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Former collaborator with A Certain Ratio, New Order and Angélique Kidjo, amongst other imaginative tie-ups, goes it alone

Grown wise with the lessons of life in outer-city Manchester, absorbing the teachings of music, culture, loss, and love, Ellen Beth Abdi’s long-awaited solo venture showcases her unique blend of influences. A beyond-years wisdom, musicianship, and sense of creative adventure brought Abdi to wider attention in 2023, primarily as a touring and studio collaborator with A Certain Ratio, and now that focus is trained on her own work.

While paths between electronic sounds, jazz, soul, and deeper dives into diverse global influences have crossed with the overwhelming need to congregate within earshot of pure, joyful melody, Abdi’s self-assured and streetwise approach further stretches and breaks boundaries. Coupled with a voice of unfathomable depth and lyrics of often hard-wrought meaning, Tenterhooks merely pushes the door ajar on a collection of songs that gather the strands of a whole musical universe into one place.

A sense of restless energy is met with a sense of endless possibility, with the artist counting historic collaborations with jazz artist Jamie Finlay, support slots with The Stone Roses and Ishmael Ensemble, plus guest appearances with New Order at Manchester International Festival over a short yet intense career to date.