Ian M Hale

Following the critically acclaimed EPs ‘Greetings from San Francisco’ and ‘Loss’, Ian M. Hale launched his long- awaited debut album ‘Successor’ in 2010. Fusing Hale’s pin-sharp, bittersweet lyrics with spine-thrilling lo-fi melodies, Successor defies easy categorisation, drawing on influences as gloriously disparate as Todd Rundgren, Prince, Big Star, Kool and the Gang, The Beach Boys and Talking Heads.

From the naïve joyfulness of San Francisco (“Brilliant” – XFM) to the lilting melancholy of Loss (“Gorgeous” – BBC 6Music) and stand-out new tracks including Desire and I’ve Got Those Feelings, this album is set to seal Hale’s status as one of Britain’s most exciting new singer-songwriter talents.

Recorded over 18 months in south London, Successor – its title a nod to the eclectic bank of artists Hale credits as his inspiration – is the result of a collaboration with fellow ones-to-watch, drummer and producer Andrea Adriano (Adele, Charlene Soraia) and DJ-producer Tim Green (recently profiled on Radio 1 by Pete Tong).

Hale has already caught the attention of industry big-hitters from Jools Holland to Tom Ravenscroft and achieved airplay on XFM (John Kennedy, Jon Hillcock, Marsha Shandur) and BBC 6Music (Gideon Coe, Chris Hawkins, Tom Robinson) as well as glowing reviews from guardian.co.uk, The Independent, Spoonfed (“Single of the Week”), Music News, Drowned in Sound, New Noise, Subba-Cultcha and Amelia’s Magazine.