Birmingham (UK) based independent artist Rebecca Downes announces her eagerly awaited fifth studio album The Space Between Us. Released on 11th November 2022 through her own label Mad Hat Records, the album will be available on CD, Digital Download and all streaming platforms. Previous full-band album More Sinner Than Saint (MSTS) was released in 2019 to widespread acclaim from fans and reviewers alike. Such was the reaction to MSTS the original intention was to follow that album with another in 2020. Sadly, as we all know, Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdown came along, taking live performances and tours out of the 2020 (and as it turned out, much of 2021) equation. New music that could no longer be promoted by touring was therefore delayed in favour of releasing Stripped Back in April of 2021 (the album featured ten well-known songs from the Downes/Birkett repertoire, reimagined and re-presented, together with two previously unreleased tracks). Since then, Rebecca and co-songwriter Steve Birkett have been working towards the release of The Space Between Us. Lead-off single Hold On was released as an appetiser in April of this year. The music on the forthcoming album is raw, passionate, multi-hued blues-rock with a very live feel. Taking its lead from the broader canvas of MSTS, The Space Between Us sees Rebecca stretching and pushing her own artistic boundaries even further, while staying true to her blues/rock roots. The eleven tracks (ten all-new originals from Birkett & Downes, including a choice cover) range from big, bold blues rock to darker, moodier and atmospheric material that allows Rebecca to deliver her at times very personal lyrics with vocal conviction. The one cover is a melodically blues rockin’ rendition of Free’s A Little Bit of Love. This song will also be released as a single on Friday 7th October. The album was programmed, recorded, produced and engineered by Steve Birkett with assistance from Steve Birkett Jnr. Mixing and mastering was by Gavin Monaghan of Magic Garden Studio in Wolverhampton, whose extensive track record includes working with Editors, Scott Matthews, Robert Plant and Paolo Nutini. Once again, Rebecca’s signature vocal style is to the fore and Steve’s multi-instrumental talents are on display throughout the album, along with important contributions from the gigging band – Neil Ablard (drums), Nigel Darvill (Keys) and Vince Yarrington (Bass). The collective result is an album that should be played as loud as possible to enjoy the liberating live feel of the tracks. And whilst most of the recording was done in separate sessions, the band got together in the studio to live record Rattle My Cage. Of the album and its creation Rebecca says: “Steve and I write all the time and we haven’t really stopped during the hiatus created by the pandemic, although the circumstances saw the release of this album pushed back by some 18 months. That has, though, given us the chance to play some of the music live, and we have been amazed and humbled by the reaction we’ve had. I worked with Gavin Monaghan a few years’ ago and it is great to have him mix these tracks, adding his own unique influence. We have been privileged to work with some amazing people on the journey we have taken and each one has left a mark on us as we have grown and developed as songwriters. Our writing is not constrained by definitions of genre. Having created the unique sound of More Sinner Than Saint we decided that we wanted the tracks on this album to sound just like they do when they are played live as a celebration of the return of live music after the lockdowns.” Steve Birkett continues: “The desire to stamp our own imprint on the recording has led us to do far more work ‘in house’ than we did in the early days, and working this way is both challenging and rewarding. It also frees up the resources to bring in a fresh perspective at the mixing stage, as we have done this time with Gavin, and working with him was an amazing experience. The album represents another significant step in our musical journey, and to deliver the essence of the tracks we wanted a really live feel to the final mixes, which Gavin has delivered superbly.” Rebecca will be playing the music of the album at the following venues in the coming months as The Space Between Us Tour: Hartlepool Steelies – Hallelujah Festival 2 – 13 Nov 2022 Dudley – Lamp Tavern Live – 18 Nov 2022 Troon – Winterstorm – 26 Nov 2022 Looe – Blues, Rhythm and Rock – 4 Dec 2022 Skegness – Rock & Blues Festival – 13 Jan 2023 Darlington – The Forum – 17 Feb 2023 Kinross – Backstage at The Green – 18 Feb 2023