The Wonderists

The Wonderists are an acoustic singer songwriter duo specialising in intricate melody and poetic lyric. Lithuanian born Tom Povilaitis who been a professional musician for 23 years and has a passion for stringed instruments, production and knowledge. Michelle Watson, the other half of this musical duo just has a passion, but especially for lyrics, theatre and art, expressed through two decades of creative capering. Her greatest skill however is free-styling, and this is how the duo met, jamming round a pot of winter tonic at a mutual friend’s house. A cord was struck and numbers exchanged and at their second organised jam, they pressed record and alchemy occurred. Tom’s intricate guitar rifts perfectly complement Michelle’s dulcet tones and their mutual understanding of what it is to be a wonderist, to choose magic over terror, makes the collaboration inspired. Both work with vulnerable people on the the peripheries of society, either through learning disabilities or mental health issues and both say they love their jobs because of the love and laughter to be found there.

The word wonderist was a phrase coined by the brilliant counter culture author John Higgs, inspired by another brilliant brain, magician Cat Vincent, who suggested the need for a word in society to counter the word terrorist. A way to describe those who spread positivity and choose a different version of reality to the one enforced by the media. Michelle’s powerful voice and lyrics juxtaposed against the beautifully sweet melodies of their songs embody this perfectly. If you enjoy wonderfully constructed acoustic music with intelligent lyrics, this is for you.