Hania Rani

Rani is conservatory trained, but like many post-classical artists, brings her own influences to radically transform tradition. She’s regularly performed in concert halls across Europe, but it was revelatory live performances, such as 2022’s livestream from the prestigious Les Invalides in Paris, which has picked up over six million views to date, and January’s compelling Tiny Desk Concert, that have brought her to wider attention.

There’s a fascinating restless energy about Rani, accompanied by double bassist Ziemowit Klimek, and the inquisitive way she switches constantly between piano and multiple synths with ease, often within the same song.

Rani has proven equally adept at conjuring enigmatic classical compositions, sound installations, alternative pop, and won a number of awards for film scores. Her first two albums for Manchester’s Gondwana Records, Esja and Home, established a template for blissful soundscapes and the latter was a Rough Trade album of the year, but her latest, Ghosts, sees another significant shift, with sweeping strings and her crystalline voice brought into the light.

Released in October 2023, the album features a host of outstanding collaborators including Patrick Watson, Ólafur Arnalds and Duncan Bellamy (Portico Quartet), and was made with the help of Viktor Orri Árnason on string arrangements.

The opportunity to experience Rani and her band perform these ethereal, magical tracks in the open-air setting of Somerset House’s intimate courtyard at sunset is part of what makes Summer Series so special.

+ DANALOGUE

Multi-disciplinary musician and producer Danalogue (aka Dan Leavers) is no stranger to Summer Series, having played last year with the Mercury prize‑nominated trio The Comet is Coming, and he can also be seen with drummer Max Hallett (aka Betamax) in the duo Soccer96’s explosive jazz‑electronica fusion. Beyond his own projects, Danalogue’s impressive production CV features Snapped Ankles, Ibibio Sound Machine, Lunch Money Life and Alabaster DePlume.