King Hannah

Drawing from the atmospheric textures of '90s alternative rock acts like Mazzy Star and Portishead, King Hannah constructs expansive, cinematic soundscapes that exceed mere summation of influences through their sparse yet textured arrangements—both ethereal and distorted—alongside restrained lyricism. The Liverpool-rooted duo, established in 2017, first applied this method to their initial EP, Tell Me Your Mind and I'll Tell You Mine, issued in 2020, before further distilling their approach on the 2022 album I'm Not Being Sorry, I Was Just Being Me, allowing each composition greater breathing room. This intricate, frequently tension-filled aesthetic evolved further on Big Swimmer, their 2024 release that includes a guest appearance by Sharon Van Etten on the title track.

Two years prior to forming King Hannah, multi-instrumentalist Craig Whittle first encountered Welsh-born vocalist Hannah Merrick performing with a different group during a university showcase in Liverpool. Struck by her brooding, moody delivery, he retained the impression. Their paths converged coincidentally when both began employment at the same bar in 2017, where pre-shift rehearsals gradually fostered King Hannah, as Merrick and Whittle incrementally gained assurance performing before one another. Although each handled guitar duties, Merrick assumed lead vocals while Whittle oversaw musical arrangements.

The pair self-issued the single "Crème Brûlée" in May 2019, which drew the notice of Krista Schimdt at City Slang Records. Following a request for additional material, they secured a label deal by September 2020, prompting a reissue of that track. October brought the follow-up single "Meal Deal," with both songs incorporated into the November release of Tell Me Your Mind and I'll Tell You Mine. Producer Ted White contributed synths and extra guitars, supported by a rhythm section of Oliver Gorman on bass and Jake Lipiec on drums. March 2021 saw the stopgap single, a robust rendition of "State Trooper" that equaled the intensity of Bruce Springsteen's original.

King Hannah unveiled "A Well-Made Woman" in September 2021 ahead of their inaugural U.K. tour, expanding to the five-piece lineup responsible for the EP. Subsequent singles "All Being Fine" and "Big Big Baby" preceded the February 2022 arrival of I'm Not Being Sorry, I Was Just Being Me. Promotion of this debut album involved extensive European and U.S. touring that supplied inspiration for the succeeding record. Seeking to harness live performance vitality, they recruited Ali Chant (PJ Harvey, Aldous Harding) to helm the follow-up within a compact studio filled with guitar amplifier stacks. May 2023 introduced another interim cover, a haunting interpretation of Madonna's "Like a Prayer." With Sharon Van Etten featured on the title track—which served as the lead single earlier that year—Big Swimmer emerged in May 2024.