Written In Waters begins as a project between Cannon and Felman, making eerie, operatic electronica before the rest of the band joins after Beth starts at BIMM. The group develops a sound built from the different strengths of its members and moves across post-rock, electronica, metal, jazz, dub, soul and film-noir influences.

Style and sound

The band’s music is shaped by Stewart’s drums, which use complex patterns and changing time signatures and draw on his background in technical thrash. Jenner adds bass playing influenced by jazz fusion and Radiohead. Felman and McKenzie layer guitar parts, with McKenzie’s sound linked to Explosions in the Sky and Felman’s writing drawing on his experience in soundtrack work, as well as on Sigur Rós and composers such as Hans Zimmer and Joe Hisaishi.

Vocals and lyrics

Cannon sings at the front of the tracks, using an opera background and a voice described as wide-ranging and capable of heavy dynamic shifts. Her approach is compared with Jeff Buckley and Björk. The band’s lyrics are direct and confrontational, and Cannon gives the music an emotional, pleading quality.

Recording and influences

The track “Hymn” combines ethereal post-rock with soul music. Across its material, the band adapts a wide range of styles into its own compositions rather than staying within one genre.