With her debut EP on its way Nadine Shah has announced a couple of London shows.
With her debut EP on its way Nadine Shah has announced a couple of London shows. Having just graced the stage of The Buffalo Bar Nadine is now heading to The Victoria in Dalston on 17 October
Of Norwegian and Pakistani ancestry, British born and London based Nadine Shah is an uncompromising vocalist and composer hailing from a small coastal village in the North East of England named Whitburn. Her dark tales of love, loss and lust are fast earning her numerable plaudits, having already been championed by the likes of BBC Introducing, 6 Music and XFM’s John Kennedy.
Nadine is finally set to release her brand new Aching Bones EP via Label Fandango on 19 November, the title track from which is available to stream now:
Drawing on the sonic impressions left by the likes of Nick Cave’s From Her to Eternity, Scott Walker, early PJ Harvey, whilst mining the same bruised honesty as a more sheen-less Broken English by Marianne Faithful, the young artist's compositions lean towards the dramatic, her smoky husky-hued vocals imbued with an understated unease, with a stage presence that belies her youthful age.
The 3-tracker is the result of a unique collaboration between Nadine and producer Ben Hillier (The Horrors, Blur, Depeche Mode) that explores relationships, revenge and regret.
Lead track 'Aching Bones', with its insistent clanging rhythm and sparse tinkering keys, is probably the most menacing of all three, closely followed by 'Never Tell Me Mam', which Nadine explains is “your standard tale of unrequited love I guess. I tend to use quite a lot of colloquialisms in my lyrics, mainly just because this is how I would talk in my everyday speak so why change it for lyrics?” Not a problem at all when the delivery is so honest and intoxicating.
While 'Are You With Me' offers up a richer, instrumental backdrop for Nadine's swelling vocal refrain as it repeats lyrics inspired by overheard conversation. “To me, it brought that image of Lord Kitchener pointing at the viewer on those war recruitment posters saying "we need you!" on them. I found it interesting to use that particular phrasing in the context of a love song, as though to say "Are you on my side? Are we in this together?”
So, are you with her? Judging by the strength of this initial material, one would be foolhardy not to be. With this debut we bear witness to the emergence of a very special talent.
'Face to Watch’ Independent on Sunday
'If all live debuts were as breathtaking as Nadine Shah's then the walls of the music industry as we know it would crumble to dust, and in their place proud palaces of hope and beauty would spring forth.'
BBC Manchester
'Her dark tales of lust, loss and vengeance bring to mind Broken English-era Marianne Faithfull and are due belated critical acclaim.'
Guardian ‘New Band of the Day’
'Keep your eye on this one, because I can see 2013 being a big year for her.' DiS
'...brings together the sea shanty/chain gang sound of Nick Cave's Bad Seeds circa From Her to Eternity with the brooding menace of Massive Attack' Dazed & Confused
'Shah’s voice marks her out as someone distinctive and to very much keep an eye on.' CMU Approved
Artist: Nadine Shah
Title: Aching Bones EP
Release Date: 19 November 2012
Label: Club Fandango
Formats: Vinyl & Digital
Cat Number:GALAGOS038_
Web: http://www.nadineshah.com
Published on 13 October 2012 by Wayne Feltham
