SINGLE REVIEW: HANNAH SCOTT - SITTING IN THE DARK

The timing of this Hannah Scott's new single "Sitting In The Dark" could not be more apposite, with new laws about renting coming into force. It details her experiences of the last 15 years of renting in London. It opens in the most forthright of fashions, with drums, organ and guitars boldly upfront in the mix.

It does then subside to just Hannah and her acoustic guitar, and it finds her in the renters dilemma, realising how much she has spent in rent over the years but more importantly it finds her in the dark.

"As I sing to you by lamplight, like it’s 1922

The fifteen years I’ve rented make me laugh

The cash I’ve paid my landlords tops a hundred thousand pounds

Still I’m sitting, sitting in the dark"

The opening verse a little folkier than our usual output, but the perfect medium for protest. There's a resigned weariness in Hannah's vocals at times, as if even she can't believe that she is having to sing these lyrics in 21st century London.

The chorus returns us to the bold playing at the start of the song as it reinforces Hannah's position. It is simple but stirring, almost daring you to want to singalong.

"In the dark, dark

I am sitting, sitting in the dark"

The situation seems more dire with each passing verse, the band stay around though to make this as cheerful a listen as it is depressing a set of circumstances.

"And there’s mould upon the ceiling, and there’s damp behind the doors

So I paint and paint to stop it leave it’s mark

But the underlying issues no-one seems to want to fix

That’s why I’m sitting, sitting in the dark"

Even moving to her own flat after years of sharing brings little joy

"After thirteen years of sharing, I got a small place of my own

It was meant to be a grown up, brand new start

But the furniture was broken, it was full of dirty stuff"

This is the sort of thing that used to be exposed on TV, but such is the demand and desperation of folk to be housed that this sort of behaviour seems to have become acceptable, and it is left to the likes of Hannah to bring it to our attention.

The unfairness and lack of support is laid bear by Hannah in the final verse.

"Once they’ve taken half your income no-one cares that it’s your home"

Let's hope a little publicity for Hannah, at least helps to bring these situations more into the open, this song was written in 2022, #TEAMw21 sincerely doubt that things have improved for the better since.

"In The Dark" is from Hannah Scotts forthcoming EP "Threads" due 19/6