The memories that shape us rarely arrive in a straight line. They surface through places and fleeting moments that reconnect us with versions of ourselves we thought had been left behind. On Mirror To Mine, her second album, Austel embraces that process, transforming reflection into the foundation of a record that explores belonging, memory, and the experiences that continue to echo long after they first occur.
Written, produced, and released independently by the Devon-born artist, the ten-track record looks closely at the lasting impact of childhood and the ways early experiences continue to inform adult life. Anchored in nylon-string guitar and delicate field recordings, the songs unfold with warmth and intimacy, creating an atmosphere that feels deeply personal without losing sight of the listener. Mixed by Grace Banks, whose credits include English Teacher, Squid, and HAIM, the project signals a significant step forward in Austel’s artistic journey.
The album’s focus track, Coast To Coast, serves as its closing chapter. Written shortly after meeting her long-term partner, the song reflects on the years that followed Austel’s decision to leave Devon and pursue music in London. It captures the gradual process of finding stability and a sense of home after a decade of change. “I think I always know which songs will open and close an album, and this song, with all its themes of homecoming and both departure and arrival, felt so right to end the record,” she explains. “Wrapping up this chapter.”
Across Mirror To Mine, Austel revisits long-dormant memories and the emotional landscapes attached to them, tracing connections between the past and the present. “This album grew out of a longing to return to music made before too much external influence, to memories that had long lain dormant, waiting to be untangled and released, to places and sounds interwoven with those moments,” she says.
Following the release of her debut album Dead Sea in 2024, Austel continues to build a catalogue shaped by honesty and careful attention to detail. Just over two months ago, we caught up with her around the release of Hotel Room Window View, the first introduction to the world of Mirror To Mine. Now that the album has arrived, Austel is preparing to take these songs on the road with a ten-date UK tour that begins this Sunday at The Poetry Club in Glasgow before travelling through cities including Leeds, Brighton, Bristol, Swansea, London, and Exeter.
