Enigmatic British singer-songwriter Mark William Lewis has become the first artist signed to A24 Music, with his sophomore album under the label set for release on September 12. The announcement on June 14 marked a surprising move for A24, the film studio responsible for some of the past decade’s most daring and inventive cinema with notable titles such as Moonlight, Ladybird, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and many more. The company is now extending their vision into music.
A24 has the resources to make bold moves, backed by a $75 million financing round and a $3.5 billion valuation. Adding Lewis to its roster positions the label to redefine what a film studio can contribute to music. Like their movies, the bet is on character, risk, and longevity.
The signing is significant for both sides. For Lewis, who has spent the last few years cultivating a reputation as one of the most compelling voices in folk, it marks his leap into a wider audience. For A24, it signals that the studio is ready to move beyond memorable soundtracks and scores to directly champion artists. The company now steps into a competitive arena with other indie labels such as Rough Trade Records, Topshelf Records, and Matador Records, but Lewis’ addition already sets a distinctive tone of the label from the get-go.
A Brooding Atmosphere
Lewis first gained recognition with his 2021 debut EP Pleasure is Everything, a collection of stripped-down songs that balanced brooding intimacy with fragile intensity. His music, often described as haunting and deeply personal, has since drawn him into collaborations, including session work and guest vocals for American rapper MIKE. Though his rise was slowed by the pandemic, the period also allowed him to refine his sound, releasing projects that deepened his mystique.
The leap into signing artists follows years of cultivating a reputation for taste. A24’s filmography has been a showcase of directors with singular voices, and its music choices have carried the same curatorial weight. With Lewis as their first signed act, the label seems committed to applying that same vision to the recording industry.
A24 Music served primarily as a platform for the studio’s film scores, which have become cultural landmarks in their own right. Colin Stetson’s terrifying orchestration for Hereditary, Oneohtrix Point Never’s glitching chaos in Uncut Gems, and the Haxan Cloak’s suffocating Midsommar compositions all helped define the studio’s reputation for pairing films with unforgettable sound. More recently, Alex G’s contributions to I Saw the TV Glow further cemented the company’s ear for left-of-center music.
