Burning Through The Night

Gigs:
April 11th: The Newsagent, Sydney, Australia
April 18th: The Wine Cellar, Auckland, NZ
April 19th: The Rogue Stage, Rotorua, NZ
April 22nd: Moon 1, Wellington, NZ
April 23rd on the Interislander ferry, NZ
April 23rd: Le Cafe, Picton, NZ
April 24th: The Playhouse, Nelson, NZ
April 26th: Wunderbar, Lyttelton, NZ
April 28th: Sherwood, Queenstown, NZ
April 29th: Gin & Raspberry, Wanaka, NZ
April 30th: The Cheeky Llama, Invercargill, NZ
May 1st:Taste Merchants, Dunedin, NZ

May 16th: Sebright Arms, London 
May 23rd: Red Roasters, Brighton
May 27th: Bloc, Glasgow
May 28th: Bannerman's, Edinburgh
May 29th: Liverpool, venue TBC
May 30th: Three Minute Theatre in Manchester
June 4th: The Pavilion in Belfast
June 5th: Roisin Dubh in Galway
June 6th: The Twisted Pepper, Dublin
June 12th: Prachtwerk, Berlin
June 13th: Cafe Montoya, Berlin
August 1st: Storytime Festival, Manchester

Songwriter Hannah Curwood originates from the stark, remote region of Central Otago in New Zealand.

Previously Hannah has released 2 records, Sky Above, Horse Below (2007) and The Blind Love EP (2009). Both received to resounding critical acclaim, tracks such as murder ballad It's Been Snowing All Winter (www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuQK7Z_9Cuc) brought attention to Hannah's use of dark lyrics, twisted imagery and ethereal melody to earn her a place as one of New Zealand's celebrated alternative writers.

Now based in London, Hannah has embarked on a new project, working side by side with Roger O'Donnell of The Cure and a handpicked group of musicians to breathe life into her latest body of work. O'Donnell has supported the band by offering up his country home as a recording base, as well as providing guidance with vocal performance, arrangements and his expertise in synth programming.

The resulting 10 songs bring the likes of P J Harvey, Anna Calvi, Sharon Van Etten, Laura Marling and Smog to mind - delicacy entangled with intensity. The album is currently being mixed by Paul Corkett (The Cure, Nick Cave, Bjork) and will be released in April 2015 on O'Donnell's own label 99X/10 (www.99timesoutof10).

Sweet Release

Only Wanna Be

From the debut album, Hannah in the Wars:
http://hannahinthewars.bandcamp.com/releases
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/hannah-in-the-wars/id978706496

“The amazing performances and arrangements somehow pull you in and take you somewhere else. Somewhere Hannah has been but you haven’t, she shares her secrets and tells her stories…Its been a pleasure and a privilege to work with her.” 
Roger O’Donnell, The Cure

"Live, the presence of these four women on stage is something to behold. The raw power of Curwood's voice and guitar rides atop a shimmering curtain of sirenic vocals and strings, like nothing I have ever seen before."
Pony Express

Songwriter Hannah Curwood originates from the stark, remote region of Central Otago in New Zealand. Now based in London, Hannah in the Wars is a new project, the result of working alongside Roger O'Donnell of The Cure and a handpicked group of musicians. 

This eponymous debut album showcases a collection of lyrically robust emotional narratives. Curwood’s distinctive and powerful vocals are accompanied by Telecaster, piano, synth, delicate string arrangements and the brooding pulse of an orchestral percussionist. 

O'Donnell has supported the band by providing his country home studio as a recording base, and lending guidance with vocal performance, arrangements and his expertise in synth programming.

The resulting ten songs evoke the likes of Hope Sandoval, P J Harvey, Anna Calvi, Sharon Van Etten, Laura Marling and Smog - delicacy entangled with intensity. 

The album was mixed by Paul Corkett (The Cure, Nick Cave, Bjork) and released via O'Donnell's 99X/10 label on May 25th 2015.

Hannah’s previous releases, Sky Above, Horse Below (2007) and The Blind Love EP (2009) both received resounding critical acclaim, with tracks such as the murder ballad ‘It's Been Snowing All Winter’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuQK7Z_9Cuc)  showcasing Hannah's use of dark lyrics, twisted imagery and ethereal melody, earning her a place as one of New Zealand's celebrated alternative folk writers.

Rear View Mirror Baby

I thought that we'd watch the dog grow old together
I thought that we'd watch her movement slow together
See how time clouds her eyes, her loving has always been blind
Her loving has always been blind

Thought we'd take turns lifting her into the car
And hand in hand we'd watch her stagger 'round the park
Remember when she was young?  Lithe, like a cheetah in the sun
Our life had just begun

When her time came we'd help her to leave with grace
Kiss her dear head and guide her to her final resting place
We'd cry a thousand tears, you'd hold me in your arms
Our love would be a balm

I thought that we'd watch the dog grow old together
I thought that we'd watch the dog grow old together

Watch The Dog Grow Old Together

Treat me like you would your dog
Touch my face, be kind, be soft

It remains open to interpretation whether the lovelorn narrator of 'Animal' from Hannah in the Wars wants to be treated like a good or a bad dog, and to some degree it doesn't really matter (though we would hope it's a good dog, given that songwriter Hannah Curwood is a vet nurse). This melodic, gentle pop anthem is ripe and rich, bursting with melodic vocal and violin hooks that will crawl under your skin and resonate within the confines of your skull for many days.

Animal

I am Glory, I am Glory
Not of matter, not of being
I am Glory, I am Glory
Phosphorescent particle stream

Whelping bitch, tore me out
Tooth and claw, unrooted me
If I had capacity to be terrified
I might have been

I am Glory, I am Glory
Not of matter, not of being
I am Glory, I am Glory
Starless sky, milky sea

If I had a face, oxytocin gaze
Bio-pulse apace
Suffused, aflame.
Inky pools, limpidity
There is no heart

I am Glory, I am Glory
Not of matter, not of being
I am Glory, I am Glory
Starless sky, milky sea
I am Glory, I am Glory
Phosphorescent particle stream
I am Glory, I am Glory
Smattered sky, scarlet sea

There is no heart

Glory

https://hannahinthewars.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtJUf5pBN1Y
https://www.facebook.com/hannahinthewars

“The amazing performances and arrangements somehow pull you in and take you somewhere else. Somewhere Hannah has been but you haven’t, she shares her secrets and tells her stories…Its been a pleasure and a privilege to work with her.” 
Roger O’Donnell, The Cure

"Live, the presence of these four women on stage is something to behold. The raw power of Curwood's voice and guitar rides atop a shimmering curtain of sirenic vocals and strings, like nothing I have ever seen before."
Pony Express

Songwriter Hannah Curwood originates from the stark, remote region of Central Otago in New Zealand. Now based in London, Hannah in the Wars is a new project, the result of working alongside Roger O'Donnell of The Cure and a handpicked group of musicians. 

This eponymous debut album showcases a collection of lyrically robust emotional narratives. Curwood’s distinctive and powerful vocals are accompanied by Telecaster, piano, synth, delicate string arrangements and the brooding pulse of an orchestral percussionist. 

O'Donnell has supported the band by providing his country home studio as a recording base, and lending guidance with vocal performance, arrangements and his expertise in synth programming.

The resulting ten songs evoke the likes of Hope Sandoval, P J Harvey, Anna Calvi, Sharon Van Etten, Laura Marling and Smog - delicacy entangled with intensity. 

The album was mixed by Paul Corkett (The Cure, Nick Cave, Bjork) and released via O'Donnell's 99X/10 label on May 25th 2015.

Hannah’s previous releases, Sky Above, Horse Below (2007) and The Blind Love EP (2009) both received resounding critical acclaim, with tracks such as the murder ballad ‘It's Been Snowing All Winter’ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuQK7Z_9Cuc)  showcasing Hannah's use of dark lyrics, twisted imagery and ethereal melody, earning her a place as one of New Zealand's celebrated alternative folk writers.

Hannah in the Wars

Popular tracks