This Is The Deep

This Is The Deep is the brain child of visual artist and musician, Ranny Macdonald who formed the project to explore the space between music and visual art. Their performances combine orchestral folk,  art pop, and garage rock, with immersive giant painted sets, animations, and theatrical storytelling.  Hailing from across the UK, Brazil, and Japan, The line up of up to 10 musicians consists of a range of musical backgrounds from members of Glasgow/London's Jazz scene: Mashu Harada and Angus Macdonald (Aristugi) on guitar and keys and Rachel Kitchlew on harp, to classical/folk violinist Clementine Brown (Penguine Cafe) and featuring Psyche/Disco rhythm section Joao Gratzi and Rudy Melon (Particls) with Alex Sharples on Trumpet. Strong personal relationships are woven into the group not only through their decades long friendships but you are also likely to find at least two, possibly three, of  Ranny's siblings joining them, Alice Macdonald on vocals, and poet, and twin brother of aforementioned Angus: Hector Macdonald, on guitar. 

Their debut release, The Best Is Yet To Come (Part 1), arrived in 2021 to critical acclaim. Blending elements of 60s pop, experimental rock, and narrative songwriting, it drew comparisons to the likes of Scott Walker, to Suicide and the Scissor Sisters  while incorporating lyrical themes such as surveillance, simulated reality, and digital detachment. Tracks were brought to life by a tightly assembled eight-piece lineup, including a dual-drummer rhythm section (Oscar Robertson - Sholto, Confidence Man and Liam Toon - Bar Italia).

Their forthcoming album, Sad Dreams, is a concept album 6 years in the making which has massively expanded the scope and depth of the group's vision. Assembled as a gapless record, it follows the subconscious journey of Dick Herman, an employee of fictional social media corporation, 'Telepix' who falls asleep at their desk. Propelled by the search for his lost mother-we traverse layers of his dreams, starting on the shore and with each dream, descend deeper into the sea and into his mind. Self produced with additional production by Patrick Fitzroy (Katy J Pearson, PVA, Broadside Hacks, Sorry), the album moves between orchestral folk, garage rock, Broque- pop and more abstract electronic textures. Referencing the lush density of Smile-era Beach Boys, and Leonard Cohen's Death of a Ladies' Man, and the layered atmospheres of Grizzly Bear. This Is The Deep operates across disciplines, but remains rooted in songcraft, collaboration, and a distinct visual identity-creating a body of work that is at once expansive, cohesive, and quietly subversive.