The Raft Is Not The Shore

Terrible Sons is the indie folk duo of Lauren (LA Mitchell, Fly My Pretties) and Matt Barus (Dukes).

Terrible Sons have quietly and consistently been releasing music online for seven years, with early singles racking up tens of millions of plays.

Their debut album, The Raft Is Not the Shore, was recorded over a couple of years in their backyard home studio, with producer Tom Healy (Tiny Ruins, Marlon Williams) and long term friends and collaborators, including Tom Healey on guitar, Jo Barus (Dave Dobbyn) on bass, Joe McCallum (The Veils) on drums and Cameron Pearce on horns, with strings by London's Urban Soul Orchestra and an impromptu choir from their children's local primary school.

Lauren and Matt are deeply connected to their local community in Ōtautahi Christchurch and the stories in these songs are drawn from their neighbourhood and the bodies of water surrounding them. Lyrically, there's a warm openness and vulnerability that is genuine and unguarded.

Terrible Sons have created a clear minded album of rare honesty, flawed beauty and unmistakable hope.