Society of Imaginary Friends is a folk act formed in 2008 by Louise Kleboe and Alfie Thomas, with violinist Cara Vella completing the line-up. The project takes its name from Kleboe’s childhood experiences. It is associated with Scottish folk and singer-songwriter music, and Kleboe’s background in Orkney shapes its sound and identity.

Background

Louise Kleboe, who comes from the Orkney Isles in Scotland, starts writing songs at the age of 10 and is first showcased at the Orkney Folk Festival. She performs as a singer and multi-instrumentalist, and her voice is described through comparisons with Lisa Gerrard, Kate Bush and early Scott Walker, while also being treated as distinct in its own right. Her singing career includes appearances at the Isle of Wight Bestival, Eden Project sessions and the Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Line-up and collaborators

Alfie Thomas is an award-winning film composer and accordionist known for work with the band Band of Holy Joy. His film credits include a Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival in 2004 and a BIFA for McLibel in 2005. He hears Kleboe sing in a Gothic church lit by candles and pursues a collaboration, leading to the formation of Society of Imaginary Friends. Cara Vella, a violinist from The Peoples Friend, joins the group in 2008.