Austel releases Hotel Room Window View today, a new alt-folk single that arrives just days before she performs at The Harrison in London this Friday, March 20. The track also comes with the announcement of her upcoming second album, Mirror To Mine, set for release in June. Soft, nostalgic and quietly expansive, the song offers a glimpse into the direction Annie Rew Shaw is exploring as she moves into the next phase of the Austel project.
Built around a restrained vocal and a spacious arrangement, Hotel Room Window View unfolds with a calm, patient atmosphere. The song moves through moments of reflection and memory, from late-night conversations to the image of a train pulling in over the sea, all observed from the quiet perspective of a hotel room. Subtle instrumental layers, including cello, saxophone and soft percussion, add depth without breaking the song’s delicate mood.
When announcing the single earlier this week, Shaw described it as “a song about intangible dreams, loss of innocence, the soft ache of nostalgia and reflection.” That idea sits at the centre of the track, which balances fragility and warmth while allowing the story to reveal itself through small details and understated melodies.
The single also hints at a subtle shift in Austel’s sound. Her debut album, Dead Sea, introduced listeners to delicate, piano-led songs shaped by themes of loss and recovery. On Hotel Room Window View, Shaw keeps that emotional sensitivity while opening the space around her songwriting, letting the atmosphere and small details carry the feeling of the track.
This Friday’s show at The Harrison will offer one of the first chances to hear this new material live, and you can get your tickets through the following link.