Laura Misch Unveils Haunting New Single “Shell” Ahead of Second Album Lithic

London-based artist Laura Misch has shared her striking new single “Shell”, offering the latest glimpse into her forthcoming second album Lithic, set for release on 5 June 2026 via One Little Independent Records.

Arriving alongside an evocative new music video, “Shell” marks a bold shift in Misch’s sound — her most folk-leaning work to date. Stripping things back, the track foregrounds voice and acoustic texture, with delicately layered cello from Katt Newlon creating a sparse, intimate atmosphere built on breath, space and resonance.

Written in solitude during a winter spent in Dungeness, “Shell” draws deeply from its surroundings. Set against a stark landscape of shingle, storm and sea, the track becomes an ode to shelter — both physical and emotional — and a meditation on endurance at the edge of elements.

The single forms part of Lithic, a conceptually rich record rooted in geology, deep listening and the elemental forces of nature. Where Misch’s 2023 debut Sample the Sky drifted through airy, ambient textures — later grounded by its acoustic counterpart Sample the Earth — Lithic descends into something more primal. It’s an album shaped by stone, time and transformation, tracing sound back to its origins beneath the surface.

Inspired by thinkers and artists spanning sculpture, eco-acoustics and experimental composition, Misch crafts a record that feels both ancient and immediate. Themes of erosion, ageing and renewal run throughout — balancing grief with moments of quiet euphoria, and inviting listeners to reconnect with something deeper and more instinctive.

Critics are already circling. Early praise describes her work as “almost miraculous” and “elemental”, signalling Lithic as a major step forward for one of the UK’s most quietly innovative voices. Misch will bring the new material to the stage later this year, including a headline London show at the Barbican on 3 July, followed by an extensive European run.

With “Shell”, Laura Misch doesn’t just preview a new album — she opens a doorway into a sonic world shaped by earth, memory and the unseen forces beneath our feet.

“Shell” is out now. Lithic lands 5 June.