The Early Purple is the indie-folk project of Northumbrian musician Matt Saxon, blending Fleet Foxes’ warmth with Midlake’s depth through rich three-part harmonies, finger-picked acoustic guitars, ethereal synths and gently driving percussion. Working closely with producer Will Thorneycroft (The Dawdler and Lovely Assistant), Saxon has earned praise for his evocative, introspective songwriting, with releases described as “lush ghost-folk” and “heartfelt indie-folk” by The Glasshouse and Narc Magazine. Recent highlights include the release of the richly textured single The Greek Key, featuring contributions from Sam Fender, alongside appearances at BBC Proms, a residency at the Glasshouse Summer Studios, and supporting acts such as Flyte, Efterklang, John Francis Flynn and Bernard Butler, cementing his reputation as one of the North East’s most thoughtful and distinctive songwriters.

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