Visionary director, photographer and producer, Robert Ascroft unveils a captivating musical odyssey akin to the cinematic allure of Wim Wenders’ “Until The End Of The World” and evoking the ethereal resonance found in 4AD’s This Mortal Coil.

On his debut album, Echo Still Remains, Ascroft draws from a diverse array of talented friends, curating a mesmerizing ensemble of vocal performances from Christopher Owens (Girls), Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps, Gun Club, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds), Tess Parks, Britta Phillips (Luna, Dean & Britta), Ruth Radelet (Chromatics), Guy Blakeslee (The Entrance Band), Ora Cogan and Zumi Rosow (Black Lips).

The album takes on a further rich and dynamic sound with the recording contributions of Grammy Award winning audio engineer Ted Young (Rolling Stones, Kurt Vile, Sonic Youth), the mixing of Larry Crane (Elliott Smith, The Shins, She & Him), additional production by Manny Nieto (Kim Deal, The Breeders) and mastering by Josh Bonati (Mac DeMarco, Wild Nothing, Slowdive).

Echo Still Remains transcends traditional musical boundaries, beckoning listeners into a world crafted from Ascroft’s vivid imagination. Each track unfolds like a technicolor scene in a cinematic narrative, with each melody and lyric evoking a sense of profound introspection and wonder. Accompanied by stylized music videos in Ascroft’s distinct visual world, Echo Still Remains” emerges as a multifaceted work of art, inviting listeners to stir the soul and lose themselves in a world of sound and sensation.

Emerging as a prominent photographer in the 2000s, Ascroft forged his path through collaborations with luminaries of the Oscars, Grammys, Tonys, and Emmys from Cate Blanchett, Ryan Gosling, to The Killers, Mark Ronson and A$AP Rocky. With an innate ability to capture the essence of his subjects through his camera lens, he redefines photography, infusing it with depth, emotion, and narrative. A classically trained guitarist turned music producer, Ascroft weaves intricate melodies and evocative songwriting with cinematic narratives.

The collaborative debut single, “Faded Photograph” featuring Ruth Radelet of Chromatics, offers a ethereal blend of synth-based Dream Pop and introspective lyrics. Ascroft’s directorial vision shines through in the music video, channeling classic Sci-Fi elements to complement the song’s nostalgic charm. Together both sonically and visually, Ascroft and Radelet breathe life into “Faded Photograph,” infusing it with timeless appeal and cinematic splendor.

Ascroft’s following single, “Empty Pages,” features vocals from Zumi Rosow (of Black Lips) and drumming from Derek James. The latter aimed to channel Mo Tucker — a shared favorite of his and Ascroft’s — as a percussionist, and Rosow’s vocal melody soars atop vibrating guitar fuzz straight out of the Lower East Side in the late ‘60s. At once mesmerizing and energetic, the cinematic flair shines through in the music video, which draws from ‘90s Italian Vogue editorials.

On “Where Did You Go” single and video, vocalist and actress Britta Phillips (Luna, Dean & Britta) channels the allure of 1960s Film Noir with the dark and surreal beauty of David Lynch’s Lost Highway in sound and cinema. The track also boasts Ascroft’s ethereal guitar interplay with Roger Brogan’s rhythmic mode drumming to conjure a haunting vintage charm with a whip-smart modern allure.

Echo Still Remains out February 14th 2025 via Hand Drawn Dracula.

“a haunted psychedelic swirl” – STEREOGUM

“timeless appeal and cinematic splendor” – NORTHERN TRANSMISSIONS

“beautifully warm and endearing” – FLEX

“Radelet’s dreampop world” – BROOKLYN VEGAN

“one of the most endearing songs we have heard all year” – FILTER

PRESS PHOTO

PHOTO by Luz Gallardo
view lo-res / download photo

PHOTO by Robert Ascroft
lo-res / hi-res / poster

PHOTO by Robert Ascroft
lo-res / hi-res / poster

PHOTO by Robert Ascroft
lo-res / hi-res / poster

DISCOGRAPHY

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ECHO STILL REMAINS

1. Faded Photograph
(feat Ruth Radelet)

2. Empty Pages
(feat Zumi Rosow)

3. Where Did You Go
(feat Britta Phillips)

4. Should’ve Stayed In Bed
(feat Christopher Owens)

5. Dorian Gray(feat Ora Cogan)
6. Devil Opens The Door
(feat Kid Congo Powers)

7. Weightless
(feat Guy Blakeslee)
8. Vagabond
(feat Tess Parks)
9. No One Loves You
(feat Zumi Rosow)
10. On The Run
(feat Christopher Owens)

HDD119 · RELEASE DATE: February 14, 2025

Music & Lyrics by Robert Ascroft (except “Faded Photograph” lyrics by Ruth Radelet)
Produced & Mixed by Robert Ascroft (except “Devil” & “Vagabond” by Manny Nieto & Robert Ascroft)
Mixed by Robert Ascroft (except “Dorian Gray” & “Weightless” by Larry Crane)
Vocal Engineer (Empty Pages only): Enrique Tena Padilla
Engineer: Ted Young
Mastering: Josh Bonati at Bonati Mastering

Vocals:
Britta Phillips (solo artist, Luna, Dean & Britta)
Christopher Owens (solo artist, Girls)
Guy Blakeslee (solo artist, The Entrance Band)
Kid Congo Powers (The Cramps, Gun Club, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Pink Monkey Birds)
Ora Cogan (solo artist)
Ruth Radelet (solo artist, Chromatics)
Tess Parks (solo artist, Tess Parks & Anton Newcombe)
Zumi Rosow (Black Lips)

Musicians:
Robert Ascroft: guitar, keys, bass, percussion
Roger Brogan: drums (tracks 9, 8, 6, 5, 3)
Derek James: drums (tracks 10, 4, 2, 1)
Kaitlin Wolfberg: violin, viola, cello
Zumi Rosow: saxophone

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ROBERT ASCROFT
EMPTY PAGES (FT. ZUMI ROSOW)

1. Empty Pages (feat. Zumi Rosow)

HDD119 – S2  · RELEASE DATE: August 30, 2024

Music by Robert Ascroft
Vocals: Zumi Rosow
Guitar, keys, bass: Robert Ascroft
Drums, percussion: Derek James
Vocal Engineer : Enrique Tena Padilla
Mixed: Robert Ascroft
Engineer: Ted Young
Mastering: Josh Bonati / Bonati Mastering

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ROBERT ASCROFT
FADED PHOTOGRAPH (FT. RUTH RADELET)

1. Faded Photograph (feat. Ruth Radelet)

HDD119 – S1  · RELEASE DATE: May 31, 2024

Music and lyrics by Robert Ascroft and Ruth Radelet
Produced by Robert Ascroft
Mixed by Robert Ascroft and Josh Bonati
Engineered by Ted Young
Mastered by Josh Bonati
Ruth Radelet : vocals
Robert Ascroft : guitar, keys, bass, percussion
Derek James : drums

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