Cardiff’s Sad Cypress releases the double A-side ‘Sirens / It Means A Lot To Me’, lifted from her forthcoming Princess of Cups EP, which receives a physical release later this year.

Two intimate, spacious tracks blending experimental flourishes and folk undertones with theatrical touches and compelling musical ideas, they both complement and contrast one another, carrying a striking sense of identity and emotional depth despite clocking in at under three and a half minutes combined.

Opening with field recordings of splashing waves, ‘It Means A Lot To Me’ introduces a distorted vocal over solitary piano, creating a cinematic, eerie and emotionally resonant atmosphere. The track gradually blossoms into a wash of distant vocal harmonies and harmonica, capturing a feeling comparable to Bon Iver’s For Emma.

By contrast, the sub-minute ‘Sirens’ almost feels like a fleeting sketch, yet still leaves a lasting impression through swirling vocal harmonies and waltzing guitars that conjure a witchy, otherworldly aura through its indie-folk sensibilities.

Explaining the inspiration behind ‘Sirens’, Sad Cypress says: “It’s an inversion of the usual mythology – rather than drawing unwitting sailors to their deaths, these sirens don’t want any distractions… what it is they are doing is more interesting.”

Continuing to describe ‘It Means A Lot To Me’, she calls the track: “a very spiritual song, finding comfort in something that needs more than normal language to communicate.”

Both songs are taken from Princess of Cups, a concept EP centred around a narrative written by Cartmell and set within Cardiff’s Waterloo Gardens. The music forms just one part of the wider project, with a complete accompanying story expanding the record’s themes of mythology, memory and transformation.

Music is only one strand of the Sad Cypress project. Conceived as a fallen goddess wandering the Earth, the character transforms experiences of trauma and heartbreak into immersive songs steeped in folklore, spirituality and emotional honesty.

Every release is accompanied by a self-published zine containing original writing, artwork and a QR code linking to the music, inviting listeners to engage with the project as both literature and sound. Through her DIY collective, Wheel of Fortune Records, she also champions independent approaches to music-making while exploring music industry history and contemporary culture.

Listen to the new double A-side below:

Related