«Waking Up» single by Withered Hand
UK indie rock troubadour Withered Hand has released his uplifting new single 'Waking Up', living up to his reputation as one of Scotland’s most gifted songwriters. This is the first taste of his 'How To Love' album, which will be officially released on April 2 via Reveal Records.
Withered Hand is the nom de plume of Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Dan Willson, who originally hails from London.
Dan Willson notes, “It’s hard to put down your worries when you’re so used to carrying them around that they seem like part of who you are. This song is about taking a long hard honest look in the mirror and about the unfolding process of trying to trim my rudder a little every day to do something about what I see there. In my mind I was channeling a Street Legal-era Dylan vibe with that strident chord pattern and Pete’s swirling Hammond organ and brass and the band bring a lot of joy to this arrangement, we had fun with it".
“I’d put the pain down, I’m afraid I won’t see mercy
Teach me the song the new morning sings”
Willson started writing songs and singing in his thirties following the birth of his first child and the death of a close friend. With a wayward tenor and unaffected charm onstage, he has come to be celebrated as a songwriter and lyricist of rare wit and remarkable honesty. With songs picked up by MTV and cult series 'Skins', he's gained a legion of fans including Jarvis Cocker and Rolling Stone USA, who deemed him an Artist to Watch.
FOR FANS OF: King Creosote, Lloyd Cole, Admiral Fallow, Alasdair Roberts, Meursault, Lemonheads, Daniel Johnston
“As life-affirming as music gets” ~ The Herald
“Killer melodies … full of warm, woozy sing-song charm” ~ Rolling Stone
“The UK’s best lyricist” ~ King Creosote
“Beautifully constructed lyrical frameworks... Caledonian gospel” ~ MOJO
“Godlike Genius” ~ Justin Currie (Del Amitri)
"Stellar music.. sits perfectly square in the middle of Elliott Smith, Flaming Lips, Guided By Voices and Omaha’s Bright Eyes with a dash of Van Morrison and ‘Rocks’-era Primal Scream" ~ The Spill Magazine
'Waking Up' is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where the 'How To Love' album can also be obtained directly from the artist.