Laura Misch Drops Live Album from London's Barbican on September 4

Laura Misch Drops Live Album from London's Barbican on September 4

Composer, songwriter, and saxophonist Laura Misch has confirmed Lithic (Live at the Barbican), a live album recorded at London's Barbican hall during what the release describes as her largest headline performance to date. The album comes out September 4 via One Little Independent Records. A live video for the track "Soften" is out now.

The 12-track record captures a full ensemble performance of her album Lithic, which was originally recorded across caves, quarries, and coastlines. For the live show, Misch and musical director Eliza Oakes brought in Marysia Osu on harp and piano, Kat Newlon on cello, Tim Gardner on violin, and Matt Davies on drums. The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Oli Barton Wood.

Rather than recreating the studio record note for note, the live performance leaned away from electronics and toward acoustic and handmade instrumentation. Water drips into microphones. An ocean drum conjures waves. A 180-year-old lithophone and a handmade goatskin drum anchor the sound.

"We were trying to be inspired by nature, rather than relying on the electronics, pulling it into something human," Misch says. "The voice is really raw. With the live album, I feel like you can feel the presence of the musicians at all times. It's very human, even though it's inspired by the elements."

She also described the conceptual approach to the venue: "We really thought about the Barbican like it was this kind of cave. It became about all coming together."

BBC Radio 6's Cerys Matthews called "Soften" "might just be my favourite 4 mins of music of 2026."

All songs were written and composed by Misch, except "Jealousea," co-written with Alfa Mist. Production credits go to Misch and Matt Karmil.

For independent artists, the release is a useful case study in how a live recording can function as its own distinct project rather than just a souvenir of a show. The intentional shift in instrumentation and the venue-as-concept approach gave Misch a clear artistic reason to release the live version separately.

A European tour runs September through November, hitting festivals and venues across Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal.

Select tour dates:, Sep 10: Aarhus, Denmark, Alter Festival, Oct 2: Berlin, Germany, Heimathafen, Oct 4: Amsterdam, Netherlands, Concertgebouw, Oct 8: Zurich, Switzerland, Kirche Neumünster, Nov 29: Lisbon, Portugal, Cultural Centre do Belem

Lithic (Live at the Barbican) is out September 4 on One Little Independent Records.