Hania Rani & Caoilfhionn Rose

I’ve been meaning to blog this for weeks.

A couple of months ago, I was fed a video by YouTube’s algorithm, of Hania Rani ‘Live at Invalides’ in Paris. That led to a very late night as I couldn’t drag myself away from it, I found it absolutely captivating.

Next day it was still filling my head and a Google search showed she was playing Brighton the following Sunday. Shortly after, I had a gig ticket, train ticket and Premiere Inn room booked! It was an amazing experience, Hania is so incredibly talented. Please, go and watch that video. It also has the huge advantage that the production is superb, the photography is outstanding and the sound is just so damn good, a perfect mix. They had a fine team working on that film.

Her most notable tracks for me right now are ‘Dancing with Ghosts’ and ‘I’ll Never find your Soul’, so beautiful. Hania has such a delicate voice, quite captivating and it fits her music perfectly.

Now I need to add that support for Hania in Brighton was Caoilfhionn Rose. A name like that sticks in the mind and so did her performance. So much so that I booked a ticket to go see her at St Pancras Old Church a few weeks ago. By the way, her name is pronounced ‘Keelin’.

The venue was really interesting, literally an old church, a beautiful space. Things were a bit cramped on stage, the sound wasn’t the best, but her material shone through, very brightly. She is a nervous performer I suspect, hopefully she will feel more comfortable as the gigs multiply, which they surely will. It was a magical experience which ended far too quickly – I shall be back to see her when I can.

Fall into Place

I need to mention one track from her new album, Constellation – Fall into Place. It was released as a single before the album release and I don’t think a day has gone by since when I haven’t played it. Truly, it is a magical song, so incredibly complex and layered.

For me though, the most stunning moment, which I still find just as stunning after all these plays, is the moment when the band come in right after the piano intro at the beginning (~0:42). The luscious bass mix is breathtaking, the drums, the sax, the piano. Everything at that moment is utterly divine. Headphones are a must here.

Throughout the song there are just endless new layers to discover, even after the dozens of listens it has had from me. It is one of those pieces of music for which you need to close your eyes so that you can just hear more and more. Then that trumpet at the end…

The backing vocals are beautiful, provided by Caoilfhionn’s friend Chloe Foy who also provided support that night. I was glad to briefly speak with Chloe afterwards and wish I had said how the backing vocals are so beautiful on that track.

As you can tell, I really like it! It never ceases to amaze me how music can keep coming along to take my breath away. I don’t think I’m going to tire of this track any day soon.

Please comment if you were there or have seen either of these amazing artists elsewhere.