Pooka

Pooka was a British songwriting duo consisting of Sharon Lewis and Natasha Jones, active primarily from 1992 to 2002. Emerging from Nottingham, they carved out a unique space in the 1990s UK indie scene by blending traditional folk sensibilities with an avant-garde approach to vocal harmony and structure.

Their sound identity is anchored in the 'Pooka harmony' - a dense, often dissonant style of vocal intertwining that recalls the work of The Roches but with a darker, more ethereal British folk-horror aesthetic. Over four albums, they moved from the relatively straightforward acoustic folk of their debut toward the more experimental and polished 'Fools Give Birth To Angels'. Critically, they were often grouped with the 'new folk' or chamber pop movements of the late 90s, though their refusal to adhere to pop structures gave them a cult status rather than mainstream success. Their influence can be heard in the subsequent wave of atmospheric indie-folk acts that prioritize vocal texture and mythological themes over radio-friendly hooks.