Curtis Harding signs to ANTI- Records

Following a wave of acclaim Stateside this year, ANTI- Records are honoured to welcome Curtis Harding to the family. His stunning debut album “Soul Power” will be released in Europe on January 19, 2015. The album is preceded by lead single, 'Keep on Shining', which you can check out here.

Curtis Harding says that soul music, and his music, speak for themselves. It’s self-evident on the Atlanta artist’s debut, Soul Power. The driving sound of his electrified Stratocaster, the foot-stomping backbeat and the lyrics swimming in reverb -- with something this flourishing, it’s almost reductive to just dig around the roots.

Harding’s style was born in Michigan and bred on the road, a restless childhood spent singing gospel alongside an evangelising mother, then cultivated in Atlanta, where he sang backup for Cee-Lo Green and befriended the Black Lips (he plays with Cole Alexander in Night Sun).

In the weeks and months following Soul Power's US release, Harding's relationship with the open road would continue unabated, being invited on a US tour with ardent supporter Jack White - having previously wowed audiences at this year's SXSW - while he brings his slop n' soul to the Europe later this year for a debut run of shows sure to be a transformative experience.

But, as befits a restless traveler, his music calls one place home, but fits in anywhere. The heartbreaking optimism of 'Next Time', a wry break-up tale mapping out a road the protagonists may never meet upon, the bottom-scraping blues of 'Castaway', or the wistful affection of 'Keep on Shining' could easily be Harding’s story, or yours. They’re scenes you didn’t perform in, but know all the lines.

There’s a foundation to the stirring soul Harding has created. “Gospel is inspiring,” says Harding. “From hardship and trials, you make something beautiful. It’s the history of black people in America, what happened to us during slavery, it’s the foundation of blues, R&B, soul, country, rock.” But he’s not just preaching to the choir -- Harding’s out there on the road, singing alongside everyone else looking for something real.

Quotes

"Soul Power formulates a spectrum, connecting soul — horns, proto-disco rhythms, Larry Graham-style bass lines, gospel vocal phrasing — with bang-it-out rock ‘n’ roll, and cool, stylish 2014 sloppiness." - New York Times

"Super-fly nuggets from soul and rock's late-Seventies crossover heyday, rediscovered by the son of a gospel singer." - Rolling Stone

“The cracking emotion of the voice, the flashy hits of horn and even that cooly sliding, three-note guitar motif points pretty forcefully to classic sixties and seventies soul, but the song's creator, Curtis Harding, is very much an artist of the present.” - The Fader

Soul Power Tracklisting:

1. Next Time
2. Castaway
3. Keep On Shining
4. Freedom
5. Surf
6. I Don't Wanna Go Home
7. Beautiful People
8. The Drive
9. Heaven's On The Other Side
10. Drive My Car
11. I Need A Friend
12. Cruel World

European Tour Dates:

• Nov 20 – Nijmegen – Doornroosje (NL)
• Nov 21 – Groningen – Simplon (NL)
• Nov 22 – Utrecht - Le Guess Who (NL)
• Nov 23 – Amsterdam – Paradiso, Upstairs (NL
• Nov 24 – Rotterdam - Rotown (NL)
• Nov 25 – Eindhoven - Effenaar (NL)
• Nov 26 - London - Electrowerkz (UK)
• Nov 28 – Manchester - Soup Kitchen (UK)
• Nov 29 – Lisbon - Vodafone Mexefest (PT)
• Nov 30 – Glasgow - Nice N Sleazys (UK)
• Dec 01 - Bristol - Louisiana (UK)
• Dec 02 – Brighton – Komedia Studio Bar (UK)
• Dec 04 - Rennes - Transmusicales (FR)
• Dec 05 – Brussels – Secret Venue (BE)
• Dec 06 – Hamburg – Mojo Jazz Cafe (DE)
• Dec 07 - Cologne - Studio 672 (DE)
• Dec 08 – Munich - Ampere (DE)
• Dec 09 – Salzburg - Rockhouse (AT)
• Dec 11 - Berlin - Bang Bang Club (DE)
• Dec 12 – Copenhagen - Bremen (DK)