Hannah Williams and the Affirmations are the current darlings of the worldwide Soul scene. Having been sampled by Jay Z on the Grammy-nominated song “4:44”, they were catapulted around the globe.
This has lead them to work w/ Tyler The Creator, Guy Chambers and Pete Rock, to name a few. They’ve been personally championed by Huey Morgan and the late, great masters Sharon Jones and Charles Bradley.
Some bands struggle forever and never quite make it. Some give up half way through. Some even hit it big and die a quick death shortly after. Then there are bands like Hannah Williams and the Affirmations; who keep doing what they do, putting their trust in the universe and receiving blessings in return.
A Jay-Z sample of their first album’s title track, Late Nights and Heartbreak led to worldwide touring including highlights at Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival and Blue Note Tokyo. Then, multiple TV synchs for their second album’s title track, 50 Foot Woman – including Infiniti cars, CBS , Apple TV + and Virgin Hotels plus a further sync for album track I feel it on US crime drama show The Rookie:Feds – have paved the way for the upcoming third album with great slabs of ambition.
The bands’ profile had already soared in the worldwide Soul scene, thanks to their large part in Jay-Z’s chart-topping 4:44 album and lead single of the same name. Released in 2017, Jay used an extended sample of the title track from HWA’s debut Late Nights & Heartbreak and poured his heart out about his infidelities to wife Beyonce. The whole world was affected. Tyler the Creator loved the beat so much, he released a spontaneous reaction track: ZIPLOC.
Within the Soul, RnB and Hip Hop community, the band’s reputation remains solidified due to this.
