Salt and Sculpture: The Concept Behind Dead Sea

The title Dead Sea is not just symbolic — it’s conceptual art. Inspired by the dual nature of salt—its ability to sting and heal—Austel explores how pain can become part of a recovery ritual. The album artwork itself features a salt sculpture, a haunting yet delicate piece created by Colombian artist Natalia Giraldo Giraldo, reinforcing the themes of erosion, resilience, and rebirth.

This visual element bridges fine art with sound art, giving the album a multisensory dimension. Austel’s vision becomes immersive: Dead Sea is not just heard — it’s felt, seen, and absorbed.

Connect with austel

Emerging from the UK’s rich alt-pop and indie scene, Austel is the moniker of Annie Rew Shaw — a multi-talented artist, producer, and songwriter crafting immersive sonic landscapes that are as introspective as they are cinematic.

Blending ethereal vocals, electronic minimalism, and the tender honesty of indie-folk, Austel’s music sits somewhere between the expansive worlds of Bon Iver, Cocteau Twins, The National, Eva Cassidy, and Nils Frahm. Her artistic signature? Deep emotional storytelling rooted in raw human experience, layered over ghostly synths and melancholy textures.

From Glastonbury Stages to Sonic Solitude

Before launching her solo career, Austel spent years as a session musician, performing at major UK venues and festivals including Glastonbury. This background gave her a deep understanding of musical collaboration and production, which now informs her solo work.

Her 2018 debut EP Unfold drew acclaim from BBC 6 Music and The Line Of Best Fit, while her 2020 follow-up Cold Love expanded her reach with features from Fresh On The Net, O2 Music, and BBC Introducing. With each release, Austel has refined her voice — not just vocally, but narratively and sonically.

Dead Sea: A Debut Album Seven Years in the Making

In 2024, Austel unveiled her long-awaited debut album, Dead Sea — a dreamlike meditation on loss, healing, and personal transformation. Self-produced and seven years in the making, the album feels like a slow exhale, echoing with themes of grief and recovery, yet ultimately offering space for regeneration and light.

Collaborating with Grammy Award-winning engineer Guy Massey (known for his work with The Beatles and Ed Sheeran), Dead Sea achieves sonic depth and emotional clarity. Each track is a slow burn, designed to linger, shimmer, and swell. It is both delicate and cinematic — a musical reflection of the emotional tides we all endure.

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