Soulful kitchen sink vignettes scroll through PRESENT NATURE’s debut album previewed with sprightly new single… COLUMBA
Reaching for a high-watermark of British alt-indie songwriting, the Leeds newcomers reveal sunny Bill Ryder-Jones collaboration
Present Nature – Columba
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From the album, Present Nature, released Fri 14 November 2025
https://linktr.ee/presentnature
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The sanctity of the carefully crafted song is preserved by fast-emerging Leeds five-piece, Present Nature, as they release the alluring, balmy sounds of Columba, featuring Bill Ryder-Jones as producer and guest guitarist. Just the second tease of what lies in store on the band’s self-titled album, released on Fri 14 November 2025, the distinctive sounds of classic new wave pop pervade the single’s sense of dour opulence.
Listeners are urged by the band to “think Shelagh Delaney scored by Burt Bacharach” as singer-songwriter, Jonny Woolnough shakes the pockets of classic songwriting bands, such as Aztec Camera, Crowded House and Prefab Sprout, and runs into his own, fertile pastures of observational songwriting with all that he’s found.
As much an exercise in notebook sketches from the front line of modern England as a head-on challenge to create a warm bed of equally soulful, jazz-infused and textures in which his kitchen sink vignettes can lie, Woolnough and Ryder-Jones combined at the latter’s West Kirby YAWN studio. Teasing the swaying, ethereal Man Knows in mid-summer (and picking up support from BBC 6 Music’s Craig Charles), reminiscent of Doves or The National at their retro-soulful best, Present Nature arguably left the best for second and set an even higher bar for what comes next.
Woolnough says of the track: “’Columba’ came half-way through the album sessions and after playing a show with Mick Head and The Red Elastic Band. Our two bands had a lot of cross-pollination at that time and, to me, it’s Marvin Gaye doing Mick Head. It’s a character appropriation offering a lens into a couple’s day-to-day existence. A protagonist veering off the track is reminded of his immaterial fortune. It celebrates life, existence, and endless possibility. Columba is a church on the main road arriving into Headingley, Leeds where the song is set.”
Musically gifted, meticulously rehearsed and globally-attuned to a plethora of sonic possibilities, Present Nature’s debut album and nascent, growing live set is as informed by jukebox soul as it is beach-borne samba, while equal focus falls firmly on lyrical expression. Turning the pages of Virginia Woolf, Max Porter, Roberto Bolano and Alan Sillitoe, each song has purpose and draws around the unusual shapes cast by everyday people and places.
At the same time as releasing Columba, Present Nature confirm the track listing of their debut album, set for release on vinyl and digital formats, as follows:
1. Picaresque
2. Man Knows
3. Spun On A Miracle
4. Columba
5. Bluebird
6. Never Let Me Be
7. There'll Come A Time
8. God Help Me Please
9. A Mother To A Girl
10. These Are The Ways I Pray
Bringing Present Nature together as a group of prodigious, in-demand musicians also performing with the likes of K.O.G, Jasmine Myra and Matthew Halsall, the full band line-up includes Owen Burns (bass), Ben Haskins (lead guitar), Jasper Green (keys) and George Hall (drums).
Having performed their first ever show together at a special, intimate performance at Harrogate’s RedHouse Galleries in July, Present Nature press on to play a further warm-up for future tour dates in Leeds on Sun 28 September 2025. Appearing at Vinyl Whistle, the band welcomes guests, Candie Payne, performing live for the first time in 15 years, and members of Leeds’ Ancient Infinity Orchestra.
For further information on Present Nature, including album pre-orders and current and future live dates announcements, connect with the band online at:
https://www.instagram.com/presentnaturemusic
https://www.facebook.com/presentnaturemusic
