Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers - Je m'appelle le saxophone

MUSIC NEWS: HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE AFFIRMATIONS SET TO RELEASE 50 FOOT WOMAN ALBUM ON OCTOBER 18

Hannah Williams & The Affirmations brace for the release of new album, 50 Foot Woman, on Friday, October 18. Williams turned heads worldwide when the hip-hop superstar, JAY-Z, sampled her heart-stopping vocals on “Late Nights & Heartbreak”, for the title track, “4.44”, on his 2017 album.  Now Hannah and her exemplary, Bristol-based band, The Affirmations, deliver a definitive career statement with the drop-dead soulful new album, 50 Foot Woman, which will be released on the Milan based imprint, Record Kicks.   The album captures all of the visceral power of the band’s increasingly legendary live performances.  Shades of classic soul and psychedelic funk blend uniquely with modern-day flavours on a record destined to set the soul agenda for 2019 and far beyond.  “I’ve never been as proud of anything in my entire career,” says Hannah. Born in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, Williams’ father was a musically gifted minister, and her mother let her join the church choir at the age of six. Hannah could read music before she could properly read words, and when she discovered soul by listening with her mum to Motown and Bill Withers, there was no turning back. After a 2012 debut with her previous band, The Tastemakers, it was 2016’s Late Nights & Heartbreak that announced the arrival of Hannah Williams & The Affirmations.  But little did she know that JAY-Z was listening.  One day, at her then-day job running the music department at the University of Winchester, he sent her a text. Once she’d established that it wasn’t a wind-up, and summoned the courage to call him back, she learned that JAY-Z's producer, No I.D, had played him Hannah’s track to inspire his response to Lemonade by wife, Beyoncé, on which she sang of his infidelities. Williams was as in the dark about how “Late Nights & Heartbreak” would be used until 4:44 dropped.  But the substantial sample of her voice opened doors she never dreamed of.  “It was an incredible catalyst,” she says, “as a change in our collective career, and getting a global audience.  Suddenly, there were millions of predominantly American hip-hop fans listening to my voice, going ‘Is this from the '60s? Is she dead?’”

What followed was a year of the band’s widest-ever touring including an invitation to perform at Central Park Summer Stage NY, Toronto Jazz Festival and Brooklyn Bowl NY and expanded audiences in continental Europe where she and The Affirmations had already made a mark.  Then came the burning determination to make the record of their lives.  The captivating 50 Foot Woman is that album, produced by Shawn Lee, a respected presence on the funk and soul scene whose credits include Amy Winehouse, Lana Del Rey and Alicia Keys.  Lee has released five solo albums as Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra on San Francisco label, Ubiquity Records, and is also one half of the cool melodic pop duo, Young Gun Silver Fox. Now the world will hear what the cognoscenti have known for a while: that Hannah Williams is the real deal, and sings from her very soul.  “I feel like my performance comes from my solar plexus,” she says. “The emotional side of it is so intrinsic; I can’t take it away from what I do.” 50 Foot Woman 1. 50 Foot Woman 2. I Can't Let This Slip Away 3. The Only Way Out Is Through 4. Tablecloth 5. Sinner 6. What Can We Do? 7. How Long? 8. I Feel It 9. Please Be Good To Me 10. Hourglass 11. Worrying Mind Hannah Williams & The Affirmations’ upcoming album, 50 Foot Woman, can be pre-ordered on Bandcamp, here. Also visit their Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp, Google Play Music and Deezer pages to keep tabs on Hannah Williams & The Affirmations.

Great music - HANNAH WILLIAMS & The TASTEMAKERS - Work it out

Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers - I'm a good woman

“Tell Me Something (Liberties)” - Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers

SpinPlant 🌾 Music. Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers - Work it out . #monsieurplant #artwork #spinplant #recordplayer #vintage #vynil #music #plant #nature #botanical #vegetal #urbangardener #thinknature 🙏🏻🌱 https://www.instagram.com/p/BrNX888BW93/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qwdwjxb7rlj9

On iTunes: http://it.kud.li/RKX040 | On Bandcamp: http://bit.ly/S113IO ! On Amazon: http://amzn.to/15QMscR. Want more? Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/RKYouTub... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBdSZIZjUsk

New Video: JOVM Mainstay Hannah Williams and The Affirmations Releases a Fan Submitted Video for Their Cover of Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box"

New Video: JOVM Mainstay Hannah Williams and The Affirmations Releases a Fan Submitted Video for Their Cover of Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box" @HWAffirmations @recordkicks

Over the past couple of years, I’ve spilled quite a bit of virtual ink covering the acclaimed Bristol, UK-based soul singer/songwriter and JOVM mainstay Hannah Williams. Williams can trace some of the origins of her music career to growing up in an extremely musical household: her father  was a musician and  minister.…

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New Audio: JOVM Mainstays Hannah Williams and The Affirmations Cover a 90s Grunge Rock Classic

New Audio: JOVM Mainstays Hannah Williams and The Affirmations Cover a 90s Grunge Rock Classic @HWAffirmations @RecordKicks @Nirvana @kurtcobain

Over the past couple of years, I’ve spilled quite a bit of virtual ink covering the acclaimed Bristol, UK-based soul singer/songwriter and JOVM mainstay Hannah Williams. Williams can trace some of the origins of her music career to growing up in an extremely musical household: her father  was a musician and  minister.…

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New Video: JOVM Mainstays Hannah Williams and The Affirmations Release a Slow-Burning Power Ballad

New Video: JOVM Mainstays Hannah Williams and The Affirmations Release a Slow-Burning Power Ballad @hwaffirmations @recordkicks

I’ve written a bit about Bristol, UK-based singer/songwriter and soul artist Hannah Williams over the past couple of years. The Bristol-based JOVM mainstay can trace some of the originals of her musical career to growing up in an extremely musical household — her father was a musician and minister. And as you may recall, Williams…

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New Video: Hannah Williams' Stomping Feminist Anthem

New Video: Hannah Williams' Stomping Feminist Anthem @HWAffirmations @recordkicks

I’ve written a bit about Bristol, UK-based singer/songwriter and soul artist Hannah Williams over the past couple of years, and as you may recall Williams can trace some of the origins of her musical career to growing up in a extremely musical household — her father was a musician and minister. Williams learned how to read music…

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BEST NEW MUSIC: HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE AFFIRMATIONS – 50 FOOT WOMAN

Hannah Williams & The Affirmations released a new track, “50 Foot Woman”, today (September 13).  This the title track from upcoming sophomore album, following their feature with superstar, Jay-Z, on “4:44”. Born in High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, Williams’ joined the church choir at the age of six and could read music before she could properly read words.  It was 2016 debut, Late Nights & Heartbreak, the turning point for Hannah Williams & The Affirmations. “50 Foot Woman is an extremely positive song, ultimately about freedom of expression, liberation and empowerment, written about the excitement and anticipation of performing” say Hannah Williams & The Affirmations “the verses convey that hyped up feeling you get before going on stage – those moments can feel like forever, and are really special.” “50 Foot Woman” rolls in with drum before slinking like a cat to soulful guitar and bass.  The latter a bit fuzzy to give a harder edge, some rocking bite. “I’m standin’ on the mountain, about to fall/I’m runnin’ on the rooftops, fifty foot tall” cues tentative playing, bringing the dynamics down only to drums and vocal, only to come crashing back in, again.  “I’m a ten storey building, I’m gonna explode/I’m a pumped up shotgun, with a full load,” again, playing the numbers game. Right in the middle of things she cries defiantly, “I’m breakin’ through the ceiling night after night, so watch me go!”  With the latter exclamation you imagine her shattering glass, fist extended above head like superhero.  She then gets slow, quiet and sensual, talking seductively into the microphone, before wailing at the tops of her lungs.  This fast, loud and sexual.  Like between the sheets for foreplay before the main event.  There and then you’ll never be the same, again. As said, this song demonstrates the ability of Hannah Williams & The Affirmations to write with dynamics in mind, enough to exploit any live show. Not a wall of sound from start to finish but nuances between loud and quiet. The whispers into the microphone definitely a massive contrast to some of the more animated aspects of the track.  Not only that, but there aren’t massive leaps between these dynamics.  There are, actually, middling aspects that bridge these. “50 Foot Woman” is like soul rock.  There’s the sensual aspect, smooth and the ballsy, sex on legs aspect, raucous.  She seems a formidable woman, one to keep you under her thumb and enthralled by her at the same time. Think, perhaps, DiVinyls and their frontwoman, Chrissy Amphlett.  Slightly different genre, but the energy’s all there. This sensual and sexual side shouldn’t detract from her musicianship, but listeners nonetheless like putty in her hands. 50 Foot Woman 1. 50 Foot Woman 2. I Can’t Let This Slip Away 3. The Only Way Out Is Through 4. Tablecloth 5. Sinner 6. What Can We Do? 7. How Long? 8. I Feel It 9. Please Be Good To Me 10. Hourglass 11. Worrying Mind HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE AFFIRMATIONS EURO TOUR! Nov 13 2019 ES, Zaragoza, Sala Lopez Nov 14 2019 ES, Barcelona, Upload Nov 15 2019 ES, Madrid, Clamores Nov 16 2019 FR, Canet en Roussillon, Théâtre Municipal Nov 20 2019 DE, Berlin, Club Gretchen Nov 21 2019 DE, Hamburg, Nochtspeicher Nov 22 2019 DE, Munster, Gleiss22 Nov 23 2019 NL, Rotterdam, Bird Nov 24 2019 BE, Brussels, Botanique Nov 25 2019 NL, Amsterdam, Paradiso Nov 26 2019 FR, Paris, New Morning Nov 28 2019 IT, Turin, Spazio 211 Nov 29 2019 IT, Locomotiv, Bologna Nov 30 2019 IT, Milan, Biko Dec 04 2019 UK, London, Oslo Dec 05 2019 UK, Bristol, The Fleece Dec 06 2019 UK, Manchester, Deaf Institute Dec 07 2019 UK, Leicester, O2 Academy Dec 12 2019 IRL, Dublin, Grand Social Dec 13 2019 IRL, Limerick, Dolan Upstairs Dec 14 2019 IRL, Belfast, The Limelight 2 Jan 28 2020 NL, Nijmigen, Doornroosje Jan 29 2020 DE, Bielefeld, Forum Jan 30 2020 DE, Dortmund, FZW Jan 31 2020 DE, Erfurt, Franz Mehlhose Feb 01 2020 DE, Dresden, Beatpol Feb 02 2020 DE, Leipzig, Noels Ballroom Feb 06 2020 DE, Munich, Feierwerk Feb 07 2020 AT, Dornbirn, Spielboden Feb 08 2020 DE, Cologne, Arttheater Hannah Williams & The Affirmations’ latest single, “50 Foot Woman”, can be bought on iTunes, here. Hannah Williams & The Affirmations’ upcoming album, 50 Foot Woman, can be pre-ordered on Bandcamp, here. Hannah Williams & The Affirmations’ latest album, Late Nights & Heartbreak, can be bought on iTunes, here. Also visit their Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp, Google Play Music and Deezer pages to keep tabs on Hannah Williams & The Affirmations.

“Do Whatever Makes You Feel Hot” - Hannah Williams & The Tastemakers