Burning Salt is an interdisciplinary project by Hannah ‘Hunter’ Hull (they/them).
The ancient practice of ‘burning salt’ is an act of expulsion, purification or protection. Hull uses song, poetry, drawing, photography and film to these ends.
Known for their startlingly honest songs and distinctive low-register voice, fans have described their unusual vocal style as “scraped out of an ashtray somewhere in the early 90s” and “Friday night meets Sunday morning.”
Hull’s genre-defying approach has been described alternately as Art Pop, Sadcore and Gothic Folk. Their musical references include Leonard Cohen, Dolly Parton, Nirvana, Alanis Morissette and PJ Harvey.
Their award-nominated debut release – ‘DIRT’ (2018) – was inspired by the women and workers of London’s infamous Holloway Prison. The concept-EP earned Hull a ‘Rising Star’ nomination in Folking’s International Folk Music Awards and was featured on Late Junction – BBC Radio 3’s experimental music show.
The EP was launched in a chapel near the prison, and has also been performed at Brixton Prison (for National Prison Radio) and at Bethlem, London’s historical psychiatric hospital.
Burning Salt’s debut album – ‘Automatic Lullaby’ (2019) – is a collection of 13 songs Hull wrote privately during their 20s. The album features Bobby Williams (Barry Adamson) on electric guitar, John Parker (Nizlopi) on double bass, and Daisy Palmer (Paloma Faith, Goldfrapp, Mesadorm) on drums.
A second full-length offering – ‘Close to Home‘ – was released in 2020, alongside a pamphlet of monoprints and poetry commissioned by Trinity Square Video (Toronto). This deeply intimate, autobiographical work is exclusively available as part of a limited edition postal artwork.
‘The Fullness of Things (Reworked)’ (2019, Pegdoll Records) features Burning Salt’s version of an original track by Tiny Leaves, alongside Throwing Snow and The Diamond Family Archive.
In 2020, Hull was shortlisted for Amplify, The Nest Collective’s programme for contemporary and cross-cultural folk musicians.
Other artistic collaborators include: Xaviera Lopez, Florence Pierre, Gordon Spooner, Marley Starskey Butler, David Sidley, Dimitri Galuret, David Stevens, Hanny Newton, and long-time collaborator Bobby Williams.
Hull studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, and is a self-taught guitarist and pianist. Burning Salt is an independent project releasing on Hull’s own label, Lullaby Records.
“A major talent” – Folking
“Deeply moving” – The F-Word
“A cult band” – Hot Music Live
“Really distinctive. Very individual” – BBC Music Introducing
For booking, press and collaboration enquiries email: burningsalt@gmail.com.
Burning Salt 