New music review with Hannah Rose Platt and Aby Coulibaly

Our weekly fix of the best new music as Julia Mason brings us her review of new singles from Hannah Rose Platt Wendigo Rag and Aby Coulibaly Big Pharma (Withdrawal)

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Artist: Hannah Rose Platt

Track: Wendigo Rag

Credit Hannah Rose Platt

Hannah Rose Platt has produced a Christmas song like you’re never heard before! She takes the listener on a road trip gone wrong, where an ill-judged left turn comes to test the boundaries of friendship versus survival.

Wendigo Rag is brought to life in eye-popping fashion with expert modelling craft and stop-motion technique, reminiscent of Tim Burton classics, in the accompanying animated video by William Davies.

Elaborating on the tale behind this cannibalistic Christmas caper, Hannah Rose Platt says: "Wendigo Rag is a grizzly festive dark comedy song about a road trip gone wrong, and the testing of boundaries between friendship vs survival. Beware the cry of the Wendigo folks, or you may be filled with a desire for more than your turkey or nut roast this year!"

Taken from her horror-themed recent album Deathbed Confessions (out now on Xtra Mile Recordings), Wendigo Rag is a swaggering goth-rock groover with shades of Nick Cave, Tom Waits or The Cramps. Released in the Spring of 2023 and produced by Ed Harcourt, Deathbed Confessions comprises a collection of ghoulish ghost stories, melodious murder ballads, and humorous hammer-horrors.

Inspired by classic horror such as Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone, the BBC’s Inside No 9, and the ballad collection of Samuel Peyps, Platt distilled them all into this scintillatingly strange album.

Touring across Scandinavia with Frank Turner this Autumn, Hannah released a chilling new EP to coincide with the shows called Hypnagogia. Inspired by haunting Nordic folklore, the EP comprised four fully fleshed-out songs produced by Ed Harcourt alongside four spoken-word interludes narrated by British acting talent and BAFTA nominee David Morrissey (Sherwood / The Long Shadow).

Hannah launches into 2024 with all guns blazing, announcing a headline show in her hometown of Bristol where she will be performing Deathbed Confessions and Hypnagogia in full. Hannah will also be supporting The Sleeping Souls on their January tour.

UK Tour Dates 2024

January

23 Glasgow King Tuts*

24 Nottingham Rescue Rooms*

25 Manchester Band On The Wall*

26 Bristol Thekla*

27 London The Garage*

February

16 Bristol The Other Place

Headline: “An Evening With Hannah Rose Platt & Friends” - TICKETS

* supporting The Sleeping Souls

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Artist: Aby Coulibaly

Track: Big Pharma (Withdrawal)

Credit Zoe Ardiff

R&B sensation Aby Coulibaly has released her personal new track Big Pharma (Withdrawl) via AMF Records. The follows her debut EP At The End of The Day … It’s Night, released last month.

Big Pharma (Withdrawal) showcases an intimate and personal side to Coulibaly’s dextrous songwriting abilities. This honest and open exploration of her painful daily experience living with topical steroid withdrawal is breathtaking in its delivery, as well as choice of subject matter. Aby hopes that sharing her honest feelings connects to listeners who may have similar experiences.

Aby further explains: “Big Pharma (Withdrawal) is a song about a condition I have called TSW (topical steroid withdrawal). It's something that affects me every day & the worst part is it was 100% avoidable. I was constantly given a medication from a young age by my doctor not knowing how harmful it was.

"In so many ways we need the pharmaceutical industry but in many ways It also takes advantage of us and makes us worse off & that’s what this song is about. They don’t benefit as an industry from healthy people. This is my most vulnerable release yet but I feel like as a person & artist I want people to know what I go through and that they’re not alone whatever their struggle is.

"It's a challenge doing what I do having this condition but I'm determined to not let it stop me. Everything I go through ends up coming out through music. All of the good emotions but also the tough ones and this is one of those.”

Aby’s eclectic musical palette blends elements of soul, R&B, and experimental soundscapes, whilst showcasing her natural flair for astute, observational lyricism. Taking inspiration from her Senegalese heritage and merging this with her day-to-day experiences of Dublin life, she counts Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and James Blake amongst her influences. In addition she pioneers Dublin based collective Chamomile Club, showcasing the city’s thriving creative scene, hosting nights, events and festival takeovers.

This week it was also announced that Aby will be joining Olivia Dean as main support for her Spring 2024 UK and Europe headline tour, which includes two nights at London’s Hammersmith Apollo.

Aby Coulibaly live dates 2024

Thursday 25th April - SWG3 Galvanizers - Glasgow, UK - SOLD OUT*

Friday 26th April - Stylus - Leeds, UK - SOLD OUT*

Saturday 27th April - Albert Hall - Manchester, UK - SOLD OUT*

Monday 29th April - O2 Institute - Birmingham, UK - SOLD OUT*

Tuesday 30th April - O2 Academy - Bristol, UK - SOLD OUT*

Thursday 2nd May - Eventim Apollo - London, UK - SOLD OUT*

Saturday 4th May - Eventim Apollo - London, UK

Saturday 11th May - Ancienne Belgique - Brussels, BE*

Monday 13th May - Paradiso - Amsterdam, NL - SOLD OUT*

Tuesday 14th May - Paradiso - Amsterdam, NL - SOLD OUT*

Thursday 16th May - Stadthalle - Cologne, DE*

Friday 17th May - Tempodrom - Berlin, DE*

Saturday 18th May - Docks - Hamburg, DE*

*supporting Olivia Dean

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