Fathom is the solo project of Nancy Howie, member of folk Trio Tweed.
A piano tuner by trade, Nancy embraced the abundance of time the 2020 lockdown offered by handcrafting bespoke instruments out of whatever materials she could find. Two hurdy gurdies, one lap steel, an abundance of horns / saxophones and a cello made from a fence post and tin can later, Fathom found herself with an entire album of songs defined by a unique soundscape.
"The World to Breathe was intended as a summary of my experience of the pandemic…it morphed into a suite capturing the frenzy and chaos of the world before lockdown, the deafening silence of billions of people having their lives shrunk to fit within the walls of their homes, the anguish of being kept from seeing loved ones, and the mounting malaise at living through a global cataclysm. "
The album unfolded organically as 2020 progressed. “Covid-19 has brought great disruption to all our lives, and with it, a plethora of confusing emotions”. Nancy described the process of writing the album as “noisy journaling”, and that the pandemic provided “plenty of material to unpack”
Following a series of exhibitions and radio interviews, Nancy ran a successful givealittle campaign to fund mixing with Morgan of Depot Sounds. This unique time capsule of the 2020 experience is set for release in the summer of 2022.
“Instrument making with joyful irreverence” - RNZ
“infused with a lo-fi folk charm” - The May Magazine
“"I think the world could do with more people going back to first principles and build instruments from scratch" - Hugh’s Featured Tracks