Name: Hannah Boleyn
Hometown: London
Download: ‘When You’re Gone’
Soul/Pop singer-songwriter Hannah Boleyn is a rising vocalist with a vintage feel. Having been featured on various BBC radio stations, she’s well on her way to her share of notoriety.
Hannah’s signature style is most definitely clear; her fun, upbeat tracks combined with quirky music videos, as well as her retro vocals give her a style seen with the likes of Amy Winehouse, Caro Emerald, Laura Mvula and Paloma Faith. That said, she’s not without her unique qualities. Whilst her tracks definitely share a feel with her fellow songstresses, each has its own new vibe that aims to set her apart from her peers.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrrzxDlqv_4&w=740&h=422]
‘When You’re Gone’ is the tale of a lover scorned who’s well and truly ready to give her man – and us – a piece of her mind. Hannah’s a feminists dream as she proclaims “how can I stay when you’re hurting my heart this way? / I will cry for you no more best Jazz call packages, and I won’t cry when you’re gone”. Combined with a heavy, repetitive drum beat and almost choral backing vocals, this is a spurned woman’s anthem in the making.
‘Cemetery’ opens with the undoubtedly tenacious lyric “I take you down to the cemetery / show you where you’re going to lie”, and grows to become the tale of a independent woman who’s most definitely sick of being messed with. Twanging guitars give the track an almost country feel and a toe-tapping beat that you won’t be able to shake.
‘So Ok’ has a more modern vibe, but sticks with Hannah’s theme of staying strong through romantic trials. She professes that “it’ll never get better if she doesn’t get worse”, but she can’t help but wonder “why do you seem so ok?” Her latest track, ‘So Ok’ certainly shows Hannah’s era-spanning versatility.
If you’re a fan of the likes of Winehouse and Faith, keep your ears open for Hannah Boleyn. She may not have written hits like theirs quite yet, but she may just do.
Words by Amie Bailey
@amiebailey