Liverpool duo Hannah Merrick and Craig Whittle, aka King Hannah, have announced their debut LP I’m Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me via City Slang. The announcement is accompanied by the release of the single “All Being Fine”. Originally inspired by Smog and noisy, lo-fi 90s bands, the track pulls the listener in immediately with its upbeat on the outside, sinister on the inside atmospherics, coming across like the aural equivalent of the opening of David Lynch’s classic film “Blue Velvet” - the bloody finger lying in the lush green grass. The video’s sun-drenched visual, directed by Whittle, is a perfect pairing, showcasing the band at their best: enigmatic, mysterious, but blackly humorous with it. “All Being Fine” sets the stall perfectly for the rest of I’m Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me , drenched as it is in cinematic, often immersive and offbeam soundscapes, punctuated by lyrics that are darkly romantic and thrillingly sardonic in equal measures. Written and then recorded with additional musicians Ted White, Jake Lipiec, and Olly Gorman in just eight months, the LP is a bold, memorable, even startling document of a dream shared, an ambition fulfilled and a vision realized. I’m Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me is a spectacular debut from the duo and a clear indication this is the beginning of a long, fruitful journey for King Hannah. King Hannah make music that lives somewhere between the gorgeously meditative pop of Yo La Tengo and the beautiful drama of Sharon Van Etten, the latter of which gave them a cosign for their 2020 EP. The foundation of I’m Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me lives in Merrick's, Raymond Carver-Esque realism-inspired lyrics. Formed in 2017, the duo met waiting tables in Liverpool. Having seen Merrick perform years before and being serendipitously assigned to show Whittle the ropes at the new job, he immediately pestered her to play music with him. A writing routine was formed leading to their debut EP Tell Me Your Mind And I’ll Tell You Mine.

King Hannah’s honesty and determination for authenticity stands out to us, both in sound and lyrics. For example, on ‘All Being Well’ Hannah Merrick doesn’t even shy away from telling the story of her bedwetting. Craig Whittle’s guitar tells as many tales as Merrick’s words – fuzzing out in new and interesting directions. FFO: Lael Neale, Loma, Sharon Van Etten, Pip Blom.

By Martha