“Great songwriting and a beautiful voice”
Robert Elms - BBC Radio London
“An artist on the rise... a considerable talent”
Blues & Soul Magazine
Growing up in rural Oxfordshire, Abi Farrell was raised on a soundtrack of female-driven pop, funk and soul; finding her voice in a house filled with early-2000s hits and her mother's love for 60s and 70s music. Influences from the likes of Aretha, Carole King, Eva Cassidy and Chaka Khan may all be present in Abi’s music, but each song is brought into the here and now by her effortlessly pure voice and lyrical dexterity.
Named as ‘an artist on the rise… a considerable talent’ by Blues and Soul magazine, Abi has been captivating audiences with her effortlessly pure voice since the age of 14, when she successfully auditioned for the school Soul Band with 'Son of a Preacher Man' and swiftly had to learn how to project the hits of Aretha and Stevie to packed-out pubs. Abi's recording career began in November 2019 with the release of her debut EP, 'The Only Way I Learn'. On its release she was named Richer Unsigned’s ‘Artist of the Week’ - “Abi’s control and vibrato of her incredible vocal tone is truly stunning”. Abi's music since has explored topics such as empowerment, ambition, mental health, self-doubt, social mobility, privilege and misogyny.
At an East London jam In February 2020, a chance meeting with Nick Corbin (New Street Adventure, Lack of Afro) sparked a songwriting collaboration that saw Abi release a series of singles with Big AC Records. A shared love of soulful music resulted in the co-written I Will See You Through, the first ever single on the newly established label, produced by Mitch Ayling (The Milk). The release, along with its sought-after 7” vinyl backed with second single Empowered, was quickly embraced by the underground soul scene. Both singles earned rave reviews and worldwide radio exposure including plays from Craig Charles (BBC 6 Music) and Robert Elms (BBC Radio London). Empowered received a 10/10 review from Blues & Soul who named it “A bouncing soul-soaked track chock full of positives, including a standout vocal from an artist on the rise.”
Abi’s career gained further momentum upon the release of Don’t Follow Me in November 2021, a social commentary on misogyny which was premiered by Robert Elms (BBC Radio London). Abi spoke eloquently live on air about the importance of joining the fight for gender equality, attracting the attention of Mi-Soul Radio, who playlisted the track and named Abi as their One To Watch. That same week, Abi opened for the Gospel/Soul singer Izo Fitzroy at London’s Oslo Hackney, and performed a sold-out headline show at Pizza Express Live, Holborn. The momentum continued when Abi was invited to perform Don’t Follow Me live on Radio 4’s ‘Loose Ends”, which prompted reams of new fans across the globe to get in touch.
Abi’s music achieved further national recognition in January 2022 when her single 'Stepping Out Of Your Shadow' was supported by the Craig Charles on BBC Radio 2, who praised the track as ‘Proper Northern Soul for the 21st century’. This exposure contributed to sold-out headline shows in the following months at London’s Piano Smithfield and Pizza Express Jazz Club, as well as a string of sold-out live dates for the Big AC Soul Revue Tour with fellow artists Carmy Love, Emma Noble and Nick Corbin.
In August 2022, Abi showcased her ability to create timeless ballads on the release of her entirely self-penned love song for the ages Nobody Else, with shades of Roberta Flack, Minnie Riperton and Aaron Fraser. The track was premiered on The Face Radio Brooklyn, with its live debut coming as part of a captivating set at a packed-out BBC Introducing stage at The Big Feastival in Oxfordshire.
New Love, Abi’s brand new single, is due for independent release on Friday 31st March 2023 and is sure to mark another captivating leap forward in her exciting career. Abi's music to date has effortlessly blended shades of classic soul with elements of R&B, disco and northern soul, all tied together by a timeless, genre-defying vocal. Abi is now preparing to play her biggest headline shows to date at Oxford’s iconic Jericho Tavern (April 21) and London’s Colours Hoxton (June 13).
