Stu Rawle is a singer-songwriter hailing from East Anglia (Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk). His unique style of music, self-described as electro-acoustic funky soul, takes influences from Prince, through to the more modern persuasions of J Cole.

In 2013, Stu relocated to Mile End, East London. Following months of gigging in iconic London clubs such as the Troubadour and O2 Academy, cumulating hundreds of gigs, Stu has built a loyal fanbase,. He used the gigs not only to get his music heard, but to sell bedroom-recorded demo CDs to raise money to contribute towards the production his debut EP release. His profile in London was picked up by local TV channel, London Live, as well as local radio stations. BBC Introducing have already tipped their hat to him, and he has sparked up a lot of interest around the UK's capital – 2016 promises to be the year that his music is finally amplified throughout the UK.

Uniquely, many of his songs are written acoustically using a loop pedal, giving his tunes a unique sound and structure. Taking inspiration from his move from a small village in Essex to the fast-paced, aspirational City of London, and using the London scene as a cultural barometer, Stu has refined his sound and his songwriting. Experimenting with styles and meandering through influences, Stu’s EP is the culmination of this experimentation, resulting in 3 diverse tracks.

The title of the EP, Portland Pill, was first born way back in 2012. Carefully considered, the title was inspired by a nostalgic location for Stu – Portland Bill, Dorset, where he spent many of his childhood years. The southern UK coastline is also an area of family heritage – with many of the Rawle ancestry working in the maritime industry as paddle steamer captains. These nautical themes can almost be interpreted in some of the sounds within his tunes.

The title track of the EP, Portland Pill, was first born way back in 2013. BBC Introducing Essex have already broadcasted the track as their pick of the week in February 2016. The song was written around nostalgia and the growing complexities and pressures of young adulthood, particularly for those in London. But also the toxicity of the lifestyle, both literally and metaphorically. The name refers to a metaphorical antidote to this, which has the ability to transport someone to a simpler, more placid lifestyle such as that experienced in childhood. The song has evolved over the past 3 years, but the lyrics have never changed.