Aldous Harding

Singer/songwriter Aldous Harding emerged from the New Zealand indie scene in the 2010s to gain international attention with her dusky vocals and idiosyncratic style. Born Hannah Harding in 1990, Harding was raised in Lyttlelton, New Zealand by musician parents. Her mother, Lorina Harding, was a folksinger of some renown in her homeland. The songs on Aldous's self-titled first album, released on the legendary New Zealand indie label Flying Nun Records in 2014, were the product of a troubled youth that included substance abuse and a nervous breakdown. Mixing folkish, acoustic inclinations with artier impulses, the album earned enough notice to get her signed to another legendary label, the iconic British imprint 4AD. Harding's second album, 2017's autumnal Party, was produced by PJ Harvey's right hand man John Parish, and edged her toward a less folky sound, drawing comparisons with the likes of Kate Bush and Nico. Electro-indie artist Perfume Genius made a guest appearance on the record. Party earned Harding some ardent praise in the U.K. press and broadened her audience (not to mention her sound) considerably. It also didn't hurt that shortly before its release, New Zealand-born international pop star Lorde enthused about the album's single "Imaging My Man" on Twitter and dubbed Harding "the most interesting musician around." Though she began to play shows around the world, Harding continued to make her home in Lyttlelton, along with her boyfriend and sometime collaborator, singer/songwriter Marion Williams.