Three years in the making, this new collection of songs playfully intertwines the theatrical energy of art-rock with orchestral, folk, jazz, retro pop, electronic and ambient influences. The result is a lavish cornucopia of sounds led by driving beats, layered guitars and powerful vocals, with lyrical themes ranging from love to loneliness, gratitude to greed and desire to death.
In stark contrast with the duo’s debut Sunrooms (an intimate and ethereal affair, recorded as a two-piece in isolation), Honeymoons ushers in an eclectic troupe of creative collaborators, including multi-instrumentalist Charlotte Glasson (Nick Cave, Graham Coxon…), double bassist Tom Bailey (Buffo’s Wake, Nine Dead Mice…), harpist Fíor Anderson (Sekinue, Ultimate Tigerfrog…), cellist Robin Squirrell (Night House, Bee & Jackrabbit…) and classically-trained clarinettist, Emily Lamb. On stage, the band is joined by drummer Jeremy Noble (Lunatic Calm) and bassist Dom Hall (Code South).
Lead singer and songwriter Cess Greenness explains: “I think of this record as the final episode of a trilogy that started with Florilège – a compilation of our earliest recordings – and continued with Sunrooms, which explored ideas of growth, unfolding and blossoming. Honeymoons incarnates the next natural stage, the harvest season, so it is full of ripe fruit imagery and symbolism around temptation, abundance and decadence… we’re bringing all the drama with this one!”
The 12 songs of Honeymoons were written, arranged, recorded and produced by Greenness in their home studio, including singles Hilltop, Meltdown and Psychopomps. “This hands-on approach allows us to enjoy complete creative freedom”, says Graham Greenness, who mixed and mastered the record as well as playing most instrumental parts, including guitars, electric bass, mandolin, synth, organ, flute, piano and percussion. “It’s a DIY mindset that also extends to the visual narrative of our work, such as the music videos, which we co-directed and edited. It’s been amazing to craft this project together and see our vision flourish!”
When asked about the meaning behind Honeymoons, the couple ponders:
“Well, we’ve been together for over a decade, and what we’ve come to realise is that ‘the honeymoon phase’ isn’t really a one-off thing. You can have so many adventures and experiences across the years that will ignite your fire again and again, not just in a romantic sense but also within your art, your creativity… and this crazy feeling keeps coming back. It’s about the excitement of holding something new, special and beautiful… and how each and every time, you find yourself overwhelmed, in equal measure, by the joy of having it and the fear of losing it.”
Honeymoons will be released digitally across all streaming platforms + on limited edition CDs, vinyl and digital download via Bandcamp – https://greenness.bandcamp.com/album/honeymoons
Also on all streaming services – https://emubands.ffm.to/honeymoons
Where are you based?
Brighton, UK
How long have you been making music?
As Greenness, we started playing live and releasing songs around 2014-2015
What genre would you consider your music to be?
Art-rock-indie-chamber-pop-shoegaze-folk-acoustic-electronica…!
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
We were both drawn to music from a young age and started playing in bands in our teens and 20s. It came from a deep desire to create interesting sounds, express ourselves and have fun!
What are your biggest musical influences?
Björk, Radiohead, The Beatles, Angel Olsen…
Are you signed to a label or are you an independent artist?
We are DIY and self-release all our music on our own record label, One Fern Records
What have been the biggest challenges in your music career?
Being entirely independent and self-funded is a huge challenge, as it’s very hard to break through without a team and financial support. But on the plus side, we have full creative freedom!
How many songs or albums have you released to date?
As of 14 November 2025, we will have released 2 albums and 2 EPs – 30 original songs in total…
Can you tell us a few things about your latest release?
Our latest release, Honeymoons, is an album blending rock and orchestral arrangements with experimental textures, poetic lyrics and a vocal style merging elements of folk, pop, prog, jazz, spoken word and French chanson. It’s very unique! We’re super proud of it
Any plans for new music or upcoming projects we should know about?
Honeymoons will be out on 14 November and we will be performing it at the Alphabet venue in Brighton on 28 November with a very big band – drums, bass, guitar, keys, double bass, cello, harp, violin, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone and vocals! Plus a choir supporting. It’s gonna sound huge, we can’t wait!
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