ALBUM PREVIEW: Hannah Fairlight Delivers Mix Of Untethered Rock N’ Roll & Tender Vulnerability On ‘Lone Wolf’
BY
MADDIE JAFFE
MARCH 15, 2024
Hannah Fairlight may consider herself a “lone wolf,” but the indie rock n’ roll songwriter’s upcoming album is sure to reach the hearts and spirits of many a listener.
Recorded, mixed, and mastered completely live to tape, Lone Wolf is alive with Fairlight’s clear, distinct vocals and her unique and euphoric rock sound. With a few singles released this year, Lone Wolf is slated to hit streaming services May 24th.
The album opens with “Fever,” a girl-rock tribute to a 90s rock and roll grunge sound that hits you in the chest and makes you want to jump around. “Give me fever / Make me a believer / Don’t wanna leave ya / ‘Cause every time you go / My fire turn back to an ember,” Fairlight sings in a low, raw voice that evokes a dark yet playful sound. “Fever” is the perfect introduction to the album, drawing in listeners with its catchiness and fiery lyrics.
“Emotional Men”
Another notable track on the album is the fifth track, “Loser,” a satisfying combination of electric keyboard and easy percussion that truly allows Fairlight’s voice to shine. “I’m not saying that I’m high and mighty / When you told me you felt bad / Was that your apology? / I’m not saying who’s the victim or the abuser / And it wouldn’t be the first time / I loved a loser,” she sings. This sentiment goes with the track’s all too familiar tale of complicated, messy modern relationships featuring emotionally unavailable men, a common theme on Lone Wolf.
The gritty rock n’ roller switches gears on the sixth track, “Just Feel Better,” delivering a more stripped back indie folk vibe. It’s a brief two+ minute ode that offers hope and belief to those struggling with their mental health. The organ brings this track to life along with Fairlight’s tender voice, showing off her musical versatility.
The eighth track and February single, “Emotional Men,” hits with a quick, catchy Sonic Youth-like groove and vocal delivery that immediately endears. Fairlight’s quirky and extremely specific lyrics express common sentiments of disappointment in humanity while maintaining a lighthearted sound, showcasing her range and sense of sound.
“Naked” follows, reverting back to the stripped-down acoustic-led energy, fitting for the title. In this track, Fairlight continues to show off her unique vocal delivery, creating a whimsical and gentle track with lyrics like, “You made me feel all cute and shy / You stripped me down with the guitar and a look in your eye / You made me naked on the Fourth of July / In mid-October a man after my own heart.”
And releasing today March 15th, her second single, “Apologetic Me,” delivers raw, gritty electric guitars that give off a punk rock-like energy. It’s an angry, no bullshit track equip with a killer spacey guitar solo to boot. “For the wild heart you fell for / Just take a little more / I know you want to,” she sings, effortlessly conveying the frustration of a relationship in which one person is always handed the blame.
The title track follows, offering a remorseful, slower ballad which stands out from the rest of the album for its tempo and overall energy. Her vivid, self-reflective lyrics are striking: “Rush to put my cigarette down / It’s cold out in a Tennessee town / Unfulfilled on the frozen ground / No good sitting still, better running around,” she sings, paying tribute to her life in Nashville. The track swells even as Fairlight’s voice grows in tenderness before returning to the original powerful yet mellow melody.
Not afraid of break the rules and bend the norm, Fairlight has never been one to sit on the sidelines and let men dominate the rock scene, or scene in general. Performing in NYC rock and roll clubs from age 18 and traveling the world before settling in Nashville, she is no stranger to projecting her gritty, honest words and sound.
With four albums under her belt and Lone Wolf debuting in May, Fairlight has clearly given herself to her craft, and each impassioned song demonstrates this. Her versatility of badass rock n’ roll songstress and vulnerable singer-songwriter is evident in her catalogue, and Lone Wolf will be yet another epic addition.
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