Rowan Flack releases her new three track EP Nap on the Sofa, out today, an intimate yet musically radiant third offering that further cements her place within the UK’s contemporary jazz landscape. Rooted in the fluid traditions of European jazz yet softened by folk intimacy, the project captures an artist who has honed her voice through travel, study and a deep commitment to live collaboration.
Flack’s journey began at the BRIT School before continuing at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. From there, she moved to Bergen to study at the Edvard Grieg Academy, immersing herself in Norwegian folk and jazz. A three-month jazz residency in Xiamen, China, added another layer of perspective, sharpening her sense of space and subtlety — qualities that now define her songwriting.
The EP opens with ‘Make Me Whole’, a tender introduction that seems to spill softly into the room. Flack’s voice floats with featherlight control, carrying both vulnerability and quiet strength. There’s an unhurried quality to the arrangement, allowing each note to settle before the next thought begins.
The title track follows with understated charm. ‘Nap on the Sofa’ unfolds as a calming ode to modern romance, anchored by refined musicianship and an expansive piano solo that blooms at its centre. The band’s interplay feels intuitive, elevating and complementing Flack’s organic vocal tone rather than competing with it.
“It’s inspired by the gentle rhythm of a long-term relationship. It’s playful and a little self-mocking… I love how the band interacts on this project – it feels very conversational in this live setting. I wanted to capture the songs as close to how we play them live.”
That live energy is woven throughout the record. Flack is joined by a cross-regional ensemble: Jack Lecomber on bass, Rob Dimbleby on keys, Andrew McCoubrey on drums and Celeste Cantor-Stephens on trumpet, musicians drawn from London, Bristol and Ireland. Their chemistry gives the EP its warmth — a sense that the songs are breathing in real time.
Closing track ‘Tipsy’ adds a final layer of texture. Blending her signature jazz-folk sensibility with subtle pop undercurrents, Flack explores the duality of Geminis and the familiar spiral of feeling as though everything is going wrong at once. It’s rhythmically supple and emotionally candid, balancing lightness with reflection.
Flack first stepped into the spotlight with her 2019 debut EP New Light Dwelling, which featured original vocalese set to Keith Jarrett’s ‘Belonging’. That project, shaped by mountainous landscapes, a departure from London and the quiet unravelling of a long-term relationship, led to sold-out headline shows in Bergen and marked the beginning of her professional ascent. She later co-wrote her second EP, Forest Fires (2024), earning praise from Jazzwise and Jazz FM, alongside performances at venues including the Pizza Express Jazz Club and House of KOKO.
Alongside performing, Flack contributes to programmes such as Late Junction, Music Planet and Unclassified, reflecting her commitment to championing adventurous music beyond her own releases.
Tonight, she celebrates Nap on the Sofa with a launch show at The Crypt in London.
Listen below:
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