The seeds of ‘sunburn’: How an inhaler and a car battery fuel leeds’ most haunting new duo

There is a rare, devastating kind of beauty that occasionally emerges from the local music scene, the kind that catches you entirely off guard and leaves an entire room in collective, breathless silence. I experienced this firsthand after being invited to the Chapel FM Arts Centre in Seacroft, East Leeds, for the debut performance of Leeds-based duo, ILK, on Saturday 27th June.   

By the end of their set, there was barely a dry eye in the house. Their haunting, deeply emotional songs did not just entertain the audience; they dismantled them, reducing many in attendance to tears.  

To understand the raw emotional weight behind ilk – comprised of vocalist/keyboardist Agnes Jeanne Maria (26) and classical guitarist Jacob Harrison (28) – one must look at the remarkable tapestry of history, humour, and accidental fate that brought them together.  

A Legacy Interrupted by War 

For Agnes, the music is genetic. Though she first picked up a keyboard around the age of eight, her true musical awakening was born out of grief and legacy following the passing of her grandmother, Maria.  

Maria had been a prodigious pianist on her father’s side of the family. She was on course to attend the prestigious Warsaw Conservatoire in Poland, destined for a life as a classical musician, before the outbreak of the Second World War brutally intervened. Decades later, that stolen musical lineage has found its voice again through Agnes. 

Influenced heavily by the contemporary folk styling of Emma Harner, alongside the rich textures of jazz, soul, and the legendary John Martyn, Agnes went on to study jazz at Leeds Conservatoire. Her talents extend far beyond her vocals and the keyboard; she is an accomplished songwriter, guitar player, and professional singing tutor. Yet, despite her extensive solo capabilities, she states openly that writing music with Jacob remains her absolute favourite thing to do. 

A Master in Classical Composition 

Jacob’s own musical path is defined by an equally deep, lifelong commitment to his craft. His interest in music began when he was just eight years old, sparking a dedication that saw him rigorously train as a classical artist. He earned a BA in classical music, followed by an MA in composition, and successfully achieved his ATCL (Associate of Trinity college London) Diploma in classical guitar.  

Despite walking the same halls of Leeds Conservatoire around the same time, Jacob and Agnes never met, separated, by a couple of academic years. Jacob’s immense technical expertise draws from a remarkable eclectic array of genres; along with influences which span classical, flamenco, Brazilian choro, tango, renaissance lute music, and even heavy metal, allowing him to weave intricate, unexpected textures into the duo’s sound.  

From Car Breakdowns to Creative Sparks 

The universe finally corrected itself three years ago when Agnes started working at Chapel FM Arts Centre, where she now serves as the Head of Radio. Discovering they lived near each other, Jacob began giving Agnes lifts home. However, it wasn’t until a year ago, during a whirlwind tour of Leeds’ open-mic nights, that their bond truly solidified through a series of chaotic, beautiful late-night adventures.  

“One night, we stayed up and talked in his car for hours until the battery ran out, and we had to push the car into a parking space,” Agnes shares, recalling a time of endless laughter. 

The true turning point, however, was born from a medical mishap. “Jacob forgot his inhaler, so we had to head back straight away. That night, we wrote our first song, ‘Outloud’. All because of an inhaler.” 

From that moment on, they became inseparable, spending up to five days a week writing and rehearsing. 

Soap Suds and Telepathy 

Their writing process is entirely organic, often striking when they should be focusing on administrative tasks at the radio station or official rehearsals. 

“I’ll be washing up and he’ll be sat on the kitchen floor playing some ideas,” Agnes explains. “I will then sit down next to him, soapy hands, and sing some melodies within his guitar parts. 

Musically, they share a near-telepathic connection. While they can be “bossy” regarding song structures, words are rarely needed. Agnes can simply point to a higher fret on Jacob’s guitar, and he instantly understands. Her lyrics begin as a stream-of-consciousness nonsense language that taps directly into raw emotion, later shaped by Jacob’s eclectic background within his musical influences. 

A Debut That Pierced the Heart 

All of this history culminated in their stunning debut performance on June 27th at Chapel FM  https://www.chapelfm.co.uk/ in Seacroft, a community arts hub that holds immense sentimental value. 

The visual layout of the project is also a family affair. Agnes’s brother, Theo (29), a professional photographer, was on hand to capture the stunning promotional photography and live images of ilk, perfectly mirroring the atmospheric tone of the music. 

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly sunburn, the title track of their debut EP. Agnes describes the song as an exploration of the terrifying intensity of infatuation. “How it feels to know your skin is burning in the sun, but the endurance of that can feel addictive in ways.  

When performed live, the track is agonisingly beautiful. Jacob’s intricate, classically trained guitar work creates a delicate, tense web of sound, over which Agnes’s haunting vocals soar and dip with profound vulnerability. It was this track in particular that broke the audience, eliciting tears from a crowd captivated by the sheer honesty of the performance.  

Catch Them Live and Take the Music Home 

Following the overwhelming response to their launch event, ilk has announced a series of upcoming local acoustic dates across West Yorkshire, alongside the official digital roll-out of their music. 

Where to buy the EP: Physical CD copies of sunburn are available to purchase directly from the duo at their live shows, or online via the official ticket source page. Please see agnes jeanne maria for further details/contacts 

Official Webpage & Updates: To view upcoming gig listings, or join their mailing list, visit the Chapel FM Arts Centre Events Hub or check out their social channels. 

ilk has arrived, carrying the weight of past histories, accidental late-night inspirations, and a profound musical chemistry. If their debut performance is anything to go by, East Leeds has given rise to a duo that is bound for very big, and exceptional things.