“These songs were written for anyone who’s ever been shot or hit by a train.” – Hanni El Khatib

Consider me sold. ‘Nuff said. Where do I sign up?

It’s scratchy and filthy at times and while those are descriptors that I normally would apply to my partner in swill merchantry (now a word) Kari, she definitely does not have a raw soul-doo-wop flavor, which Hanni El Khatib does. So really, it’s just that, the ability to play an instrument well, opening up for Florence + The Machine, a new Nike commercial, and general awesomeness that differentiates the two.

Once a skater from San Francisco he is adored by yesterday’s featured artist Florence Welch as she handpicked him to open up for her during parts of her 2010 American tour. Just over a year later his full length, Will the Guns Come Out, is set to hit store shelves and/or your internet-music-enjoyment-site of choice . (Sept. 27th)

Hanni is currently touring with The Specials and if you happen to be in Belfast this Saturday you should scrape up some tickets. Below is the “I think I’ve heard this somewhere but I can’t place it,” “I Got a Thing,” along with “Dead Wrong.” If you like “I Got a Thing” I highly recommend “You Rascal You.”

Did I Mention this song has clapping in it? – “I got a Thing”

 

I swear the clapping in both is a coincidence. – “Dead Wrong”