Single Review and Video Premiere
The Ashen Keys
New Rules / Hold My Bones
DL only ‘double A-side’ single
Out now
Yes, New Rules is a fantastic cover version of the million-selling Dua Lipa song in a ‘chamber-folk’ style.
They say: The Ashen Keys are a multi instrumental, multi voiced celebration of heartfelt storytelling from Kent. Their sound tells of influences from folk, blues, pop, classical and even early music. Expect to be taken on a journey through dark folk tales, bittersweet love stories and reveries on nature, all with exquisite vocal harmonies and unique instrumentation.
LTW’s Ged Babey says: I have covered two of The Ashen Keys work outside this trio before: Vicky Price was the lead vocalist on the …And One Red Mitten project – Chris Broderick & Stuart Turners ‘Feminist Folk Opera’ set in Victorian London and one of the best albums of 2021. Rachel Lowrie is part of South Shore who released The Ballad of Rats Bay very recently too – one of the best singles of the year so far. Hannah Ellerby, on oboe, ukulele, violin completes the trio.
The Ashen Keys play churches and Folk Festivals and are as far removed from the ‘club dancefloor’ (not my domain either) as they are from punk rock (which is.) So, I have to confess, I didn’t think I’d ‘get’ this. I had never knowingly listened to Dua Lipa. I’m not in the target audience. I know she is popular and has had much acclaim and phenomenal sales but was surprised that a folk/classical trio from the Medway had chosen to interpret one of her songs.
I love it though. Restrained and airy, performed straight – without any melodrama or gimmicks or showboating – on accordion, violin and acoustic guitar – with three voices. It’s a classy version. A ‘grown-up’ version.
I asked the group about the track.
Why choose ‘New Rules’ to cover? What do you think you add to the song?
Rachel The song was Vicky’s choice initially… From my point of view I like doing this song because it’s like a ‘girl mates’ song and the feeling of solidarity between the three of us…
Vicky I just happen to like it. I like A minor, it feels comfortable in my voice and I like the slightly off kilter rhythm in the main harmonic instrumental (electronic) bed of the song – so I was playing around with it as a fun twist on a pop song. It’s more that the tonality feels accessible to me and it’s fun to do something poppy when you’re used to playing songs that are much less wordy and usually more deep in meaning, this was something off the cuff to play around with! I also have a very low voice and this was within my range. It’s not really a very considered or serious choice, just something different for us.
Did you see the comments a couple of my friends made when I posted the video? As Dua Fans, they were pretty dismissive, but I did set them straight. (Bobby – I don’t think this cover works at all. It’s like Travis doing the Britney Spears song – it misses the point, has bad flow, and seems painfully “ironic”. and Rob – New Rules is one of the better tunes in that style from recent years: sassy, perky, assertive. This version sounds as though it’s been house-trained for grown-ups…)
Rachel Releasing a cover… totally get it’s not for everyone… we really enjoy playing it… a lot of our songs are quite reflective and this just felt like it worked. I love Hannah’s and Vicky’s instrumental break… feels like good energy when we play it.
Vicky As for the opinions of others, I’m happy for people to think or feel anything they like about our cover -we are all free to decide what we think! I enjoy playing it with the band – I love Rachel’s voice and Hannah’s violin solo and harmonies. So I am one happy and lucky musician
I hope people listen to Hold My Bones, which is the original song as part of the double single. Rachel wrote this about a very personal, in my opinion beautiful journey of self discovery and connection with nature. I am very proud to be a part of recording this song with her and Hannah.
Hold My Bones is utterly fantastic as well and highlights the three-way kinship, both musical and personal in the beautifully shot video thanks to videographer Erim Ahmet. It’s a song which just sounds better and better the more you hear it.
The Ashen Keys are not, as money-obsessed cynics might think, aiming for attention, sales and fame and fortune, by covering a Dua Lipa hit.. They are a beautiful anomaly – part of the Medway Music Scene, Billy Childish, The Singing Loins et al – who but take their own path: writing songs with heart, delicate musicality and depth. But also just for fun.
Chatham Girls write their own rules.
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All words Ged Babey
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