With ‘Storm Before The Calm’, Brighton-based singer-songwriter Will Hanco delivers his most affecting and fully formed project to date. The six-track EP finds the indie-folk artist turning inward, transforming a period of profound personal loss into a collection of songs that feel both intimate and expansive. Self-produced from start to finish, the release marks a significant creative milestone, showcasing an artist growing increasingly confident in both his songwriting and sonic vision.
Hanco has spent recent years carving out a distinctive space within the UK indie-folk landscape, drawing comparisons to artists such as Ben Howard, Hozier and Bon Iver while cultivating a sound rooted in his own storytelling instincts. His blend of intricate guitar work, atmospheric production and warm baritone vocals has already earned recognition from BBC Introducing and landed placements on major television productions including Netflix’s Love Is Blind. Yet ‘Storm Before The Calm’ feels less like a continuation of that momentum and more like a defining statement of intent.
Written following the sudden passing of his father, the EP emerged during a period of isolation in which music became both a creative outlet and a means of navigating grief. Working from his bedroom studio, Hanco took full control of the process, crafting arrangements that balance delicate vulnerability with moments of striking emotional release. Across the record, layered acoustic and electric guitars, ambient textures and cinematic percussion create an immersive backdrop for lyrics that confront uncertainty, healing and perseverance.
Opening track “Outlier” immediately establishes the EP’s emotional scope, pairing driving rhythms with sweeping instrumentation, while lead single “Heaven Below” stands among the collection’s strongest moments. The track captures Hanco’s ability to merge folk intimacy with broader, widescreen production, resulting in a song that feels equally suited to solitary reflection and festival-stage catharsis.
As his audience continues to grow, ‘Storm Before The Calm’ arrives as a powerful reminder of the strength found in honest songwriting. It’s a release that not only highlights Will Hanco’s craftsmanship as a musician and producer, but also positions him among the most promising voices emerging from the UK’s contemporary indie-folk scene.
