Nicole Hale | Some Kind Of Longing
Nicole Hale has made a haunting album called Some Kind Of Longing, to be released in 2025. Hale is a mysterious figure. Somehow her music has passed under the radar up until now. This gorgeous album should help change that. Hale is based in Austin, Texas. She’s previously lived in New York City. At one time Hale hosted an open mic at the now defunct R Bar, 218 Bowery in NYC. Hale was born in Texas and grew up in New Mexico mostly, and has 'lived all over before settling in Austin.'
The whole Some Kind Of Longing album is mesmerizing. The album was produced by Nicole Hale and Britton Beisenherz at Ramble Creek recording studio in Austin. Hale plays keyboards and guitar, and has a very special, very stylish singing voice with wonderful phrasing. And she wrote all the excellent songs on the album.
These are the sort of songs that quickly make you know that all along you've just been waiting for them to arrive. Instruments like autoharp, cello, flute, harmonium, vibraphone, and violins add to the captivating sound. The stellar musicians playing on the album include multi-instrumentalists LIndsey Verrill and Jeff Johnston (the duo Little Mazarn) and Thor Harris (Shearwater, Swans, Thor & Friends).
Some Kind Of Longing is Nicole Hale’s fourth album, following on from her self-titled debut (2009), Rough Recordings (2011) and House With The Little Rose Garden (2015). Let's hope these earlier albums will get re-issued.
For now at least we can enjoy Nicole Hale's superb new album Some Kind Of Longing. Listen, for example, to Give It Time (track 4) - maybe a future single release? - which can serve as a primer, before enjoying the complete album, a sublime experience.
Hale is the type of special artist that doesn't come along very often. An original. Distinctive, rare, real and true.
Nicole Hale | Album Discography
Nicole Hale (2009)
Rough Recordings (2011)
House With The Little Rose Garden (2015)
Some Kind Of Longing (2025) NEW
Nicole Hale | Some Kind Of Longing - Album Credits
- Guitar, keys, vocals, skateboard - Nicole Hale
- Bass, cello, flute, vocals - Lindsey Verrill
- Drums, percussion, vibraphone - Thor Harris
- Saw, percussion, harmonium, autoharp, bass, backing vocals - Jeff Johnston
- Violin - Elizabeth Warren
- Backing vocals - Ethan Azarian
- Backing vocals - Jenny Carson
- All songs written and produced by Nicole Hale
- Co-produced, engineered and mixed by Britton Beisenherz
- Mastered by Jason Mitchell
Nicole Hale | Release Details
- Artist: Nicole Hale
- Album title: Some Kind Of Longing
- Album formats: Digital; plus Digital & Cassette via Curly Cassettes
- Launch gig: Friday Jan 31st 2025 @ Chess Club, 617 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701
- Album release: February 14th 2025