It’s been two years since SHELLS’ last appearance here at TMR with single ‘Jagwar’ – not that she had rescinded into silence during that time, as the British singer-songwriter released several atmospheric pop songs. However, her latest piece of balladry easily makes the List Pick cut. ‘Mexico’ is classic: grand piano moments; soaring vocals; orchestral strings; tonnes of reverberation; purposeful pauses. This track really does show how refined SHELLS is. Not only is the end result masterful, but the process behind ‘Mexico’ reveals a poet’s mind. Here SHELLS pieces together the moments that made this new song: “I was reading the book ‘Women Who Run With The Wolves’ the day writer/producer James Earp and I wrote Mexico. I had just read the chapter about ‘La Loba’, a wild, wolf-woman who practiced magic in the deserts and mountains of Northern Mexico. The previous week, writer/producer Paul O’Duffy had shown me a backstage video of Stevie Nicks singing ‘Wild Heart’ whilst having her make-up done, “don’t blame it on me, blame it on my wild heart” she sang. ‘Mexico’ was inspired by La Loba, Stevie Nicks, and fundamentally, the hearts desire to love freely, and to be liberated.” And so, we’re off to the bookshop to buy a copy of Women Who Run With The Wolves, to read along with SHELLS. - Hannah Thacker