images
Share this article Share
The cover photograph of Matilda Mann’s debut album, Roxwell, is not entirely decipherable. Mann, a blurred figure on a quiet street, stands framed by a triptych of neon, light and shadow. The moment, a confluence of light and dark, embodies an essence of Roxwell: its interplay between darkness and hope, its blend of bitter and sweet. “I’ve found life to be this experience of feeling love and joy in a world that’s messed up at the same time”, Mann says. “Through all the ups and downs, I’d like to bring people some calm against the waves.” Huddled in the cold with her arms crossed for warmth, her stance is a mix of defiance and vulnerability. “I kind of look like a petulant child”, she laughs, “but also like I’m trying my best to be confident even though I’m uncomfortable. I am right there in the forefront, with nothing to hide behind. That’s how I feel a lot of the time – vulnerable, afraid to fail, but still standing tall.”
Following a precocious few years in music, it feels fitting now for Mann’s debut album to start at the beginning. Named Roxwell after the cherished street of her childhood home, the album is a tender ode to her formative years. An only child to loving parents, she soaked in the world from their house in West London, watching music documentaries with her father, writing songs in her bedroom and performing to her parents in the kitchen. “I’m very sentimental and wanted to pay tribute to that house, which is the closest thing to me. So much of my history is there”, she notes. A gentle and resonant album, Roxwell exudes the warmth and care of that nurturing environment, propelling Mann into the world with a fundamental desire to connect with people.
“Being in love is a very big thing for me”, says Mann. “Within this album, I’ve been in and out of love a few different times. Some of these songs are word-for-word records of what that was like.” Roxwell, then, is a charmed exploration of love from a person eager to understand and feel its presence in her life, charting its course from infatuation to intimacy to dissolution.
Jo Hill
Jo Hill’s journey into music began in thesmallvillage of Cheddar,a place where everyoneknows everything about everyone, where she started crafting songs, stories and anythingto distract her from village lifeas a young girl. With a grandmother who sang opera andentered her into a singing competition at just nine years old, Jo’s path as a storyteller wasset in motion early on.Fast forward to today, and Jo’s music is a nostalgic blend ofheartfelt storytelling and modern vibes, drawing inspiration from legends like Queen,Boney M, The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and Joni Mitchell. Her sound invites listeners on a journey through different worlds, evoking the spirit of the past while stayingfirmly rooted in the present.
Her Bedroom Sessions with female artists promise more raw, inspiring collaborations.Beyond music, Jo is passionate about causes like period poverty, women’s rights, andmental health. Her work with refugee charities and efforts to support Gaza highlight hercommitment to making a difference. Balancing her music career with hobbies like MuayThai, Arabic lessons,and meditation, Jo’s rich lifestyle feeds her creativity and fuels herpassion.Jo Hill’s music is an invitation to embrace openness, honesty, and connection. Throughher journey, she inspires her audience to find strength in vulnerability and celebratethemagic of storytelling.