Ciel

Crosstown Concerts Presents...

Ciel

Through the new single “Swallowing Your Pride” Brighton-based CIEL announces their debut album called “Call Me Silent” to be released through V2 Records on October 24th. The album release will be followed by an international tour.

Crafting a unique blend of moody indie rock, shoegaze, goth and post-punk/new wave, CIEL weaves together ethereal melodies with a dark, driving energy. Fronted by Dutch-born singer and songwriter Michelle Hindriks, the band evolved into a duo in the studio with the addition of drummer Tim Spencer. CIEL’s sound is both atmospheric and urgent—heavy guitars, pulsing basslines, and driving rhythms providing the backdrop for Hindriks’ haunting yet intimate vocals. Think of a sound that sits somewhere between the hazy allure of Slowdive, the urgency of Wolf Alice, and the brooding cool of The Cure—ethereal yet punchy, nostalgic yet fresh.

Having toured extensively and gained strong support from platforms such as BBC Radio 6 Music (A-list rotation), BBC Radio 1, Clash, and DIY, the band continues to push their sound forward. After two EPs and having toured the EU with Blood Red Shoes, in December 2024, CIEL joined The Jesus and Mary Chain on their full UK tour, further cementing their place as one of Brighton’s most exciting rising acts.

The album announce is accompanied by the new single “Swallowing Your Pride”. Michelle says: “Swallowing Your Pride delves into the emotional struggle of pride, vulnerability, and isolation within a friendship strained by unresolved tension. The song conveys a plea for the other person to let go of their ego, put aside their pride, and be the bigger person, whilst also reflecting the narrator’s own inner conflict as they repeatedly sacrifice their self-respect by being the one to ‘swallow their pride’.”

When Tim and she were writing this track, they both envisioned a recording that felt a bit wonky, with bendy guitars. Their producer, Steven Ansell, ran almost every track through her old Tascam desk—something she recently brought with her from her hometown in The Netherlands to the UK.

Since forming, CIEL has carved out a distinctive space in the UK alternative scene, earning acclaim for their immersive sound and introspective lyricism. Their music explores themes of self-discovery, identity, and human connection, capturing both the melancholy and euphoria of modern life.

Michelle says: “My songwriting tends to be quite introspective. This soothes me as a person, as I am a big over thinker, and analyse situations and why people act the way they act thoroughly.  I think this aspect of me naturally reflects in my lyrics. Some of the songs on the album are super direct and really personal. In the songs I’m often questioning myself: how can you show empathy and be there for someone without having it completely consume yourself?”

The announcement of their 11-track debut full length follows the previously released same titled single which deals with autism. As a kid Michelle got diagnosed with being on the spectrum, but through misconceptions about autism (the cliché of non-communicative boys being obsessed with trains) she never really gave this much thought until she met a lot of autistic women in Brighton. The song is specifically about how one needs the right environment and group dynamic to really be and show yourself – and people who have the patience to give that space. It’s about the feeling of not fitting in, but finally finding a community where you can actually be yourself and flourish.

And so the album covers themes human interaction and finding a balance between looking after someone else and still looking after your own needs – about the journey of finding your own boundaries with this.