitchen knife in her purse. A stranger, Alvaro, has entered her life and tries to talk her down with cool ice for her forehead and a drink. She is furious. She has never been angrier. She wants answers and atonement! Watch out!”

10. Lady Give Me a Sign: “More questions for Serafina, she is forced to accept that the rumours about Rosario are true, and she wants someone to blame. The stranger, Alvaro, has made gentle advances offering her comfort and so this song does several things. She is begging for mercy, while spitefully asking the Lady Madonna if she has ever loved her, but there is a second level in this song, she wants permission to sleep with Alvaro. He has a body that reminds her of her dead husband, and she has been a martyr to his memory for three years. She simultaneously rejects the Virgin Mary while also asking what to do. Musically, at the time I was writing this song I was down a bit of a research warren exploring archives to see if I could find the original score for the first Broadway production of the play. I didn’t find it, but I did learn that the score was composed by David Diamond, who I read was interested in chromaticism at the time. This led me to experiment with the chromatic shift you hear between the verse and the chorus (using the D sharp diminished chord for the musicians out there). The harmony was the first part of the song to be written; the words and melody followed.”

11. Love and Affection: “After her wrangling with the Virgin Mary, Serafina sleeps with Alvaro, who is offering her a little love and affection in a world that is lonely and cold. He’s no catch, he is the Grandson of the village idiot, has a bunch of elderly dependants and, as Serafina remarks, his ears stick out like the wings of a kewpie (or cupid). She also notes that despite his clownlike face, his body is reminiscent of her dead husband who was a god-like man. This song is another nod to the music of the time in the ‘50s a future-facing song, as Serafina starts to feel hope again. So, of course, I had to lean into some good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll.”

12. Strange Things: “Like all good stories, things come full circle and her ‘hero’s journey’ ends as Serafina returns to the ordinary world in much the same state as we found her at the start of this record. She has found hope and love again, she believes she has conceived another baby, and she can see a future for her with Alvaro. She returns to the community once more. The songs on this record have a sort of pairing quality, ‘Fair Weather’ and ‘Strange Things’ are bed-fellows. It is OK to believe in strange things and all is well. The clarinet that represents Rosario is there in the distance, as if releasing her from her grief.”

Release information:

All songs performed by Little Lore (AKA Tricia Duffy)

All songs written by Tricia Duffy except ‘Dummies’ written by Tricia Duffy and Thiago Trosso

Produced, engineered and mixed by Oli Deakin

Arranged by Oli Deakin

Drums: Morgan Karabel

Harp: Rebecca El-Saleh

Pedal Steel: Hamilton Belk

All other instruments: Oli Deakin

Backing vocals on ‘Fair Weather’: Bella Collins and Ella Tobin

Mastered by Katie Tavini

Photography and album cover art by Richard Cranefield

The Being Serafina project is inspired by the character of Serafina from The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. Presented by special arrangement with The University of the South, Tennessee, USA.

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States. 

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. Two further EPs Seven Stories Part One and Seven Stories Part Two were released in late 2023 and early 2024, followed by the EP River Stories in April 2025. Little Lore has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK Americana scene, picking up a slew of enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay – including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster, Nashville Worldwide Country Radio and the International Americana Music Show. In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the UK Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), and a member of Ivors Academy  and the Americana Music Association UK. She is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters.

Website: https://littlelore.uk

X: https://twitter.com/littleloremusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleloremusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleloremusic

Related posts:

River Stories – the new six-track EP from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Little Lore

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

‘Trying Not To Breathe’ fourth single from Little Lore album inspired by Tennessee Williams

americana, Music news, , , , , , , ,

Released: 17th April 2026

“We were spellbound by her ability to highlight unique perspectives with her songwriting” – Maverick magazine

“Duffy’s first-class writing shines through” – RnR magazine

‘Trying Not To Breathe’ is the fourth single from the warmly-anticipated new album by London-based singer-songwriter, Little Lore aka Tricia Duffy. Inspired by the work of Tennessee Williams, the full album, Being Serafina, will be released in June this year and is named after the central character in Williams’ celebrated play from the 1950s, The Rose Tattoo.

Little Lore: “Being Serafina began as an academic experiment. I wanted to explore whether Method acting techniques could be used as a songwriting device. I signed up for Method acting classes and selected a monologue from a play I loved, The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. I have been obsessed by Williams’ writing since I was a teenager. I loved and admired his ability to capture such rich female characters. My first song arrived, written from the perspective of the main protagonist in The Rose Tattoo, and so began an intimate love affair of my own with this beautiful, vulnerable, funny and flawed character, Serafina. I had a crazy notion that maybe I could go deeper into character and write an entire album from her perspective. Being Serafina is the result. The album draws on a wide range of genre influences from the folk Americana people know me for along with prog rock, punk and blues peppered into the creative process.”

A burgeoning presence on the UK Americana and singer-songwriter scene, Little Lore has received many plaudits, both for her astute, observational songwriting and for her warm, heartfelt vocals. Add into the mix the lush instrumentation and sumptuous production from her principal musical collaborator, Oli Deakin, and the result is nothing short of magical.

Discussing the new single, the prog-tinged ‘Trying Not To Breathe’, Little Lore explains:

“At this point in the original play by Tennessee Williams, Serafina is off-stage. A necessary device for the momentum of the story because it is here that the audience learns that Rosario, the love of her life, was having a long-term affair for more than a year before he died. The doctor tells her friends that she has lost her baby and is trying not to breathe. He has given her morphine and leaves the group with a syringe to administer more drugs if she tries to get out of bed. As this album is written purely from Serafina’s perspective, I decided that I needed to live her experience of devastated intoxication. The world knows that Rosario was unfaithful, but Serafina remains in the dark. Leaning on prog rock devices to offer the sensation of this drug induced state we hear her loss and confusion unfolding. There is a tension and a back and forth in this song as she goes in and out of her sedated state.”

Renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin,(who records under the name of Lowpines) produced the single and the forthcoming album and, as with previous Little lore releases,  provides much of the instrumentation.

‘Trying Not To Breathe’ is released digitally on 17th April 2026 via: https://littlelore.bandcamp.com or https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/littlelore/trying-not-to-breathe?ref=release

Release information ‘Trying Not To Breathe’:

Written and performed by: Little Lore AKA Tricia Duffy

Produced by: Oli Deakin

Drums: Morgan Karabel

All other instruments: Oli Deakin

Artwork and Photography: Richard Cranefield

The Being Serafina project is inspired by the character of Serafina from The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. Presented by special arrangement with The University of the South, Tennessee, USA.

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States. 

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. Two further EPs Seven Stories Part One and Seven Stories Part Two were released in late 2023 and early 2024, followed by the EP River Stories in April 2025. Little Lore has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK Americana scene, picking up a slew of enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay – including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster, Nashville Worldwide Country Radio and the International Americana Music Show. In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the UK Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), and a member of Ivors Academy  and the Americana Music Association UK. She is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters.

Website: https://littlelore.uk

X: https://twitter.com/littleloremusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleloremusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleloremusic

Related posts:

‘Don’t Speak’ third single from Little Lore album inspired by Tennessee Williams

‘Evil Eye’ second single from forthcoming Little Lore album inspired by Tennessee Williams

‘Fair Weather’ – first single from Little Lore’s new album inspired by Tennessee Williams

River Stories – the new six-track EP from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Little Lore

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

‘Don’t Speak’ third single from Little Lore album inspired by Tennessee Williams

americana, Music news, , , , , , ,

Released: 26th March 2026

“We were spellbound by her ability to highlight unique perspectives with her songwriting” – Maverick magazine

“Duffy’s first-class writing shines through” – RnR magazine

‘Don’t Speak’ is the third single from the warmly-anticipated new album by London-based singer-songwriter, Little Lore aka Tricia Duffy. Inspired by the work of Tennessee Williams, the full album, Being Serafina, will be released in June this year and is named after the central character in Williams’ celebrated play from the 1950s, The Rose Tattoo. ‘Don’t Speak’ is released on 26th March, to coincide with the 115th anniversary of Williams’ birth.

Little Lore: “Being Serafina began as an academic experiment. I wanted to explore whether Method acting techniques could be used as a songwriting device. I signed up for Method acting classes and selected a monologue from a play I loved, The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. I have been obsessed by Williams’ writing since I was a teenager. I loved and admired his ability to capture such rich female characters. My first song arrived, written from the perspective of the main protagonist in The Rose Tattoo, and so began an intimate love affair of my own with this beautiful, vulnerable, funny and flawed character, Serafina. I had a crazy notion that maybe I could go deeper into character and write an entire album from her perspective. Being Serafina is the result. The album draws on a wide range of genre influences from the folk Americana people know me for along with prog rock, punk and blues peppered into the creative process.”

A burgeoning presence on the UK Americana and singer-songwriter scene, Little Lore has received many plaudits, both for her astute, observational songwriting and for her warm, heartfelt vocals. Add into the mix the lush instrumentation and sumptuous production from her principal musical collaborator, Oli Deakin, and the result is nothing short of magical.

Discussing the new single, ‘Don’t Speak’, Little Lore explains:

“It is dawn and we find Serafina at her sewing machine, waiting. The table is still laid, but the food untouched. Her husband hasn’t come home. Outside she hears the low tones of the women in her community and the priest discussing how to tell her the news. Rosario is dead. Written as a real time unfolding of events, shock and denial are the primary emotions of this song. The devastating moment she learns that her husband has died but tries to hold back the knowing.”

“Written in a deliberately high key – to offer the sensation of that high pitched quality we sometimes get in our voices when we are trying to deny something. The sparse music is uncomfortably dissonant with an off-key drone in the mix to give that sensation of the blood rushing in our ears as she experiences the shock. This was a harrowing song to write. Using the method acting techniques which includes the use emotional substitutions, I allowed myself to access the most significant and devastating losses of my life. I cried throughout the entire writing process. It was an emotional song to record.”

Renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin, (who records under the name of Lowpines) produced the single and the forthcoming album and, as with previous Little lore releases,  provides much of the instrumentation.

‘Don’t Speak’ is released digitally on 26th March 2026 via: https://littlelore.bandcamp.com or via: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/littlelore/dont-speak

Release information ‘Don’t Speak’:

Written and performed by: Little Lore AKA Tricia Duffy

Produced by: Oli Deakin

Drums: Morgan Karabel

All other instruments: Oli Deakin

Artwork: Richard Cranefield

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States. 

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. Two further EPs Seven Stories Part One and Seven Stories Part Two were released in late 2023 and early 2024, followed by the EP River Stories in April 2025. Little Lore has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK Americana scene, picking up a slew of enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay – including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster, Nashville Worldwide Country Radio and the International Americana Music Show. In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the UK Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), and a member of Ivors Academy  and the Americana Music Association UK. She is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters.

Website: https://littlelore.uk

X: https://twitter.com/littleloremusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleloremusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleloremusic

Related posts:

‘Evil Eye’ second single from forthcoming Little Lore album inspired by Tennessee Williams

‘Fair Weather’ – first single from Little Lore’s new album inspired by Tennessee Williams

River Stories – the new six-track EP from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Little Lore

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

‘Evil Eye’ second single from forthcoming Little Lore album inspired by Tennessee Williams

americana, Music news, , , , , , ,

Released: 25th February 2026

“We were spellbound by her ability to highlight unique perspectives with her songwriting” – Maverick magazine

“Duffy’s first-class writing shines through” – RnR magazine

‘Evil Eye’ is the second single from the forthcoming new album by London-based singer-songwriter, Little Lore aka Tricia Duffy. Inspired by the work of Tennessee Williams, the full album, Being Serafina, will be released in June this year and is named after the central character in Williams’ celebrated play from the 1950s, The Rose Tattoo. ‘Evil Eye’ is released on 25th February, the anniversary of Williams’ 1983 death.

Little Lore: “Being Serafina began as an academic experiment. I wanted to explore whether Method acting techniques could be used as a songwriting device. I signed up for Method acting classes and selected a monologue from a play I loved, The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. I have been obsessed by Williams’ writing since I was a teenager. I loved and admired his ability to capture such rich female characters. My first song arrived, written from the perspective of the main protagonist in The Rose Tattoo, and so began an intimate love affair of my own with this beautiful, vulnerable, funny and flawed character, Serafina. I had a crazy notion that maybe I could go deeper into character and write an entire album from her perspective. Being Serafina is the result. The album draws on a wide range of genre influences from the folk Americana people know me for along with prog rock, punk and blues peppered into the creative process.”

A burgeoning presence on the UK Americana and singer-songwriter scene, Little Lore has received many plaudits, both for her astute, observational songwriting and for her warm, heartfelt vocals. Add into the mix the lush instrumentation and sumptuous production from her principal musical collaborator, Oli Deakin, and the result is nothing short of magical.

Discussing the new single, ‘Evil Eye’, Little Lore explains:

“Serafina is superstitious and prone to judgement. She believes that her neighbour is a

‘Strega’ or witch, with an evil eye that can put a curse on her and her daughter. The Strega is often watching throughout the play, offering useful commentary on what is unfolding. In the scene that inspired this song her menace of a goat has got into Serafina’s yard to eat her tomatoes. Serafina instructs her daughter to avoid looking at the Strega and to wash her face in salt water and throw it quickly away to prevent the Mallocchio: the curse of the evil eye. Her daughter, Rosa points out that the neighbour, far from being a witch, has a cataract and crooked hands caused by rheumatism. Musically Oli and I tried to garner a jaunty yet eerie feel, taking inspiration from the likes of Tom Waits. This superstition could be considered silly, but this moment is an indication of things to come. All is not well in Serafina’s world.”

Renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin, (who records under the name of Lowpines) produced the single and the forthcoming album and, as with previous Little lore releases,  provides much of the instrumentation.

‘Evil Eye’ is released digitally on 25th February 2026 via: https://littlelore.bandcamp.com or https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/littlelore/evil-eye?ref=release

Release information ‘Evil Eye’:

Written and performed by: Little Lore AKA Tricia Duffy

Produced by: Oli Deakin

Drums: Morgan Karabel

All other instruments: Oli Deakin

Artwork: Richard Cranefield

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States. 

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. Two further EPs Seven Stories Part One and Seven Stories Part Two were released in late 2023 and early 2024, followed by the EP River Stories in April 2025. Little Lore has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK Americana scene, picking up a slew of enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay – including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster, Nashville Worldwide Country Radio and the International Americana Music Show. In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the London Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), and a member of Ivors Academy  and the Americana Music Association UK. She is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters.

The Being Serafina project is inspired by the character of Serafina from The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. Presented by special arrangement with The University of the South, Tennessee, USA.

Website: https://littlelore.uk

X: https://twitter.com/littleloremusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleloremusic

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Related posts:

‘Fair Weather’ – first single from Little Lore’s new album inspired by Tennessee Williams

River Stories – the new six-track EP from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Little Lore

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

‘Fair Weather’ – first single from Little Lore’s new album inspired by Tennessee Williams

americana, Music news, , , , , , ,

Released: 3rd February 2026

“We were spellbound by her ability to highlight unique perspectives with her songwriting” – Maverick magazine

“Duffy’s first-class writing shines through” – RnR magazine

Released on 3rd February, ‘Fair Weather’ is the first single of a brand-new musical project from London-based singer-songwriter, Little Lore aka Tricia Duffy. Inspired by the work of Tennessee Williams, the full album, Being Serafina, will be released in June this year andis named after the central character in Williams’ celebrated play from the 1950s, The Rose Tattoo.

Little Lore: “Being Serafina began as an academic experiment. I wanted to explore whether Method acting techniques could be used as a songwriting device. My initial idea was that I could use the Method to write a collection of songs from multiple different character perspectives, perhaps drawn from fiction or characters of my own invention. But projects have a habit of unfolding in unexpected ways. I signed up for Method acting classes and to start the process purely, from an acting point of view, I selected a monologue from a play I loved. The Rose Tattoo, by Tennessee Williams. I have been obsessed by Williams’ writing since I was a teenager. I loved and admired his ability to capture such rich female characters.”

“My first song arrived, written from the perspective of the main protagonist in The Rose Tattoo, and so began an intimate love affair of my own with this beautiful, vulnerable, funny and flawed character, Serafina. I had a crazy notion that maybe I could go deeper into character and write an entire album from her perspective. Being Serafina is the result. The album draws on a wide range of genre influences from the folk Americana people know me for along with prog rock, punk and blues peppered into the creative process.”

A burgeoning presence on the UK Americana and singer-songwriter scene, Little Lore has received many plaudits, both for her astute, observational songwriting and for her warm, heartfelt vocals. Add into the mix the lush instrumentation and sumptuous production from her principal musical collaborator, Oli Deakin, and the result is nothing short of magical.

Discussing the first single, ‘Fair Weather’, Little Lore adds:

“Serafina is a central part of a close Sicilian community; she is the local seamstress. Williams describes the opening scene of the play with children playing, excitedly talking about the flags flying at the coast guard that indicate the weather will be fine. He describes the mothers calling the children home tenderly and musically. Serafina has set the table for a romantic dinner; she plans to tell her husband that she is pregnant with their second child. Her 12-year-old daughter is catching firebugs, and the scene is quite perfect.”

“The song includes backing vocals from Bella Collins and Ella Tobin in the harmonies to enhance this sense of community. And introduces the use of a clarinet, a musical device used to characterise Rosario – Serafina’s husband. Attentive listeners may notice that the clarinet always pans to the right. A deliberate decision drawn from traditional pantomime, where the ‘baddies’ always enter from the right (or stage left). A simple song that seems positive but with minor arrangement that offers a sense of foreboding and hints at what will unfold.”

Renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin, (who records under the name of Lowpines) produced the single and the forthcoming album and, as with previous Little lore releases,  provides much of the instrumentation.

‘Fair Weather’ will be released digitally on 3rd February 2026 via: https://littlelore.bandcamp.com or https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/littlelore/fair-weather

Release information ‘Fair Weather’:

Written and performed by: Little Lore AKA Tricia Duffy

Produced by: Oli Deakin

Backing vocals: Bella Collins and Ella Tobin

Drums: Morgan Karabel

All other instruments: Oli Deakin

Artwork: Richard Cranefield

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States. 

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. Two further EPs Seven Stories Part One and Seven Stories Part Two were released in late 2023 and early 2024, followed by the EP River Stories in April 2025. Little Lore has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK Americana scene, picking up a slew of enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay – including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster, Nashville Worldwide Country Radio and the International Americana Music Show. In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the London Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), and a member of Ivors Academy  and the Americana Music Association UK. She is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters.

The Being Serafina project is inspired by the character of Serafina from The Rose Tattoo by Tennessee Williams. Presented by special arrangement with The University of the South, Tennessee, USA.

Website: https://littlelore.uk

X: https://twitter.com/littleloremusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleloremusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleloremusic

Related posts:

River Stories – the new six-track EP from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Little Lore

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

River Stories – the new six-track EP from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter Little Lore

Album reviews, americana, Music news, , , , ,

Released: 4 April 2025

“We were spellbound by her ability to highlight unique perspectives with her songwriting” – Maverick magazine

Following her extremely well-received self-titled, debut solo EP in 2021 and its much-anticipated follow-up Seven Stories parts one and two in 2024, River Stories is the latest release from London-based singer-songwriter, Little Lore. A burgeoning presence on the UK Americana scene, Little Lore has received many plaudits, both for her astute, observational songwriting and for her warm, heartfelt vocals.

From rivers, to boats, to canals, to swimming, all six songs on River Stories are inspired in some way by the theme of water. The concept for the EP came about following an invitation for Little Lore to become songwriter in residency on Johnson’s Island, an artists’ community set on a tiny island on the Grand Union Canal and the River Brent in West London.

Little Lore: “In November 2023, I was invited to become songwriter in residency on Johnson’s Island – a tiny land mass in the mouth of the Grand Union Canal and the River Brent in Brentford, and home to fifteen or so artists’ studio. My idea was born when I called my friend, the artist Angela Chan, who has a studio on the island. I asked her whether she thought that the artists who work there would be willing to let me come and visit them or interview them to see if that would stimulate some songs.  She is an incredible human being and instantly suggested that she lend me the studio for a few days later that year and that I become Songwriter in Residence on the island. I had four days in the studio and I imagined I would write about the artists and the huge changes that Brentford in West London is undergoing. But a week before the residency I got a call letting me know that the island had been flooded and that the residency was in jeopardy. I sat down and wrote ‘The River’ – reflecting on the incredible power the river has to calm us with her beauty but also destroy.”

“Against all the odds, the studios dried out and the residency went ahead, as planned. I arrived full of enthusiasm with my computer, my guitar and some basic recording equipment. I was excited to meet all the artists and although I had written one song about the river already, I was sure that the project was about the artists and the community in Brentford. I dropped my gear into the studio and went to see who else was working on the island – only to find that I was the only person there! None of the other artists were in their studios that morning – I mean it was pretty early. The project was not going at all as I had planned. I sat in the studio looking at the river and my mind started to wander to my relationship with water. I sketched a time line of my entire life noting any river or water related incidents or interactions from my birth to present. And I noticed some themes … such as, I have lived close to bodies of working water my entire life, I was born in Oxford near the Thames, moved to Cambridge, by the River Cam, and back to Oxford as a small child. When I was 7, we moved to Portchester just outside Portsmouth and later Fareham – both situated on an ever changing tidal creek. Now I live in West London close to the Thames again and I can’t imagine living anywhere that wasn’t within a few minutes’ walk of a river or estuary of some kind.”

Renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin,(who records under the name of Lowpines) is Little Lore’s principal musical collaborator and is, once again, the EP’s producer and provides much of the instrumentation. Vocals were recorded with Paul Stanborough at Chapel View Studio in Kent.

Little Lore: “Working with my long-time collaborator Oli on the arrangements for this collection of songs was an absolute delight. He suggested that we ask Francesca and Sasha to provide real violin and cello and I think they add so much. Morgan jumped in for drums again as usual.”

“The artwork was created by Afiya Paice. I love how engaged she was about the back story behind this EP and how it related to my life and all the places I have lived. She used photographs of me to create the front cover and pictures we found on google of the houses I lived in the past. Such a personal and beautiful way to create art that adds to the story of the record.”

River Stories will be released digitally on 4 April 2025 via: https://litlelore.bandcamp.com or can be pre-saved at Spotify via: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/littlelore/river-stories

River Stories EP – track by track:

1. The River: “This song was inspired by two enormous storms that battered the UK in November 2023 causing great damage and floods. When I got the call letting me know that it was looking like only a 50/50 chance for my songwriter in residency to go ahead, I sat on the sofa with my guitar and I thought – damn that river has two sides. And the song came from there, with that phrase and the little guitar riff coming first, unusually for me as I am almost always a lyrics-first kinda gal. The song reflects on the incredible beauty of the river and the destruction it can reap when the right combination of high tides, gravitational pull from the moon and the storms collide. I love how Oli interpreted the song – and the addition of violins and cello really evoke the feelings of the water.”

2. Johnson’s Island: “I always intended this project to be about the artists on Johnson’s Island but when I had finished the residency, I hadn’t written anything about them. They would never say it, but I got the sense that they hoped I would write a song about the island and the people that create there. It was about a fortnight after the residency that this song came to me, with all the technicolour details of the artists I had encountered.  I have performed it live for them a few times and I am so excited that it is finally going to be released so they can share it with their family and friends and say ’that’s me’! It’s the true story of just some of the incredible creative people that welcomed me onto the island. I am beyond grateful for the warmth they showed me and I hope this song is a fitting tribute.”

3. Waterlog: “I talked to a few of folk who lived on canal boats while I was working on this project and a story kept on coming up which was about the mass destruction that can be reaped by a water-logged log. After one such conversation, I found myself thinking ‘poor log – it was a tree once’. I wondered how it might be to write a song from the perspective of the misunderstood log. When I had finished the song, I sent the demos of all the songs to Angela as she had been so instrumental in making the project happen. This was the song that really caught her ear. She wrote me a long email with beautiful feedback about all the songs but this song she particularly related to. She described it as a feminist anthem and made me realise that the song was more personal than I had originally intended. The water-logged log is not seen for all it was: as a young vibrant sapling, for the strength it once had or the stories it could tell. As a post-menopausal woman, I know how the log feels. It is a relatively simple song harmonically but the melody and lyrics of the bridge soar with a plea for understanding.”

4. I Can Breathe Underwater: “The inspiration behind this song came from a family tale that when I was two years old, I fell over in a swimming pool. I wasn’t in the water for long, I was scooped up quickly with no lasting physical impact. I was so young, that I have no recollection of the incident, it was shared with me when I was older by my parents. But although I didn’t remember it something in my psyche held on to this experience because as a child I refused to learn to swim. I can’t emphasise enough what a good girl I was as a kid, I did as I was told most of the time and was pretty compliant but when it came to swimming, I was adamant.  There was absolutely no way I was getting into water. I certainly wasn’t going to put my face in and blow bubbles like the other children at swimming lessons. It didn’t matter what anyone said or did – I was immovable. In my teens I got over it enough that I learned to swim, but I still don’t put my face in the water. Some incidents last but they give you strength and a way to prove that you can overcome difficult times. This song is a testimony to overcoming pain, suffering and not allowing it to destroy you but rather to give you a glossy mermaids tail and resilience in all aspects of your life. Sometimes I feel as though nothing can hurt me because I can (metaphorically) breathe underwater.”

5. Run with the Tide: “I had the pleasure of meeting Ryan, the operations manager at John’s Boatyard in Brentford, while I was working on Johnson’s Island. He took me on a tour of the boatyard which still has some ancient equipment and an active boat-building and repair business. He told me how he changed his life driven by financial considerations. Buying a boat and becoming a continuous cruiser was a way to get out of the renting game and save some money so he could get on the property ladder. After a few months of living on his boat and changing location every two weeks he was hooked and he says he can’t imagine going back to living on land now. He talked about how the tide is so important to anyone living on a boat or working with boats. There are few things you can only do when there is slack water. And this idea of being run by the tide and its schedule stimulated the song. Using a 6/8 time signature really gives it a watery rhythm.”

6. Haul Me in the River*: “This song was written by Little Lore producer, Oli Deakin AKA Lowpines. I mentioned in passing to him that I should consider covering one of his songs in this collection and he immediately suggested that I listen to this song. I fell in love with it instantly and could imagine it with an a cappella treatment. I immediately recorded a simple demo version at my home studio and anxiously sent it to Oli for his thoughts – happily he loved the idea – I always feel responsible to treat other people’s songs with respect and this is the first time I have released something I haven’t written or co-written myself. The arrangement Oli created is stunning and I am really proud of how the collaboration worked out.”

Release information – River Stories:

Written and performed by: Little Lore AKA Tricia Duffy (except * written by Oli Deakin)

Produced by: Oli Deakin

Vocal Engineer: Paul Stanborough at Chapel Studio

Violin: Francesca Dardani

Cello: Sasha Ono

Drums: Morgan Karabel

All other instruments: Oli Deakin

Artwork: Afiya Paice

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States.  She began writing and performing her own material with Americana duo Duffy & Bird and they released a well-received album 5 Lines in 2017 and a follow-up EP Spirit Level in 2019.

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. The singles, ‘Shallow’, ‘Brown Liquor John’ and ‘Birds’ were released in 2022 to similar acclaim, followed by another equally well-received single ‘Normal’ in January 2023. Two follow-up EPs Seven Stories Part One and Seven Stories Part Two were then released in late 2023 and early 2024 to enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay. Little Lore has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK Americana scene, picking up a slew of enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay – including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster, Nashville Worldwide Country Radio and the International Americana Music Show. In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the London Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), and a member of Ivors Academy  and the Americana Music Association UK. She is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters.

Website: https://littlelore.uk

X: https://twitter.com/littleloremusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleloremusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleloremusic

Related posts:

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

‘The River’ – second single from the forthcoming EP ‘River Stories’ by singer-songwriter Little Lore

americana, Music news, , , , , ,

Released: 7 March 2025

“We were spellbound by her ability to highlight unique perspectives with her songwriting” – Maverick magazine

Released on 7 March, ‘The River’ is the second single from the forthcoming EP by London-based Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore. A burgeoning presence on the UK Americana scene, Little Lore has received many plaudits, both for her astute, observational songwriting and for her warm, heartfelt vocals.

‘The River’ is one of six songs that will appear on the brand-new Little Lore EP, River Stories, which comes out in April. From rivers, to boats, to canals, to swimming, all six songs on the EP are inspired in some way by the theme of water. The concept for the EP came about following an invitation for Little Lore to become songwriter in residency on Johnson’s Island, an artists’ community set on a tiny island on the Grand Union Canal and the River Brent in West London.

A gentle, reflective song with gorgeous instrumentation, sumptuous vocals and beautiful harmonies ‘The River’ reminds us that rivers can be beautiful, tranquil places but can also be very powerful forces that can wreak great devastation.

Little Lore: “This song was inspired by two enormous storms that battered the UK in November 2023 causing great damage and floods.  I had been invited to become songwriter in residence on Johnson’s island- an artists’ studio located in the mouth of the Grand Union Canal and the River Brent. A week before the residency the whole island was flooded including the artist’s room I was due to use. When I got the call letting me know that it was looking 50/50 for the residency to go ahead, I sat on the sofa with my guitar and I thought – damn that river has two sides. And the song came from there, with that phrase and the little guitar riff coming first, unusually for me as I am almost always a lyrics-first kinda gal.”

“The song reflects on the incredible beauty of the river and the destruction it can reap when the right combination of high tides, gravitational pull from the moon and storms collide. I love how Oli interpreted the song – and the addition of violins and cello really evoke the feelings of the water.”

Renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin, (who records under the name of Lowpines) is Little Lore’s principal musical collaborator and again produced the single and the forthcoming EP and provides much of the instrumentation.

‘The River’ is released digitally on 7 March 2025 via: https://littlelore.bandcamp.com or via Spotify: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/littlelore/the-river

Release information ‘The River’:

Written and performed by: Little Lore AKA Tricia Duffy
Produced by: Oli Deakin
Violin: Francesca Dardani
Cello: Sasha Ono
Drums: Morgan Karabel
All other instruments: Oli Deakin
Artwork: Afiya Paice

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States.  She began writing and performing her own material with Americana duo Duffy & Bird and they released a well-received album 5 Lines in 2017 and a follow-up EP Spirit Level in 2019.

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. The singles, ‘Shallow’, ‘Brown Liquor John’ and ‘Birds’ were released in 2022 to similar acclaim, followed by another equally well-received single ‘Normal’ in January 2023. Two follow-up EPs Seven Stories Part One and Seven Stories Part Two were then released in late 2023 and early 2024 to enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay. Little Lore has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK Americana scene, picking up a slew of enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay – including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster, Nashville Worldwide Country Radio and the International Americana Music Show. In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the London Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), and a member of Ivors Academy  and the Americana Music Association UK. She is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters.

Website: https://littlelore.uk

X: https://twitter.com/littleloremusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleloremusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleloremusic

Related posts:

Americana: ‘I Can Breathe Underwater’ – new single from the forthcoming EP ‘River Stories’ by Little Lore

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

‘Normal’: a gorgeous slice of lush Americana – the new single from Little Lore

Americana: ‘I Can Breathe Underwater’ – new single from the forthcoming EP ‘River Stories’ by Little Lore

americana, Music news, , , , , ,

Released: 7 February 2025

“We were spellbound by her ability to highlight unique perspectives with her songwriting” – Maverick magazine

‘I Can Breathe Underwater’ is the new single from Little Lore, the  highly sought-after singer-songwriter on the UK Americana scene. Released on 7 February, it is one of six songs that will appear on a brand-new Little Lore EP called River Stories, which comes out in April.

From rivers, to boats, to canals, to swimming, all six songs on the EP are inspired in some way by the theme of water. This followed an invitation for Little Lore to become songwriter in residency on Johnson’s Island, an artists’ community set on a tiny island on the Grand Union Canal and the River Brent in West London.

With its gorgeous vocals, thoughtful lyrics, irresistible choruses and sumptuous production, ‘I Can Breathe Underwater’ is a tale of resilience that will bring a touch of joy to the seasonal gloom and act as the perfect antidote to those winter blues.

Little Lore: “The inspiration behind this song came from a family tale that when I was two years-old, I fell over in a swimming pool. I wasn’t in the water for long, I was scooped up quickly with no lasting physical impact. I was so young, that I have no recollection of the incident, it was shared with me when I was older by my parents. But although I didn’t remember it something in my psyche held on to this experience because as a child I refused to learn to swim. I can’t emphasise enough what a good girl I was as a kid, I did as I was told most of the time and was pretty compliant but when it came to swimming, I was adamant.  There was absolutely no way I was getting into water. I certainly wasn’t going to put my face in and blow bubbles like the other children at swimming lessons. It didn’t matter what anyone said or did – I was immovable.”

“In my teens I got over it enough that I learned to swim, but I still don’t put my face in the water. Some incidents last but they give you strength and a way to prove that you can overcome difficult times. This song is a testimony to overcoming pain, suffering and not allowing it to destroy you but rather to give you a glossy mermaids tail and resilience in all aspects of your life. Sometimes I feel as though nothing can hurt me because I can (metaphorically) breathe underwater.“

The single is again produced by renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin, who records under the name of Lowpines.

‘I Can Breathe Underwater’ is released digitally on 7 February 2025 via:

https://littlelore.bandcamp.com

Release information ‘I Can Breathe Underwater’:

Written and performed by: Little Lore AKA Tricia Duffy

Produced by: Oli Deakin

Violin: Francesca Dardani

Cello: Sasha Ono

Drums: Morgan Karabel

All other instruments: Oli Deakin

Artwork: Afiya Paice

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States.  She began writing and performing her own material with Americana duo Duffy & Bird and they released a well-received album 5 Lines in 2017 and a follow-up EP Spirit Level in 2019.

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. The singles, ‘Shallow’, ‘Brown Liquor John’ and ‘Birds’ were released in 2022 to similar acclaim, followed by another equally well-received single ‘Normal’ in January 2023. Two follow-up EPs Seven Stories Part One and Seven Stories Part Two were then released in late 2023 and early 2024 to enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay. Little Lore has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK Americana scene, picking up a slew of enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay – including BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio Ulster, Nashville Worldwide Country Radio and the International Americana Music Show. In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the London Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), and a member of Ivors Academy  and the Americana Music Association UK. She is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters.

Website: https://littlelore.uk

X: https://twitter.com/littleloremusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleloremusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleloremusic

Related posts:

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

‘Normal’: a gorgeous slice of lush Americana – the new single from Little Lore

‘This Building is condemned’ – the new single from Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

americana, Music news, , , ,

Released: 11 October 2024

“Her songwriting hasn’t gone astray, with catchy lines coming thick and fast, alongside the wistful observational writing. The musicality sways in with reverberating, almost shoegaze guitar embellishments and constantly strumming acoustic guitar to ground each song with the brushed drums and light piano accompaniment. – Maverick magazine on Little Lore’s 2023 EP, Seven Stories Part One

With three acclaimed EPs of lush Americana, superb songwriting and heart-felt vocals under her belt, Little Lore has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK Americana scene, picking up a slew of enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay – including BBC Radio Scotland, Nashville Worldwide Country Radio and the International Americana Music Show. Now Little Lore is back with a brand-new single, ‘This Building Is Condemned’, featuring that trademark blend of sharp, observational songwriting, top-notch musicianship and gorgeous vocals.

Little Lore: “This song was inspired at a cross section between a play by Tennessee Williams called This Property is Condemned, and the idea of a condemned building as a metaphor for how it feels to be a post-menopausal women. Yes really! When I was a teenager I did a lot of acting and I often used a monologue from the play for auditions and exams. A 1966 American film inspired by this one act play stared Natalie Wood in the part of Alva and it was her character, oppressed, misunderstood and frustrated that formed the starting point for my writing. I was finding the word ‘property’ wasn’t very singable, so I evolved to building and that inspired me to lean into my own story using the building figuratively. “

“Musically I wanted to capture some of that 1930s Americana feel I got from the film and so I worked with long-time Little Lore collaborator Oli Deakin to create a rich sonic-sound scape using the brilliant talents of Francesca and Sasha for the violin and cello, Morgan on drums with all other instruments played by Oli. I couldn’t be prouder of this song, both lyrically and harmonically, and I am delighted with how it has turned out.”

The single is again produced by renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin (who records under the name of Lowpines). Released digitally on October 11th 2024 it is available via: https://littlelore.bandcamp.com

Release information ‘This Building is Condemned’:

Written and performed by Little Lore / Tricia Duffy

Produced by Oli Deakin

Violin by Francesca Dardani

Cello by Sasha Ono

Drums by Morgan Karabel

All other instruments Oli Deakin

Artwork Afia Paice

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States.  She began writing and performing her own material with Americana duo Duffy & Bird and they released a well-received album ‘5 Lines’ in 2017 and a follow-up EP ‘Spirit Level’ in 2019.

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. The singles, ‘Shallow’, ‘Brown Liquor John’ and ‘Birds’ were released in 2022 to similar acclaim, followed by another equally well-received single ‘Normal’ in January 2023. Two follow-up EPs Seven Stories Part One and Seven Stories Part Two were then released in late 2023 and early 2024 to enthusiastic reviews and extensive radio airplay.

An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the London Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) and is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters. In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

Website: https://littlelore.uk

Related posts:

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

‘Normal’: a gorgeous slice of lush Americana – the new single from Little Lore

Seven Stories (parts one and two): the new project from acclaimed Americana singer-songwriter, Little Lore

Album reviews, americana, Music news, , , , , ,

Seven Stories (parts one and two): released 23rd February 2024

“Storytelling is at the heart of Duffy’s songwriting but she finds a unique angle or topic on each track that brings a fresh perspective to a common and relatable issue.” – Maverick magazine on the 2021 debut EP from Little Lore

Following her fantastically well-received debut EP as a solo artist back in 2021, Seven Stories is the latest project from Tricia Duffy and her singer-songwriter alter ego, Little Lore. The first four songs, Seven Stories part one, were released digitally back in September 2023 with the final three songs Seven Stories part two being released in February of this year. A CD version, featuring all seven songs from both parts one and two, is also set for release on 23rd February 2024.

Little Lore: “I had seven songs and I decided to release it in two parts: Seven Stories part one and Seven Stories part two. I’m now thrilled to be releasing the final three songs from the project as well as the CD bringing all seven songs in the collection together. There’s a real variety of styles. Death is one of my go to subjects to write about so there are a couple of quite bleak, sad songs. I’ve got some wry wit in there as well. There’s obviously a climate change one as well – I always like to include one of those. It’s a figurative song written from the perspective of the planet.”

Featuring Little Lore’s compelling storytelling, irresistible melodies and heartfelt vocals, Seven Stories is again produced by renowned New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist, Oli Deakin (who records under the name of Lowpines). As with the debut Little Lore EP and subsequent singles, Oli Deakin provides the lush instrumentation on each of the tracks, with Morgan Karabel, once again, featuring on drums.

Little Lore adds: “I recorded the vocals in a studio in Kent with an amazing producer and engineer called Paul Stanborough. Lowpines (Oli Deakin) has done the production and all of the instrumentation again and Morgan Karabel is playing drums once more. It is important to me to have women in the team so having a female drummer is really cool.”

On working with Little Lore, Oli Deakin comments: “Working with Tricia on her records as Little Lore has been a really fun journey. As a producer it’s always exciting to work with people who have great ideas, and even more so when they’re also open to building on those ideas and trusting where that might lead. Tricia has been very generous with that trust, which I think has given us both a lot of confidence to be adventurous with our approach, both in the writing and the recording. It’s super rewarding to go out on a limb with an idea and have it land in a place we both get excited about!”

For the full interview with Little Lore visit here

Six of the seven tracks were again written by Tricia Duffy while the final track, ‘It Would be Easier to Miss You if You’d Died’ was a writing collaboration between Tricia and musician and songwriter, Thiago Trosso. A part of the US Ska/Punk/Reggae scene and playing as a session musician in his home country, Thiago Trosso moved to the UK in 2015 with the goal of building a career as a songwriter and solo artist. He finished a Songwriting MA in London, and is now doing a PhD in therapeutic songwriting, opening the path for co-writing with numerous artists around the world.

Seven Stories (parts one and two) will be released on CD on 23rd February 2024 and the final three songs from the project will also be available on all the main digital platforms on the same date.

Available via https://littlelore.bandcamp.com or https://littlelore.ffm.to/sevenstoriespartone

Seven Stories – track by track:

  1. Running on Empty: “Written from the perspective of the planet, it’s sort of a love letter to the human race. The lyrics start “I hold you gently, while you destroy me. Running on Empty. I love you anyway. To get into the frame of mind I needed to write the song, I physically wrote a letter to humanity to help me get the sense of what I wanted to say, that the planet will survive the climate crisis just fine after we humans have wiped ourselves out, but she (Mother Earth) acknowledges that she benefits from some of our interventions. Despite the big topic, it’s a relatively simple song with a haunting Americana vibe.”
  2. Stolen Glances: “I wrote this song in response to a prompt from the Song-a-week challenge run by James Tristan Redding in Nashville. The prompt was “Stolen Glances” and I was travelling home from Cornwall on the train. I remember opening my computer and typing “on a train facing backwards, I steal glances”.  It has had quite a lot of re-writes since that first draft – I think the original version is still knocking around on YouTube somewhere – it’s quite a different song lyrically now. I tried to capture the sense of movement and observation that can be inspired on long journeys, the narrator is searching for answers, but there is almost a sense of not quite knowing what questions she is asking. I think we have all felt that way at some point in our lives.”
  3. The Bench: “This devastating song was inspired by the benches that line the seafront in St. Ives in Cornwall and the true story of a friend of mine who tragically lost her husband a few years ago. The song tells the tale of a man and a women who meet and fall in love despite their age difference. He leaves her once because of the social discourse around their circumstances, but later returns and they marry only to have him leave her again. In the bridge it is revealed he hasn’t left her voluntarily, but died. In many societies benches are incredibly important to people, who use them to memorialise their loved ones with plaques that articulate their feelings about a particular place. “He loved this place” – for example. By centring the story around the bench, we have a sense of a specific location with which to build the narrative. And I believe this makes it more relatable as a result.”
  4. Sebastian Says: “This is a song about imposter syndrome and the inner critic. I have named the voice in my head Sebastian so this is my tribute to him and a good way to tell him to button it! Obviously it had to be a man who tells me I am too fat, doormat, too old, too cold etc. It is a full on driving rock Americana song which probably needs to be played at full volume!” 
  5. The Jackal: “I originally wrote this for a TV Americana Crime brief, but I liked it so much I decided to release it myself.  There are lots of myths surrounding the Jackal, which are known in some communities as ‘death dogs’ or as tricksters.  The Egyptian God of the afterlife, Anubis, had the head of a jackal, so seeing a jackal was considered a warning that someone was in danger.  A bit like a fox in European folklore, in African folklore the Jackal is recognised for its ability to adapt with cunning and stealth, a wily creature that dodges traps by feigning death. It has a black saddle because it offered to carry the sun on its back, burning his fur, and inspiring the words in my chorus.”  
  6. Little Pieces: “I wrote this in response to a brief which was simply to write a song that was titled “little pieces” with a I IV V chord structure. I started mind mapping the words little pieces and somehow landed on the idea of food. I asked myself who eats food in little pieces? The infirm, babies, people at ‘80s dinner parties with pineapple and cheese on sticks? The lack of control people in care feel over all their choices I think can be summed up with the concept of food. Imagining what it must be like to have so little influence over your daily life that you can’t even decide what you eat must be disturbing. I had a lot of doubts about releasing this song as I know it is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea! But I took inspiration and confidence from the likes of Nick Cave and Tom Waits and decided to just go for it – with a lot of support from Oli who always believed.  The arrangement is entirely unsettling and I am sure it is not an easy listen but sometimes stories just need to be told.”
  7. It Would be Easier to Miss You if You’d Died*:“This was a co-write with my friend and fellow songwriter, Thiago Trosso. I always like to come to writing sessions prepared with some ‘writable’ ideas. I don’t always need them, but I think it is the spirit of co-writing to bring your best stuff to the room. That day I read out a list of ideas to Thiago and when I told him the concept I had of being ghosted and it being easier to miss that person if they’d died – he smiled and said, “Let’s write that one!”.  We knew it had to be a careful balance of wry wit and humour with sadness and I hope that we have struck that balance. It was inspired by a real experience of being ghosted which seems to be more common these days. Or maybe we just notice it more because we are all so connected. I think Oli thought I was crazy when I first sent him the song. It doesn’t fit a typical structure, starting with a half chorus to land the premise from the start. But he really leaned into the wry nature of the song and I think the instrumentation really enhances the feel. This is the first time I have ever cut a co-write, but I am positive it won’t be the last.”

Seven Stories: release information:

All Tracks written by Tricia Duffy except *written by Tricia Duffy and Thiago Trosso

Vocals – Tricia Duffy 

Produced by – Oli Deakin

The Bench Drums – Oli Deakin

All other tracks Drums – Morgan Karabel 

All other instruments – Oli Deakin

Vocal Recording – Paul Stanborough at Chapel Studio, Kent

Artwork – Afiya Paice

About Little Lore:

Little Lore is a London based, Indie-Americana singer-storyteller whose songs are both charmingly accessible and beguilingly challenging. You’ll want to listen twice. When you combine British wit and wordplay with cherished Americana roots, musical magic starts to happen. Based in Chiswick, West London, and originally hailing from Portsmouth, Tricia Duffy started her singing career as a teenager, which included a stint on cruise ships in the United States.  She began writing and performing her own material with Americana duo Duffy & Bird and they released a well-received album ‘5 Lines’ in 2017 and a follow-up EP ‘Spirit Level’ in 2019.

Tricia’s solo project Little Lore was created in 2020 during the pandemic. Her debut solo EP, Little Lore, was released in 2021 to glowing reviews. The singles, ‘Shallow’, ‘Brown Liquor John’ and ‘Birds’ were released in 2022 to similar acclaim, followed by another equally well-received single ‘Normal’ in January 2023. An enthusiastic advocate for songwriters, she is the London Chapter Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) and is especially passionate about creating opportunities for female, transgender and non-binary songwriters.

In her songs, Little Lore brings together an affection for the heart and heritage of Americana music, with an intelligence and maturity of storytelling that can sweep you away into new and unexpected emotional worlds.

Seven Stories (parts one and two): released 23rd February 2024

Related posts:

The gripping tale of Little Lore: interview with Americana singer-storyteller, Tricia Duffy

Little Lore: the magical new project from UK Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy

‘Normal’: a gorgeous slice of lush Americana – the new single from Little Lore