Sometimes, all that’s required is a piano and a bloody good voice. Don’t even bother with your synthesisers, your plinky-plonky instruments of aural torture – keep it simple, right? CN Lester keeps it both simple and right.
Starting with the piano from the age of six and vocal coaching at thirteen, CN has had plenty of time to lay the groundwork for an accomplished sound that can resonate in different styles and genre. With a Bachelor of Music from King’s College London and an MMus from Goldsmiths, it’s fair to say that – if we’re looking at credentials – they’ve got a gift worth sharing.
Then again, you could learn about music, practising for decades without being any better than when you started (looking at you Hasselhoff). Fortunately, songs like ‘Playback’ and ‘Shiver’ are breathtaking in their minimalist ways, with a beauty that often goes unnoticed.
CN has already released an E.P. entitled ‘Resurrection Men’ (available on iTunes) and is just about to release their first full-length player, ‘Ashes’, in the coming weeks, which sounds like it could become an underground hit.
So it’s time to make a stand: take this music and tell everyone you know, maybe alert a couple of strangers as you walk to work. Do your bit and make the good music heard!
Words by James Brightman
Can’t wait to hear Ashes – Cn has the most beautiful and haunting voice!