Rose&Cloud

Mutual Inspirationists

Rose&Cloud exist, as so many things do, on slender thread of coincidence. A chance meeting in 2018 brought Staffordshire Poet Laureate Emily Rose Galvin to Stoke's Honey Box Live programme in January 2019, where she was then introduced to musician & songwriter John MacLeod, and the two hit it off. A few weeks later, when Emily was asked to perform some of her poetry for the March edition, she reached out to John and asked him if he would be interested in arranging some music to accompany her work. Never one to turn down a challenge, John said yes.

In a short space of time, they discovered that working together was not only enormous fun, but also created a unique emotional synergy. Emily's thoughtful, heartfelt poetry combined with John's sympathetic guitar arrangements was something that, they felt, was too good to just be a one-off, and so formed Rose&Cloud to see where things would go if they carried on.

Throughout 2019, Emily & John have home-recorded material, released their debut EP recorded at Tremolo Recording Studio, made radio appearances, and performed in venues and at events around Staffordshire & beyond, and have had a great time doing it.

In 2020, amid the chaos of lockdown and uncertain times, they have remotely recorded a new collection of pieces in the form of an EP entitled #40, and also a Christmas recording entitled ‘The Night Before’.

“It’s Only Thursday delivers a beautiful taste of things to come from Rose & Cloud, I’m sure of it. Galvin’s words are heartfelt but they’re given a new dimension by MacLeod who lifts them up a notch in terms of their auditory delivery, with both poetry and instrumentals proving a joy to listen to – individually, of course, but when put together they make for something special.”

— Dr Charley Barnes, Mad Hatter Reviews for 'It's Only Thursday'

“ Love, loss and these strange days of isolation come and go over the fairly short running time, but i found it a revelation. so personal yet so universal. so put your dancing shoes away for 15 minutes and stop to absorb Rose&Cloud.”

— Kieran, Kola Music review for #40

“Melding music and traditional spoken-word can be a tricksy business. but Staffordshire’s own Rose&Cloud must be privy to the alchemy. Their 5-track EP, It’s Only Thursday, is the most superlative example of a spoken-word release I have encountered. John MacLeod’s Marr-esque walls of chiming guitar elevate and illuminate Emily Galvin’s sweet, melancholic, intangible poetry. It also takes the prize for longest stint in my car stereo this year.”

— Ichabod Wolf, running down his favourite 2019 releases on his Facebook page.

“Emily Rose Galvin’s complex, restrained poems are delivered with real skill and clarity of purpose. They are full of beautiful, memorable images that drew us in, and are complemented by haunting guitar work. Her poem ‘For You, My Lady Greensleeves’ was particularly affecting - a response to lockdown that feels fresh and timeless at the same time.”

— Culture Recordings, showcasing the New Voice In Poetry 2020 Prize shortlist