Ellen Beth Abdi refreshes a modern classic with SPELLBOUND

Lighting up the darkened corners of pioneering British musical heritage, the effervescent creativity of Manchester’s electro-soul-pop jewel, Ellen Beth Abdi, comes to illuminate Spellbound, the latest single from her upcoming debut album. A fresh take on the club-crossover classic from legendary production duo, Rae & Christian, originally released in 1998, a patchwork of acapella samples and sparing vocal percussion combines the dextrous beauty of the artist’s voice and the song’s essential, crisply cool sense of romantic longing.

Setting to the fore the artist’s apprenticeship in earshot of stellar record collections, as well as learning song and stagecraft at the hip of many of her home city’s musical elders, the addition of Spellbound to the track listing of Beth Abdi’s long-awaited debut album, released on Fri 23 May 2025, is a bold statement of confidence as well as a love letter to the progressive sounds of the streets she grew up on. With no other instrumentation aside from the artists voice, Beth Abdi’s version is hewn from the fibres of renewed inspiration and innate studio creativity.

Originally recorded with vocalist, Veba and released on the hugely influential Grand Central Records label, the track is arguably the best known of all releases by the production pairing of Mark Rae and Steve Christian. Drawn from their debut Northern Sulphuric Soul album, the same blend of hip-hop, jazz, house and other street-smart influences that enticed Beth Abdi also led to production and remix collaborations with artists as diverse as Bobby Womack and Manic Street Preachers.

The first time I heard ‘Spellbound’ I was at a friend’s house in Hulme and just remember thinking: what the hell is this song?” recalls Beth Abdi. “I was completely captivated by it, and especially inspired by the incredible vocal from Veba. Then it seemed to follow me around. I tried to learn the iconic flute part, then attempted to recreate it on the loop pedal, solely with my voice. It’s from those experiments that this version came about. It’s the moment in my live set that most people have a visceral reaction to and it is very special to me. I hope I do the original justice.”

Spellbound is the third single to be released from Ellen Beth Abdi, with the upbeat, electric-piano soul-pop of Tenterhooks leading the charge in February. With every release arriving with visuals that bring the artists’ world to life on screen as well as in sound, Sad Chord followed in March, boldly offering another low-lit expression of the songwriter’s innate power and, with a video introducing Beth Abdi’s crew of ‘fruit people’, no small sense of humour.

Almost instantly establishing her credentials as magnetic and accomplished performer with on stage appearances with New Order and in support of Stone Roses, whilst becoming a studio and live member of the resurgent legends, A Certain Ratio during the production and promotion of their 1982 album, Beth Abdi’s own live appearances become more regular with every passing release date.

Having also shared the stage with admired peers, including Lady Blackbird, Courtney Pine and Angelique Kidjo, the artist takes giant leaps into a spotlight all of her own on the following UK live dates:

• Sun 4 May – Salford, Sounds From The Other City (DJ Set)
• Sun 18 May – Manchester Jazz Festival
• Mon 19 May – London, Servant Jazz Quarters, supporting Daudi
• Fri 23 May – Bury, The Met
• Tue 27 May – Manchester, Night and Day w/Piccadilly Records
• Thu 29 May – Edinburgh, Voodoo Rooms

Remaining tickets can be found by following links hosted at https://www.ellenbethabdi.co.uk/