Dilettante

Dilettante is a UK art-rock collective led by Francesca Pidgeon. The group works with indie pop and harmony-led songwriting, and its music is associated with a broad set of influences that range across folk, rock and experimental styles.

Style and influences

The project combines electric guitar riffs with folk sensibilities, alongside songs that mix bitterness and hopefulness. Its sound is linked to artists and groups including Ani diFranco, Bright Eyes, Iron and Wine, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Pink Floyd, The Doors, Nirvana, Mogwai, Sigur Rós, Beth Orton, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Velvet Underground, Radiohead, The Shins, Belle and Sebastian and many others.

Instrumentation and approach

Ernst Hayim is described as the principal songwriter and musician behind the project’s music-making, and the recording setup includes a Squier'51 electric guitar through a Digitech RP150 effects pedal, MXL 992 and Behringer XM8500 microphones, a Piedmont Blues harmonica, TubeMP preamp, Vinci acoustic guitar, Acid Pro, SoundForge and samples from Sampleswap.org.

Songwriting character

The writing is built around vivid characters, often presented as damaged figures. The project’s songs are described in terms of stark contrasts, bringing together cynicism and optimism within the same material.