Executive Overview
The contemporary British folk scene thrives on boundary-pushing artists who honor traditional instrumentation while aggressively expanding sonic horizons. At the forefront of this movement is Good Habits, a dynamic songwriting duo comprising Bonnie Schwarz (cello, vocals) and Pete Shaw (accordion, synths). Entering 2025, the pair solidified their transformation into a powerhouse trio with the addition of drummer Jen Walinetski, infusing their live performances with an explosive, rhythmically charged energy that is currently electrifying venues across the United Kingdom.
Their latest full-length studio album, Better for Now, released via Colour Plum Records on Digital, CD, and LP formats, serves as a masterclass in modern folk exploration. Reviewers have hailed the record as a journey outward, effortlessly navigating the delicate tension between festival-ready, hypnotic trance-folk and deeply intimate acoustic balladry. It showcases a rare synthesis of technical virtuosity and unbridled vitality.
Amidst a grueling touring schedule that has taken them from Sheffield to international stages, Schwarz and Shaw paused to participate in the exclusive "Off the Shelf" feature series. This intimate profile invites artists to curate ten meaningful household items from their domestic space, unpacking the narratives that bridge their daily lives, creative practices, and nomadic pasts. This article explores the artistic triumphs of Better for Now, the meticulous craft of their latest music videos, and the eclectic personal artifacts that ground one of the UK’s most inventive musical partnerships.
Detailed Chronology: From Pandemic Nomads to Modern Powerhouse
The journey of Good Habits is defined by resilience, adaptability, and an unquenchable thirst for travel. Long before they were headlining major folk festivals and capturing critical acclaim, the duo found themselves stranded in Aotearoa (New Zealand) during the onset of the global pandemic. Refusing to let circumstances halt their creative momentum, Schwarz and Shaw purchased a modest van—essentially a car with a mattress in the back—and embarked on an extraordinary year-long odyssey. They drove across the islands, playing every available gig, surviving on makeshift road meals, and converting the unpredictable trials of transient living into fertile creative ground.
This nomadic period fundamentally shaped their artistic identity. The physical and emotional exposure of living on the road seeped into their songwriting, fostering a distinct wanderlust that defines their musical output. Upon finally returning to the UK and establishing a more permanent base near Sheffield—specifically within proximity to the region’s renowned "lentil belt" of wholefood shops and vibrant artistic communities—the duo transitioned from survival mode to refined domesticity.
By 2025, the acoustic-centric setup evolved permanently into a trio with the inclusion of drummer Jen Walinetski. This addition unlocked new percussive dimensions, anchoring Schwarz’s rich, unadorned vocal delivery and Shaw’s versatile accordion and synth textures. The culmination of this evolutionary arc is Better for Now, an album that cements their status as technical virtuosos and visionary architects of modern British folk.
Supporting Context & Metrics: The Critical Acclaim of Better for Now
Music critics have universally lauded Better for Now for its thematic maturity and sonic adventurousness. In his comprehensive review for KLOF Magazine, Thomas Blake observed that the album represents a continuation of the band’s outward journey, successfully probing the extreme parameters of their musical influences.
"Most notably, their music offers a sense of movement and of travel, of a willingness to explore and widen their musical boundaries," Blake writes. "This in turn fosters a combination of virtuosity and sheer vitality that makes Good Habits one of the most exciting bands on the British folk scene right now, as well as one of the most technically accomplished."
This sense of motion is vividly captured in their cinematic output, notably the official music video for Reading Song. Filmed during a blistering heatwave in late May 2026 and directed/edited by Lydia Taylor, the visual accompaniment mirrors the track’s thematic dedication to the intellectual and restorative sanctuary found in reading. Driven by a loping bassline, Walinetski’s crisp percussion, and Shaw’s jaunty accordion motifs, the track highlights Schwarz’s regional vocal accent, lending remarkable texture and intimacy to the storytelling.
Official Statements: "Off the Shelf" with Good Habits
To truly understand the creative ecosystem of Good Habits, one must examine the physical environment they inhabit. In their exclusive "Off the Shelf" feature, Schwarz and Shaw opened up their home, selecting ten items that illuminate their domestic lives, shared debates, and deeply personal histories.
1. I Declare It Meaningful (Pete)
Decorating a shared home inevitably leads to debates over wall art. While Pete argues that every art piece requires a personal narrative or emotional connection, Bonnie appreciates visual aesthetics purely for how they complement a space. To settle a gentle domestic disagreement over a charity-shop butterfly embroidery chosen for its color palette, Bonnie secretly customized the piece. When Pete unwrapped it on his birthday, the newly embroidered words "I DECLARE IT MEANINGFUL" stared back at him, forever transforming a piece of decor into a cherished memento.
2. Cockatoo Painting (Pete)
Celebrating the joys of permanent housing after three years of nomadism, the duo frequently host touring musicians, such as Australian singer-cellist Monique Clare. During a summer visit, an impromptu backyard game involving painting while riding a garden swing resulted in Monique’s surrealist masterpiece of a cockatoo. The artwork now proudly hangs in their kitchen, serving as a testament to community, neighborly warmth, and creative spontaneity.
3. The Stable Door (Pete)
Inspired by the German practice of lüften—the morning ritual of opening all doors and windows to refresh indoor air—Pete utilizes the home’s stable door as a portal between domestic isolation and the natural world. Sipping coffee and reading in the early morning hours, the stable door blurs the boundaries between the office and the surrounding woods, reminding them to pause amidst heavy workloads to connect with nature.
4. Dried Food Stash (Pete)
A lingering byproduct of their pandemic-era van life in New Zealand—where diets occasionally consisted of questionable pub chips and dry microwave rice in wraps—is an immense appreciation for stocked pantries. Situated near Sheffield’s wholefood havens, Pete takes profound, domestic pleasure in maintaining neatly labeled jars of dried staples, routinely channeling post-tour fatigue into baking, dahl-making, and culinary restoration.
5. Running Shoes (Pete)
Running serves as Pete’s unconventional problem-solving mechanism. Despite frequently needing to overcome the initial inertia of leaving the sofa, hitting the forested trails provides a mental clearinghouse where creative and social blocks magically dissolve. However, his fitness remains entirely seasonal: thriving on the crisp resistance of winter elements, yet stagnating during busy summer tour cycles.
6. "I Like a Bare Bum" Art Card (Bonnie)
Rebutting Pete’s insistence that art must possess an elaborate backstory, Bonnie champions visceral, unprompted emotional resonance. Purchased from Arthouse Unlimited—an art charity supporting adults living with disabilities—this bold, joyful print represents the pure, unadulterated joy of visual connection, sitting alongside other expressive pieces celebrating icons like Dolly Parton.
7. The Blue Hat Door (Bonnie)
Collected from a charity shop during a whimsical festival appearance in the Netherlands, this growing collection of feathered blue hats—nodding playfully to traditional Sinterklaas folklore—frequently startles local neighbors and curious eight-year-old visitors alike. They stand as physical reminders never to take adult life too seriously.
8. Mozart Mouse and Beethoven Bear (Bonnie)
These vintage musical plush toys once sat atop the piano of Bonnie’s late grandmother, a piano and cello teacher in Dorchester who shaped Bonnie’s earliest musical education. Surviving decades of handling by young family members, the mouse and bear anchor Bonnie directly to cherished childhood memories of gentle family discipline, musical discovery, and playful mentorship.
9. The "You Got This" Sign (Bonnie)
Acquired during a moment of acute academic panic during her final year studying film composition—when facing a daunting 30-hour assessment without prior software knowledge—this sign remains in the office. It serves as a dual reminder: honoring the ability to overcome insurmountable tasks through sheer determination while acknowledging that her time-management skills have mercifully improved since university.
10. The Cross-Stitch Sunflower Cushion (Bonnie)
Handmade by Bonnie’s mother as an intricate Christmas gift, this mammoth cross-stitch cushion rests in their living room. Originally reflecting initial anxieties about mixing work (featuring a band press photo shot by Kate Griffin in New Zealand) with domestic relaxation, the cushion ultimately validated their lifestyle: a celebration of a career where work and authentic self-expression are delightfully indistinguishable.
Future Outlook
As Good Habits continues their extensive 2025–2026 touring cycle—bringing stops to Sheffield, international festival grounds, and beyond—their trajectory points toward continued innovation. With the expanded trio configuration firmly established, Better for Now is not merely a milestone release, but a definitive statement of artistic maturity.
By balancing rigorous technical mastery with an infectious, organic warmth—both on record and within the deeply personal spaces of their home—Good Habits prove that authentic folk music is rooted not just in tradition, but in the willingness to explore, adapt, and declare everyday moments deeply, meaningfully significant.
Album Details:
- Better for Now is available now via Colour Plum Records (Digital, CD, LP).
- Orders: Available directly through the Good Habits Official Website and Bandcamp.
- Live Dates & Tickets: Explore upcoming tour schedules at Good Habits Live.
