Stomp Box Choir - Slow Burning Memory

Slow Burning Memory – Stomp Box Choir

Stomp Box Choir, a UK based collection consisting of longtime friends and collaborators Howsie and Joe Stratton, released their latest single “Slow Burning Memory.” It’s a late-night electronic track that features a range of emotion with a catchy and hypnotic production. From the start, “Slow Burning Memory” features this relaxed pace that was built around looping beats, light piano, and layered synths. It takes the best of electronic, chill-hop, and indie pop, while becoming a unique mix that also sounds slightly nostalgic.

Through each part of “Slow Burning Memory,” the lyrics tell a story of emotion. They focus on yearning, memory, and seeking connection. And while they are thoughtful, they can be hard to fully make out at times due to the way they blend into the production. The appears intentional as it adds to the track’s hazy 90s sound. Lines like “all that I give you could never be good enough” and “so don’t think I’ll ever give up” add to the vibe of persistence. Another standout line, “in crowded rooms, a collage of people we once knew,” uses storytelling to share simple picture of looking back on perhaps those shared experiences. And the repeated idea of “now you’re here by my side” brings the focus back to the present.

Vocally, Burcu Bahar Aydın delivers a clear performance that is a perfect contrast with the song's more blurred instrumental. Her voice is not pushed to the front, but has a natural distriction with its range and perfectly clean vocals.This gives the song more of that classic dreamlike quality, easily drawing contrasts to the style heard in artists like Thom Yorke’s solo work or electronic acts like Maribou State and Bicep. Furthermore, the beat remains consistent, while small details in the production create variation over time. Thus, the overall sound of “Slow Burning Memory” is calm but engaging, making it the absolute perfect track for late-night listening.

In conclusion, “Slow Burning Memory” is an easy addition to modern electronic and chill playlists. It is not a dramatic track, but it still creates a clear mood through subtle changes, smooth vocals, and just the right amount of fun, yet reflective lyrics. To learn more about the song, read our interview below.

INTERVIEW 

First, can you take us behind the inspiration for the song?
“Slow Burning Memory” came from more of a feeling than a fixed narrative. We were drawn to the idea of something lingering under the surface - emotions or memories that don’t arrive all at once, but gradually build and stay with you. That sense of slow movement and subtle intensity really informed everything, from the rhythm and textures through to the vocal delivery. It’s quite reflective in that way, more about atmosphere than being overly direct.

And now tell us about the day you wrote it? How did the song come about?
It came together quite naturally. Howsie had been working on a drum pattern and bass idea that felt quite hypnotic, almost like it was looping back on itself. That created a strong mood straight away, and once that foundation was there, the melody and vocal ideas followed pretty quickly. It was actually one of the earliest tracks we wrote for the project, which is interesting because it ended up setting a bit of a tone for everything that followed.

Did you have an ah-ha moment when writing where it all clicked?
Not in a single, obvious way. It was more of a gradual process where things started to feel right as we built around the core idea. Once the groove and atmosphere were in place, the rest came quite instinctively. It wasn’t about chasing a big moment - more that the track slowly revealed itself as we spent time with it.

When it comes to the production - what did that look like? Where did you produce and did any aspects of the song change when in the studio?
The production happened across two main environments - a home setup in Finsbury Park and a studio space in Notting Hill. Having that mix was really important. At home, there’s no pressure, so ideas can develop naturally and you can experiment quite freely. In the studio, there’s more of a sense of intent and focus, like you’re there to shape something properly. The track definitely evolved over time, even though the core idea was there early on, we kept coming back to it, swapping out sounds, refining textures and making small changes that gradually added up to the final version.

Now can you tell us how your background has inspired your music? And in what ways?
We both come from an indie rock background, having been in a band together before this. Even then, we were both writing, so that side of things has always been central to what we do. When the band ended, we carried on making music separately for a while, but this project gave us the chance to reconnect and explore things more freely. It’s allowed us to lean into electronic production while still holding onto that songwriting sensibility - melody, structure and lyrics still matter a lot to us.

What artists as an artist yourself are you most inspired by and why?
We take inspiration from a pretty broad range of artists - people like Thom Yorke, Hot Chip, Bicep and Maribou State. What ties them together for us is that they all manage to combine strong songwriting with electronic elements in their own way. It’s not so much about trying to emulate any one of them, but more that their approach resonates with how we think about music. A lot of the time we only notice those influences after the fact, rather than going in with anything specific in mind.

How has your music evolved over the years?
It’s definitely become more open and less tied to a particular genre. In a band setting, there are often clearer expectations or boundaries, whereas with this project we’ve been able to explore different directions without overthinking it. Over time that’s led to a sound that’s a bit harder to categorise, but probably feels more honest to us as a reflection of everything we listen to.

What aspect of your music - including your latest release - are you most proud of?
One thing we’re really happy with is the sense of space and restraint in the music. We like letting tracks breathe and build naturally, rather than trying to fill every moment. That approach seems to give the songs a more cinematic feel, which people have mentioned, even though it wasn’t something we consciously set out to achieve. It’s more a result of trusting the mood and not overworking things.

And how do you think this release fits into what you plan to release in the future in terms of theme and sound?
It’s very much part of a wider body of work. A lot of these songs were written around the same period, so there’s a shared identity running through them in terms of tone and atmosphere. We’re releasing a series of singles first, which will likely lead into a couple of EPs and then eventually an album. So this track is one chapter in something that’s unfolding gradually rather than a standalone moment.

Are there any crazy goals you have for the year ahead we should be looking forward to?
The main focus is on building momentum - releasing music consistently and letting the project grow in a natural way. Beyond that, we’ve talked about creating a live experience that feels bigger than just the two of us playing tracks. Ideally it would involve collaborators, live elements and visuals, something more immersive that people can step into rather than just watch. That’s probably the longer-term ambition, but it’s something we’re definitely working towards.