first memories are of music. Her family were Jamaican immigrants to Florida, and music became part of community building – a soundtrack to meet-ups, the gel that held friendships together.

Her father was a soundman himself, and she’d hear bass resonating around the house, and throughout the garden. It was simply an ever present in her life.

Lattering drawn to the acoustic guitar as a frame for her songwriting, those early elements remained in her DNA. Out now via Jagjaguwar, excellent new album ‘Follow The Light’ drifts from somnambulist folk aspects to dubby low end, held together by June’s finely honed sense of storytelling.

A remarkable achievement, music clearly runs in her veins – June’s grandfather, Colin Smith, was a distinguished mento man who played banjo and guitar – making ‘Follow The Light’ sound incredibly natural and unified.

CLASH spoke to June McDoom about her Foundation – the albums that truly mattered, and left an impact on how she view music.

My favorite record by Eek-A-Mouse, who is one of my favorite Jamaican artists of all time. I love the quirkiness of his vocals. This is an early dancehall record and it has some of my favorite recorded drums.

– The Jamaican Folk Singers In A Programme Of Jamaican Folk Songs

This record was released in 1971 and my Grandpa is one of the guitarists on the record. It’s a beautiful mix of old Jamaican folk songs, some I grew up hearing my Grandpa play. 

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I found this record while recording my album and it became a big reference record, specifically the song ‘Maria (ave Maria)’. I love how pure this record sounds and the mix of instrumentation with the electric guitar in contrast with more classical instruments like oboe and violin. The vocals are one of my favorite angelic vocals! 

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This is a pretty formative record for me in terms of me finding my love for recording/producing. It was one of the first records I can remember listening to that turned my attention to the sound of the record and the way everything was arranged. Burt Bacharach sets up all the sounds around Dionne in the most special way. All of their work together continues to be a big inspiration for me. 

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At the moment, this is my favorite Cocteau Twins record. I love so many of the melodies and the vocal layering. 

‘Follow The Light’ is out now.