Wood festival headliner takes his down-tempo magic to Latitude

LUKE Sital-Singh describes himself as an “acoustic, melancholy singer-songwriter”. But that’s to seriously underplay an artist gifted with one of the country’s most beautiful voices.

Next month, the London singer-songwriter joins a stellar line-up for Latitude Festival - the three-day circus of music, comedy, literature and other wonderful pursuits at Henham Park, Suffolk.

The slot comes just weeks after his first festival headline slot at our own Wood festival, near Wallingford, and sees him sharign a bill with Blur star Damon Albarn, The Black Keys and two Door Cinema Club.

Other star turns include Editors, Tame Impala and Bombay Bicycle Club.

Luke’s set will see him performing songs from his still untitled debut album, which is due out later this year.

Best known for his 2012 debut Fail For You, Luke has gone on to charm with follow-up EPs Old Flint and Tornados and this year’s single Greatest Lovers. All carry his unmistable down-tempo style but are enlivened by life-affirming lyrics.

“There’s a melancholy to mymusic, but lyrically I try to be hopeful,” he says. “My songs have a clear message - and are written to give myself a bit of advice.

“When I’m trying to write a song that fits my repertoire, I find it hard to do anything upbeat. I don’t want to be chipper or to tell people to ‘cheer up’. That’s not why I listen to music. Music that tries to make people feel happy is annoying. When I write, i am sayiong ‘it’s all right to feel like that’. You’ve got to be true to your emotions.”

* Latitude Festival takes place at Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, from Thursday 17th - Sunday 20th July.

Go to latitudefestival.com for more info and tickets