Flora Hibberd

Swirl is Flora Hibberd’s new album, out on 17 January 2025 on 22Twenty

Like a textile artist, Flora Hibberd weaves layers of meaning into her music. Swirl, the debut album from the British songwriter based in Paris, is a cycle of songs about codes and decoding. Drawing upon her professional experience as a translator of art history texts, Hibberd searches for slippages, where French and English words rub up against each other in uncanny ways. Strange poetry appears in these moments, giving rare glimpses at life’s hidden threads, and illuminating our understanding.

“Sometimes I write songs by looking for moments where words jar and don’t seem natural,” says Hibberd. “My work as a translator is relevant to my lyrics, because it provides a framework of how languages, symbols, and meanings can change. There are loads of metaphors in my songs because music itself is a language, every instrument is a language, and it goes down in layers from there.”

"The best indie folk surprise since New Zealand's Aldous Harding”. Le Monde

“On her album Swirl, the songwriter explores themes of memory, communication and its ruptures, skillfully distilling a mysterious folk language nourished by art-rock, country sounds, shimmering synths or pedal steel motifs.”   Radio France

"In the great family of folk, there are many who thrive on rough, ragged ambiances, as if refining their sound might expose them to blasphemy. Flora Hibberd, on the other hand, deploys all her dexterity to fashion sophisticated pieces that, even in their destitution (Baby), shine with dignity.” Les Inrocks

“Flora Hibberd's deep, beautiful voice has an immediate appeal. It's in the capital that she weaves her refined songs with folk, pop and a touch of country, in the manner of fellow artists Aldous Harding or Adrienne Lenker of Big Thief.”  France Inter