Indie-folk band The Staves have released their fourth album, All Now, with a new lineup. The band has slimmed down from a trio to a duo, with Emily Staveley-Taylor taking a break to raise her children. Founding band members Jessica and Camilla Staveley-Taylor continue to lead the band and have reconfigured their songs for two voices. The band asked their touring band to fill in the gaps.
The album features a touching tribute to Emily called After School, which is a rollicking, Beatleophile song. The band initially raised questions about their future without Emily given their intricate, three-part harmonies. However, instead of allowing someone to replace Emily, they tested the approach to create a fluid entity that changes as necessary. Having successfully tried the approach on tour, they became confident it would work in the studio too.
All Now emerged from a turbulent period. Camilla had a physical and mental health reckoning, dealing with chronic pain and endometriosis operations. Moreover, she had writer’s block and felt suffocated by the pressure to feel empowered. They abandoned their cosy Hackney studio for the Peak District, locked themselves in separate rooms to write, and worked with John Congleton, their Grammy Award-winning producer. He insisted
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