Sheila Rafferty
​Soaring On

Leeds-based composer Sheila Rafferty recently released her latest single, Soaring On. The track sees Sheila on synths, joined by her husband Ian Rafferty on congas and percussion. Sheila and Ian worked together, creating a sound that is not just minimal and immersive but also rooted in the natural environment in which it was recorded.

The single was captured on location in the North Yorkshire Moors, near the Raffertys’ holiday home.They didn't rely on studio production to create the single, instead they opted for a more simplistic setup and recorded directly into GarageBand with the landscape helping to guide the sound. The result is a warm, open soundscape where layered synth lines meet restrained conga rhythms, creating a steady, atmospheric track.

Soaring On is unique in that it wasn’t influenced by other artists or trends. The combination of Sheila’s synth work and Ian’s percussion gives the track a sense of balance with no individual element dominating, everything has it's own space. The single is designed to draw the listener in and hold them there and that is something that Sheila has certainly managed to achieve.

No live performances are currently planned, with the Raffertys focusing on the release itself. Sheila summarises the work by focussing on it's authentic sound “Soaring On draws the listener into a warm immersive soundscape.” For fans of ambient music and nature-inspired compositions, the track promises a quiet, reflective listen grounded in a real place.