Katie Schottland returns as Swimming Bell with Somnia, a five-track EP that feels like a lucid dream just out of reach. Produced by indie-folk heavyweight Rob Schnapf (Elliott Smith, Kurt Vile, Cat Power), the record floats in a delicate balance between grounded percussion and ethereal melodies. Set for release May 16 via Perpetual Doom, Somnia is a graceful, immersive listen that invites the listener to drift rather than grip.
Now based in Los Angeles, Schottland wrote Somnia as a form of escape—from the weight of modern life, from the noise, from the endless scroll. And it works. The EP opens a portal to something softer and suspended, where nothing feels urgent, and yet every detail is intentional. Schnapf’s production steers the project into richer, more textured territory, layering organic percussion under swirling harmonies and ambient swells. It’s a notable shift from Swimming Bell’s earlier, more stripped-down sound—and it suits her well.
Each song on Somnia unfolds like a slow exhale. The arrangements are patient and spacious, yet never meandering. Schottland’s vocals—calm, clear, and often echoing just slightly out of reach—act like a lighthouse in the fog. There’s a quiet confidence in her restraint, a willingness to let the songs breathe without rushing to resolution.
Somnia doesn’t beg for attention—it invites you to surrender to it. It’s music for early mornings and late nights, for when you’re not sure if you’re waking up or falling asleep. A subtle triumph, it cements Swimming Bell as one of indie-folk’s most transportive voices.